2026-27 NHL MVP Odds: Connor McDavid a Level Above Kucherov, MacKinnon in Early MVP Race
The NHL MVP race opens with Connor McDavid favored to reclaim the Hart Trophy after Nikita Kucherov won last season. Can Kucherov repeat, or will Nathan MacKinnon and rising star Macklin Celebrini challenge for the award? Check out the latest NHL MVP odds and contender breakdown ahead of the 2026–27 season.
Peter Alexis - September 29, 2026, 2:30 PM EDT
4 Minute ReadNHL MVP Odds: Will Connor McDavid Dethrone Kucherov for MVP in 2026-27?
Nikita Kucherov enters the season as the reigning NHL MVP after narrowly beating Connor McDavid for his second Hart Trophy. McDavid nevertheless opens as the favorite, with Nathan MacKinnon joining those familiar names near the top of the market. Last season’s voting placed that trio ahead of fourth-place finisher Macklin Celebrini. nhlpa.com
Celebrini now leads the next group of challengers, while Leon Draisaitl and Kirill Kaprizov offer longer prices. The Hart recognizes regular-season value, so individual production and its impact on a team’s success will drive the race. The odds below reflect the best available prices in the supplied comparison.
2026-27 NHL MVP Odds
NHL MVP Odds Breakdown - Favorites and Contenders
Connor McDavid (+230) Check out these best odds on DraftKings Sportsbook
McDavid has won the Hart Trophy three times, in 2017, 2021 and 2023, and came close to adding a fourth last season. He led the NHL with 138 points, recording 48 goals and 90 assists, but finished just 10 voting points behind Kucherov. Another scoring title would give Edmonton’s captain a strong foundation for reclaiming the award.
His speed, playmaking and involvement throughout Edmonton’s offense make him the logical favorite. The challenge is producing enough separation from the other elite scorers to justify the shortest price. A stronger Oilers season would help reinforce his case, particularly if McDavid combines another league-leading points total with clear improvement in the standings.
Nathan MacKinnon (+400) Check out these best odds on DraftKings Sportsbook
MacKinnon is a one-time Hart Trophy winner, earning the award in 2024, and finished third in last season’s voting. He scored a league-leading 53 goals and added 74 assists for 127 points while helping Colorado win the Presidents’ Trophy. His league-leading 97 even-strength points demonstrated how much damage he could create without relying on power-play opportunities.
Colorado’s offseason departures place additional responsibility on its established stars, but MacKinnon remains surrounded by enough talent to sustain elite production. His route to a second Hart is straightforward: challenge for the scoring lead while keeping the Avalanche near the top of the standings. At +400, he offers a larger return than McDavid without requiring a major leap from his recent performance.
Nikita Kucherov (+400) Check out these best odds on DraftKings Sportsbook
Kucherov has won the Hart Trophy twice, in 2019 and 2026, and begins this season seeking consecutive MVP awards. Last year, he produced 44 goals and 86 assists for 130 points in 76 games, leading the NHL with 1.71 points per game. He also finished 42 points ahead of Tampa Bay’s next-highest scorer, strengthening the argument for his individual importance.
That combination of elite production and a substantial lead over his teammates gives Kucherov a repeatable MVP formula. Tampa Bay’s offense continues to benefit from his ability to manipulate coverage and create chances for others. Another healthy season near the scoring lead would keep him firmly in contention, making +400 a notable price for the defending winner.
Macklin Celebrini (+1200) Check out these best odds on DraftKings Sportsbook
Celebrini has never won the Hart Trophy, but his fourth-place finish last season established him as a serious challenger. He recorded 45 goals and 70 assists for a Sharks-record 115 points, then entered the new campaign as the youngest captain in franchise history at age 20. His emergence has already moved San Jose’s expectations well beyond a routine rebuilding season.
The next step is connecting that individual production to a stronger team finish. If Celebrini remains among the league’s leading scorers while pushing San Jose into playoff contention, his importance to the franchise would become a powerful part of the voting discussion. At +1200, he offers the clearest emerging-star alternative to the established favorites.
Leon Draisaitl (+1500) Check out these best odds on DraftKings Sportsbook
Draisaitl has won the Hart Trophy once, in 2020, and remains capable of building another MVP campaign through elite finishing and playmaking. Last season, he recorded 97 points despite missing 17 games through injury. Staying available would give him a much stronger opportunity to challenge the scoring leaders over a full campaign.
His biggest obstacle is sharing a roster with the market favorite. Draisaitl needs a season that distinguishes his contribution from McDavid’s, potentially through a commanding goal-scoring performance and sustained production while driving his own line. His previous victory proves that playing alongside McDavid does not rule him out, and +1500 offers considerably more upside for bettors backing another standout year.
Kirill Kaprizov (+3000) Check out these best odds on DraftKings Sportsbook
Kaprizov has never won the Hart Trophy and enters as the longest-priced contender in this group. He finished last season with 45 goals and 44 assists for 89 points, providing elite finishing but landing well behind the leading MVP candidates in total production. Reaching that top tier requires a substantial scoring increase.
A full season with Quinn Hughes gives Minnesota another avenue to create offense and should benefit Kaprizov’s opportunities in transition and on the power play. His strongest MVP case would combine a career-level scoring season with the Wild challenging the Western Conference’s best teams. At +3000, the appeal is the payout, although his path requires more improvement than those of the shorter-priced favorites.
NHL MVP Betting Outlook
McDavid sets the standard, but Kucherov and MacKinnon offer compelling alternatives at +400. Both can win through performances close to levels they have already demonstrated, giving the top of the market three credible candidates before the season begins.
Celebrini is the most intriguing challenger beyond that trio because further improvement could coincide with a major step forward for San Jose. Draisaitl has the established scoring ceiling to threaten again, while Kaprizov offers a longer-priced route built around a breakout Minnesota season.
NHL ODDS
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