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

Hart Memorial Trophy Odds, Prediction, and Betting Pick

The updated Hart Trophy odds now favor Nathan MacKinnon (+175), who has overtaken the top spot. Connor McDavid (+235) has slipped to second but remains a close contender with MacKinnon for the regular season MVP award.

Based on MacKinnon’s outstanding play during the Avalanche’s first 16 games, he deserves to be the favorite. He leads the NHL with 29 points and the Avalanche are performing exceptionally well.

Meanwhile, after a slow start, Oilers’ star Connor McDavid has been in remarkable form and is arguably the most impressive player in the NHL. Although currently tied for fourth in points, McDavid is quickly closing the gap on MacKinnon. He didn’t score his first goal until the seventh game of the 2025-26 season.

CONNOR MCDAVID DOING CONNOR MCDAVID THINGS 🤯

My goodness… pic.twitter.com/j97ssfsmoI

— NHL (@NHL) November 11, 2025

Since October 28, McDavid has scored five goals and provided seven assists in just seven games, totaling 12 points. Overall, he has 7 goals and 17 assists. Given his momentum, I see strong value in McDavid at +235 for the Hart Trophy.

McDavid had a relatively down year in 2024-25 by his standards, but the three-time Hart Trophy winner appears highly motivated this season. At +235 odds, McDavid offers considerable value as an NHL awards pick.

Calder Memorial Trophy Odds, Prediction, and Betting Pick

Matthew Schaefer (-105) and Ivan Demidov (+140) are the clear front-runners for this season’s Calder Memorial Trophy. The closest competitor after Demidov has odds of +2000, highlighting just how far ahead these two rookies are.

Schaefer leads the race with a 51.2% implied chance to win, thanks to his -105 odds. While both players have been impressive, Schaefer stands out as the more complete player. The New York Islanders’ defenseman is showing potential for multiple All-Star appearances in the future and perhaps a James Norris Trophy.

At just 18, Schaefer is excelling on the Islanders’ blue line. Much like Avalanche star Cale Makar, he’s proving himself to be a true two-way defenseman, contributing both offensively and defensively.

What a shift by Matthew Schaefer.

This kid never quits on a play. #Isles pic.twitter.com/HrgOvQE0vT

— Isles Rumor (@IslesRumor) November 11, 2025

After 16 games, Schaefer has tallied five goals and seven assists, and his +2 rating places him in the Islanders’ top 10. As the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, Schaefer consistently makes the right plays, giving him a slight edge over Demidov right now.

His odds to win the Calder are likely to improve, making the current -105 an attractive bet for NHL awards futures.

Jack Adams Award Odds, Prediction, and Betting Pick

The Anaheim Ducks have had a remarkable start to the season. After finishing 35-37-10 last year, the front office fired Greg Cronin and brought in Joel Quenneville (+400).

Under Quenneville, the Ducks have emerged as strong contenders, leading the Pacific Division with 23 points and an 11-3-1 record in the first month of the 2025-26 season. Quenneville is currently a top contender for the Jack Adams Award.

However, his return has not been without controversy, as he was suspended in 2021 due to his involvement in the Chicago Blackhawks’ sexual assault scandal. This could sway voters if the decision is close.

Meanwhile, former Lightning star Martin St. Louis is excelling as head coach of the Montreal Canadiens, who now lead the Atlantic Division with 22 points. This marks a significant turnaround from their last-place finish two years ago.

Habs fans showing love to Martin St. Louis! pic.twitter.com/dMZ5xSNnup

— TSN (@TSN_Sports) October 14, 2025

The Canadiens showed improvement last season with a 40-31-11 record, and under St. Louis’s leadership since being named interim coach in 2022, their offense now ranks in the NHL’s top five.

I expect the Canadiens to keep rising, giving St. Louis a strong chance at the Jack Adams Award. At +600 odds, he remains one of the best 2025-26 NHL awards betting picks. I took him at +1200 in the preseason and still see value in the wager.

Vezina Trophy Odds, Prediction, and Betting Pick

Connor Hellebuyck is favored to repeat as the Vezina Trophy winner. However, there is no clear consensus No. 1 this year, making the race wide open. For bettors seeking value, Washington Capitals’ goaltender Logan Thompson is an intriguing Vezina pick at +550 odds.

After being left off Team Canada’s 4 Nations roster and finishing fourth in Vezina Trophy voting, Thompson likely has something to prove. That motivation has shown through in his first 11 games this season.

Thompson boasts a 1.56 GAA and a .935 save percentage for Washington. This doesn’t appear to be a fluke. He improved from a 2.70 GAA in 2022-23 to a 2.49 GAA last season, which many considered just a hot streak.

WHAT A STOP BY LOGAN THOMPSON 🤯 pic.twitter.com/NmQ1nPAIXM

— NHL (@NHL) November 1, 2025

However, I see Thompson as a legitimate Vezina contender. His 1.56 GAA and .935 save percentage currently lead the NHL, well ahead of Hellebuyck’s 2.30 GAA early in the season.

It’s still early and things can change by spring, but this looks like more than just a hot run. Thompson truly is this good. In summary, backing him at +550 is a strong Vezina Trophy bet.