2025-26 NHL Awards Betting Preview: Odds, Predictions, Best Bets

Hart Memorial Trophy Odds, Prediction, and Betting Pick

Connor McDavid (+200) leads a group of talented players for the Hart Trophy. McDavid is a three-time winner of the league MVP award in 2017, 2021, and 2023. By McDavid’s standards, last season was a down year for the 28-year-old from Richmond Hill.

At +200 odds, McDavid has a 33.3% implied probability to capture the award for the 2025-26 season. While McDavid’s Hart Trophy odds remain the same as when they opened in August, Nathan MacKinnon (+400), Nikita Kucherov (+400), and Leon Draisaitl (+700) have all gained ground.

MacKinnon and Kucherov are both down to +400 from +525 and +800 last month. They share a 20% implied chance to upset McDavid, while Draisaitl shifted from +1000 to +700, or a 9.1% to 12.5% difference.

He started slowly and then missed multiple games with a lower-body injury to stifle his full potential. McDavid finished the season with 26 goals and 74 assists in 67 matchups. That wasn’t the regular-season McDavid was looking for, but he was a force in the playoffs.

McDavid scored seven goals and dished out 26 assists in 22 matchups for the Oilers. He carried the team to the Stanley Cup Final and did everything he could to bring the Cup to Alberta. The future first ballot Hall of Famer will have a huge incentive to bring that same energy for every game this season.

Over the last 5 seasons, Connor McDavid has averaged 139pts per 82 games. If he keeps that production up, he will pass:

— Jean Beliveau
— Bobby Clarke
— Patrick Marleau
— Daniel Alfredsson
— Sergei Fedorov
— Marian Hossa
— Bobby Hull

in points.

He turns 29 in January. pic.twitter.com/6UM6CZihTf

— Big Head Hockey (@BigHeadHcky) August 13, 2025

No. 97 is in a contract year and has several million reasons to give his best effort in 2025-26. I expect McDavid to fall somewhere between his 2022-23 and 2024-25 season production. He tallied 153 and 132 points those years, so 140 doesn’t seem out of reach. That would likely be enough for the Hart!

In short, McDavid is a strong bet at +200 for your NHL awards picks to win the Hart Memorial Trophy.

Calder Memorial Trophy Odds, Prediction, and Betting Pick

Ivan Demidov (+260) is the clear favorite to win the Calder Trophy for best NHL rookie. The gap between Demidov and the next player is quite significant, from +210 to +1200. Additionally, Demidov’s Caldey Trophy odds have improved from +260 to +210 as money backs him in September. That said, the value isn’t on the promising Montreal Canadiens’ forward.

It’s hard to look past St. Louis Blues’ right winger Jimmy Snuggerud (+1200). With the hype for Demidov building and building in the offseason, Snuggerud is sneaking up and possibly going to steal the show in 2025-26.

This is a talented 21-year-old who is expected to make an instant impact on the Blues. That could include a role on the top line right away for Snuggerud. He’s going to have opportunities all season long to impress, and I see him hitting the ground running early and often.

Hustle pays off 😤

Jimmy Snuggerud with an unreal play to set up Pavel Buchnevich! pic.twitter.com/3KidBrrSqV

— NHL (@NHL) April 6, 2025

In seven games in the playoffs last year, Snuggerud got his feet wet with two goals and two assists. He also finished with a +2, so he handled the pressure well. Additionally, Snuggerud concluded the regular season with a goal and three assists in seven games.

Snuggerud is a steal at +1200, so I highly recommend backing him to win the Calder!

Frank J. Selke Trophy Odds, Prediction, and Betting Pick

Aleksander Barkov (-110) is the odds-on favorite to win his fourth Selke award! At -110, Barkov has a better than 50% chance to capture his third consecutive Selke. As of September 11, Barkov’s price to win has held strong at -110. New Jersey Devils’ forward Nico Hischier is the only player to experience some movement, as his odds shortened from +1000 to +800.

The way I see it, Barkov should probably be a -150 to -175 favorite to three-peat for the Selke. He is head and shoulders above the rest of the league as the best defensive forward in the NHL.

DEFENSE WINS CHAMPIONSHIPS 🔒

Aleksander Barkov has won the Stanley Cup and the Selke Trophy in back to back seasons 😤 pic.twitter.com/ZaTBUF0XQT

— ESPN (@espn) June 18, 2025

Barkov is in a league of his own as a defensive mastermind on the backcheck. While it doesn’t always show up on the stat sheet, Barkov’s defense has played a huge role in helping guide the Panthers to back-to-back Stanley Cup titles.

With no other true contenders, Barkov is one of the best bets for your NHL awards predictions!

James Norris Memorial Trophy Odds, Prediction, and Betting Pick

Cale Makar (+170) is favored to win the Norris Trophy in back-to-back seasons after dominating last year. The competition was fierce between Makar and Quinn Hughes (+225) for the Norris in 2024-25, but the award rightfully went to the Avs’ star.

The NHL awards odds suggest we have a duel between Makar and Hughes again. Look out for Adam Fox (+1400) as a longshot, though, who recently had a boost from +1800 to +1400 in the James Norris betting markets.

Makar finished with 30 goals and 62 assists in 80 matchups in a historic season for the 26-year-old defenseman. He was the first defenseman to score at least 30 goals in a season since Mike Green in 2008-09! A threat on both ends of the ice, Makar will be in the running for the Norris again.

Nevertheless, it’s going to be another tight race against Hughes, who won the Norris Trophy for the 2023-24 season. Hughes was hanging around on Makar’s heels, but his third injury in two months doomed his chances.

HISTORY FOR HUGHES! 🐳

With his assist on this goal, Quinn Hughes is now the all-time leader in assists by a defenseman for the @Canucks!

📺: @Sportsnet or stream on Sportsnet+ ➡️ https://t.co/4KjbdjVctF pic.twitter.com/BqDdJ5zJLr

— NHL (@NHL) December 1, 2024

Despite the nagging ailments, Hughes scored 16 goals and 60 assists in 68 games. If Makar can’t maintain his prolific offensive pace in 2025-26, Hughes is going to be the likely winner.

Makar has the shot and speed on Hughes, but the Canucks’ hockey IQ and creativity are off the charts.

In a close call between Makar and Hughes, the value is on the Canucks’ defenseman at +225.