Can you believe we’re almost halfway through the NHL regular season? This point of the year is perfect for updating futures bets. That’s why we’re giving you up-to-date picks on which NHL players will be awarded in 2023 such as the Hart Trophy. Keep reading for expert betting picks!
Hart Trophy Betting Pick
We begin with the Hart Trophy, the NHL’s version of the most valuable player. It’s the top honor for NHL players, and right now, the top NHL betting sites have given one-player runaway odds to win the 2023 NHL trophy. Have a look below to see who we’re referring to:
| Player |  |  |
|---|---|---|
| Connor McDavid | -325 | -325 |
| Jason Robertson | +1400 | +1400 |
| Nikita Kucherov | +1500 | +1500 |
| David Pastrnak | +1800 | +1800 |
| Auston Matthews | +2200 | +2200 |
| Leon Draisaitl | +2500 | +2500 |
Yep, Edmonton’s McDavid is the favorite to win the Hart Trophy. That’s not a surprise to anyone who’s watched this league over the past few years — a period in which McDavid has claimed this honor twice already. The center remains an offensive juggernaut for the Oilers. As of this writing, McDavid leads the NHL in points at 76. Besides that, he has 14 more points than the next-best player (his teammate Leon Draisaitl).
But honestly, that might not be enough. That’s because Edmonton is underachieving big time. Even with McDavid and Draisaitl (a former Hart Trophy winner in his own right), even after making the Conference Finals last season, the Oilers are only 21-17-3 and fifth in the Pacific division. How valuable is McDavid when Edmonton might miss the playoffs entirely?
That’s why we’ll bet on someone else not named McDavid. That and there’s not much money to be made with McDavid’s current betting line. So if not him, then who? Robertson, that’s who. His +1400 betting line is too underpriced to pass up.
Robertson might not have McDavid’s stat prowess, but he’s no chopped liver. With 57 points (28 goals and 29 assists), Robertson is third in the NHL in points. But what Robertson does have (and McDavid doesn’t) is team success. The Stars are leading the Central Division with a 24-11-6 mark. Dallas has been one of the league’s biggest surprises, and let’s not understate it, Robertson’s play has been a big reason. If the Stars can keep this up, Robertson becomes extremely bet-worthy at these longshot odds.
Norris Trophy Betting Pick
One thing that immediately stands out about the Norris Trophy betting odds is how close things are, especially compared to the Hart Trophy. Have a look at the latest NHL odds for the best defenseman award, per the top-rated online sportsbooks:
| Player | | |
|---|---|---|
| Cale Makar | +150 | +150 |
| Erik Karlsson | +275 | +275 |
| Rasmus Dahlin | +550 | +550 |
| Adam Fox | +650 | +650 |
| Roman Josi | +1800 | +1800 |
Two players — Karlsson and Makar — are separating themselves from the pack in this category. Karlsson has won this award two times before, and if we’re being honest, he might be the best offensive defenseman of the last decade. However, Makar is the reigning Norris Trophy winner. And if we were to forecast who’ll be the best player at the position for the next ten years, it would be hard to argue with someone other than Makar. Therefore, it’s a perfect old-school vs. new-school clash with these two.
Our money says the new school wins out. Why? Welp, we think Karlsson is due for regression soon. He’ll be 33 in a few months, and none of his previous three seasons with the Sharks were this good. Karlsson hasn’t won the Norris Trophy since 2015 so that speaks to how long ago his peak form was.
Makar is almost ten years younger than Karlsson, so we’re under the opposite impression of him. If anything, Makar might find extra gear in the second half of the season. He’ll need to because the Avs are depending on him with so many injured bodies on the roster. There’s a strong argument to be made for Makar propping up the Stanley Cup champions after a string of bad luck and injuries. This argument boldens his case for the Norris Trophy.
Calder Trophy Betting Pick
Perhaps the closest betting race is for the Calder Trophy, the league’s best rookie. At the moment, these rookies are the most favored to nab the award:
| Player | | |
|---|---|---|
| Matty Beniers | +175 | +175 |
| Pyotr Kochetkov | +300 | +300 |
| Mason MacTavish | +600 | +600 |
| Logan Thompson | +850 | +850 |
| Cole Perfetti | +1200 | +1200 |
| Stuart Skinner | +1500 | +1500 |
We’ll go out on a limb and pick someone other than the betting favorite, Beniers. That’s not a knock on the Seattle center, either. He’s a major reason why the Kraken has been only the league’s biggest surprise in year two of the franchise.
But we can’t help but be drawn to Thompson’s betting line. Here’s another line that’s undervalued for a player that was just named an All-Star. Thompson’s inclusion in that game makes him the first rookie goaltender to be named to the All-Star Game since 2016.
In his rookie campaign, Thompson has given the Golden Knights title aspirations once more. That felt unlikely when the planned starter, Robin Lehner, injured himself for the whole year during the offseason. In his place, Thompson has shined. He has 18 wins, and a .915 save percentage. Given how premium of a position goaltender is, we’re betting that Thompson ends up leapfrogging Beniers in this vote.
How To Bet On 2023 NHL Player Awards?
The three NHL player awards mentioned above aren’t the only ones available for betting. Others, such as the Vezina and Jack Adams Trophy, are also on the table. To get a full list of wagers, hit one of the underneath bookmakers. The table includes reviews and bonus details so you can pick the best sportsbook for you. Get on these bets now because the odds you see listed will change over time.
About the Author
Eric is uniquely suited to be a writer for SBS. For one, he's a journalist by trade. Eric spent a large part of his career, covering sports — high school, college, and professional — for newspapers and online-based sites. However, Eric is a bettor himself too. He has first-hand experience hanging out in smoky sportsbooks and casinos, dealing with the ebbs and flows of gambling, and an understanding of how bookies operate. Both these unique qualities make him an expert bet picker for SBS. You'll also see Eric report on the sports betting industry as a whole.
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