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

Hart Memorial Trophy Odds, Prediction, and Betting Pick

Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon remains the frontrunner in the Hart Trophy race. Currently listed at -185, he carries a 65% implied probability to win his second league MVP, down from earlier in January, but still ahead of the field.

On January 8, MacKinnon was priced at -350, implying a 77.8% chance to take home the award. Since then, Colorado’s form has cooled. After a stretch in January where it seemed the Avalanche couldn’t lose, they headed into the Olympic break on a more modest 4-5-1 run over their last 10 games.

Even so, MacKinnon remains the player to beat. The 30-year-old Nova Scotia native leads the NHL with 40 goals, six more than Connor McDavid, who sits second. McDavid currently holds the edge in total points, 96 to MacKinnon’s 93, but MacKinnon’s +48 rating dwarfs McDavid’s +11, underscoring the impact he’s having at both ends of the ice.

MACKINNON STRIKES AGAIN 🤩

That’s his 40th of the season already!

📺: ABC pic.twitter.com/vVswz6l4vY

— NHL (@NHL) January 31, 2026

Meanwhile, second-year San Jose Sharks center Macklin Celebrini has fully broken out and is steadily tightening the gap in the Hart race. Just last month, he sat at +1500 with the third-best odds to win the award. His trajectory continues to point upward, yet MacKinnon still profiles as the most likely winner.

Looking ahead, I expect the Avalanche to come out strong in the second half and regain their earlier form. Even through this mini-slump, MacKinnon has produced 19 points in his last 13 games. Given the recent drift in his price, this is likely the best number you’ll see on him, so I recommend grabbing MacKinnon at around -180 for your NHL awards betting card.

James Norris Memorial Trophy Odds, Prediction, and Betting Pick

The James Norris Trophy race has tightened, with Columbus Blue Jackets’ defenseman Zach Werenski closing the gap on Colorado Avalanche star Cale Makar. As recently as January, Makar looked like he was running away with the award, dealing at -500 and carrying an implied 83.3% chance to win.

Since then, Werenski has played his way firmly into the conversation. The former University of Michigan standout leads the Blue Jackets in goals and sits first among NHL defensemen with 20. He’s now surpassed Makar on the scoresheet: Makar has 15 goals through 55 games, while Werenski has five more goals despite playing three fewer games. The two are level at 42 assists apiece.

The bigger difference this year is context. What hurt Werenski in last season’s Norris voting was the Blue Jackets’ performance as a team. That narrative has flipped. Columbus has started to figure out how to win, entering the Olympic break on a 9-1-0 run that includes a seven-game winning streak. At 29-20-7 and flirting with playoff contention, the Blue Jackets’ surge has been driven in large part by Werenski’s play on the back end.

Zach Werenski (5-15—20 in 15 GP) recorded an assist in the second period and joined Artemi Panarin (8-17—25 in March 2018) as the second @BlueJacketsNHL player with 20 or more points in a calendar month. #NHLStats

Tune in 🌎: https://t.co/dT34F4MhkC pic.twitter.com/qq0EpXBsZc

— NHL Public Relations (@NHLPR) February 1, 2026

Makar still benefits from playing on the better overall team, and his reputation and history with the Norris will keep him in the mix. But in terms of pure impact on his club this season, Werenski has a strong case as the more valuable defenseman in 2025-26.

Given the shift in production and team narrative, Werenski looks like the best Norris bet on the board right now. At -115, there’s a compelling argument to put your money on Zach Werenski to win the James Norris Memorial Trophy.

Rocket Richard Trophy Odds, Prediction, and Betting Pick

The Rocket Richard Trophy race for the top goal scorer once again features two familiar names: Nathan MacKinnon and Connor McDavid. Both stars are also firmly in the mix for the Hart Trophy, but here the focus is on the Rocket Richard. MacKinnon has edged forward and put a gap between him and the rest of the field.

For the first time in his career, Nathan MacKinnon’s the first player to reach 40 goals in a season! 🐶 pic.twitter.com/hBFBmzc0Ke

— NHL (@NHL) January 31, 2026

McDavid is second on the board at +500 but has ground to make up. MacKinnon, the 30-year-old native of Halifax, has buried 40 goals in 55 games and is on a red-hot pace with no signs of slowing down. Entering the break, MacKinnon scored two goals in the last three games.

He leads the NHL in goals, holding a six-goal edge over McDavid. After a slow start offensively, McDavid has picked up his pace, but MacKinnon has kept his foot on the gas and shows no intention of relinquishing the lead. While injuries are always a risk, the confidence in MacKinnon right now is well justified.

At -300, there isn’t great value backing MacKinnon at this price. However, if he has a clean bill of health for the rest of the season, I don’t foresee McDavid or another player catching up to him.

Vezina Trophy Odds, Prediction, and Betting Pick

Ilya Sorokin and Andrei Vasilevskiy are in a close battle for the Vezina Trophy. With Vasilevskiy at +1000 in January, I played the Tampa Bay Lightning starting goaltender. Since then, Vasilevskiy’s odds to win the Vezina Trophy have skyrocketed from a 9% to a 44.4% implied probability.

He’s caught fire and is playing a leading role in the Lightning’s surprising success this season. Tampa Bay sits at 37-14-4 with 78 points, atop the Atlantic Division. The Bolts hold a six-point cushion over the Canadiens, and they can largely thank Vasilevskiy’s brilliance between the pipes for that.

Vasilevskiy owns a 2.11 GAA and a .920 save percentage, leading all goaltenders with at least 30 starts. Sorokin, by comparison, has a 2.44 GAA and a .916 save percentage through 35 games.

Andrei Vasilevskiy hasn’t lost a game in regulation since December 18, 2025…

He’s on a 16-game point streak!!! 🤯 pic.twitter.com/T3o1CEn0cm

— NHL (@NHL) February 4, 2026

The case for Sorokin is that he doesn’t enjoy the same level of support Vasilevskiy does, but remember: the Lightning were not projected to be a first-place team back in October. He also hasn’t lost a start since December 18!

After grabbing Vasilevskiy at +1000 earlier this season, I’m more than comfortable adding to that position at +125 for my 2025-26 NHL awards picks.