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

Hart Memorial Trophy Odds, Prediction, and Betting Pick

Connor McDavid (+165) 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 +165 odds, McDavid has a 37.7% implied probability to capture the award for the 2025-26 season.

Note that McDavid’s Hart Trophy odds have improved over the last month. McDavid had a price of +200 in mid-September, which has since shortened to +165. In other words, the Oilers’ superstar previously had a 33.3% implied chance. While there isn’t as much value on the board now, is he worth adding to your NHL awards betting picks?

Last season, 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.

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 remains a strong bet at +165 for your NHL awards picks to win the Hart Memorial Trophy.

Calder Memorial Trophy Odds, Prediction, and Betting Pick

Ivan Demidov (+175) 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 +175 to +1200. Additionally, Demidov’s Caldey Trophy odds have been on the move from +260 in August to +175 in early October. He’s a fantastic player who is going to turn heads this season. 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 (+1400). 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.

JIMMY SNUGGERUD!

That's his first NHL goal! 💥 pic.twitter.com/c5SvDSiI3y

— NHL (@NHL) April 16, 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 +1400, so I highly recommend backing him to win the Calder!

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

There has been a major shake-up in the Selke Trophy odds recently. Odds-on favorite Alexander Barkov underwent surgery on his ACL and MCL, which will hold him out of the lineup for seven to nine months.

That opens the door in the Selky Trophy race. There has been a large discrepancy between Barkov and the rest of the league over the last two years. He’s been the clear frontrunner for the best defensive forward in the NHL.

Last year, Barkov finished first with 1,363 first-place votes. He was way out ahead of Sam Reinart, who recorded 837 votes to win his first Selke. The Lightning’s Anthony Cirelli wasn’t that far behind, with a final count of 828 votes.

With Barkov absent in Sunrise, the Panthers need Reinhart to play even more of a two-way role. I expect him to rise to the occasion and fill some of the gap that the Panthers are going to miss with Barkov. Although Barkov will be missed, expect Reinhart to be a nuisance for opponents on the backcheck and when trying to clear the puck out of the zone.

REINHART STEALS THE PUCK AND OPENS THE SCORING‼️ 🚨 pic.twitter.com/2vdo3cFpeN

— Spittin' Chiclets (@spittinchiclets) June 18, 2025

The Selke may not be going to Barkov for a third consecutive season, but it can stay in Sunrise. At +235 odds, Reinhart is catching fantastic odds to win the Selke Trophy!

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 (+215) 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.

Meanwhile, Stars’ defenseman Miro Heiskanen’s James Norris odds have regressed significantly. Heiskanen has watched his price shift from +1500 to +2800 in a month. Sabres’ anchor Rasmus Dahlin’s odds have improved, while Lane Hutson of the Montreal Canadiens has witnessed a small bump from +2800 to +2500.

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 +215 in this hockey futures bet.