Kyle LaRusic
• Betting Analyst
5+ years betting experience
Updated:
Jul 29, 2026 , 11:27 AM ET
• 4 min read
Connor McDavid and Nathan MacKinnon might be favored, but Celebrini is poised to make serious noise following his new deal.
Photo By – Reuters Connect. Macklin Celebrini (71) skates toward the puck during a game against the St. Louis Blues.
Macklin Celebrini has had a hell of a year, whether it be skating next to Connor McDavid in the Olympics or scoring 115 points in just his second pro season.
Regardless, all that has led the young Sharks forward to landing the highest AAV in NHL history at 18.5 million per year, and sitting third in NHL MVP odds for the upcoming season.
While Connor McDavid and Nathan MacKinnon remain ahead of him, Celebrini is poised to become the new face of the league.
Here are the latest NHL odds surrounding the Hart Trophy.
Odds to win 2026-27 NHL MVP award
Odds courtesy of Bet99, one of our best betting sites.
Latest Hart Trophy Odds analysis
When you’re the best player in the world, you typically get picked to be the favorite regardless of the competition. Despite not winning it for a third year in a row, McDavid is a constant centerpiece of the MVP race up until the final game.
As is MacKinnon, who opened slightly behind the Oilers’ superstar. A new face has entered the fray, however, with Macklin Celebrini rounding out the Top 3 (+640).
The (freshly turned) 20-year-old scored 115 points in his sophomore season, and the Sharks had an impressive draft that could push them into playoff contention.
If San Jose can make the postseason while getting similar production from its young superstar, Celebrini could get serious looks.
Reigning MVP Nikita Kucherov currently sits tied for the fifth-best odds with David Pastrnak at +1200.
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Understanding NHL MVP odds
Most sportsbooks will display odds in the American format as listed above. When the regular season is nearly finished, and a consensus has emerged, you might see a player with a minus sign (-) ahead of his odds, like this:
The (-) means that McDavid is the odds-on favorite, and a bettor would need to wager $190 to win $100. Other contenders in the MVP race might have plus (+) odds to win.
Here, a bettor stood to profit $255 for every $100 wagered.
If American odds aren’t your thing, simply use a tool like our odds converter to switch the odds to decimal or fractional format. Most online sportsbooks also give you the option to change the odds format that you see.
Popular NHL futures markets
NHL Hart Trophy trends
- The last player to win the Hart Trophy and Stanley Cup in a single season was Tampa Bay Lightning forward Martin St. Louis (2004).
- Carey Price was the last goaltender (2015) to win the MVP award before Connor Hellebuyck did in 2024-25.
- Alexander Ovechkin was the last player to repeat as the Hart winner (2008 and 2009).
- Centers have won six of the last 10 MVP awards.
- The last time a defenseman won the Hart Trophy was Chris Pronger back in the 1999-00 season.
NHL Hart Trophy history
A quick look at the last 10 NHL MVPs and the position they played.
NHL MVP award winners by position
| Position | Hart Trophy awards |
|---|---|
| Center | 55 |
| Right wing | 19 |
| Left wing | 13 |
| Goalie | 9 |
| Defenseman | 7 |
Centers won the Hart Trophy 17 times over an 18-year period from 1979 to 1996. Wayne Gretzky personally skated away with the league’s MVP award eight straight times during that era.
Hart Trophy Odds FAQs
Connor McDavid has the best odds to win the Hart Trophy.
Nikita Kucherov won the Hart Trophy in 2026.
Wayne Gretzky has won the award nine times, the most in NHL history.
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