NHL

NHL Pre-Training Camp Hart Memorial Trophy Odds: BetOnline Sportsbook Favors Connor McDavid, Nathan MacKinnon For 2024-25 MVP Honor

By
Jeff Hawkins
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Jeff Hawkins Sports Editor

Jeff Hawkins is an award-winning sportswriter with more than three decades in the industry, in both print and digital media. He joined the Sportscasting team in 2021 following a decade of freelancing. He spent his early career as a reporter for various newspapers in Illinois, New York, Florida, North Carolina, and Michigan, with a particular emphasis as a beat reporter for the Chicago Blackhawks. Jeff earned his bachelor's degree in journalism from Oakland University. Over the course of his career he earned several sports writing awards, including two national awards from the Associated Press Sports Editors for column writing and news reporting. One of the five prized columns included a commentary on NASCAR's increasing corporate influences, particularly in northern racetracks — commentary which you might find Jeff building on as part of the Motorsports writing team at Sportscasting now.  

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Published08 Sep 2024

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Nathan MacKinnon during a 2023 NHL playoff game.

Edmonton Oilers star Connor McDavid, considered by many NHL insiders as the best player in the world, adopted a more relaxed approach to his offseason training. Teammate Leon Draisaitl purchased a summer home near McDavid so the friends could coordinate workouts.

Meanwhile, Nathan MacKinnon took his training to new heights. Colorado Avalanche’s slick-skating cornerstone joined the Pittsburgh Penguins’ Sidney Crosby and Toronto Maple Leafs’ Mitch Marner in Vail, Colo., for high-octane conditioning with two other prime players.

McDavid (+150) and MacKinnon (+550) spent their offseasons differently, but both remain linked by BetOnline Sportsbook as the betting favorites to capture the 2024-25 Hart Memorial Trophy.

Here is a look at how both MVP candidates continue preparing for the start of training camp:

Can Connor McDavid’s Skill Reign After Making Training Changes?

Outside of traveling to Munich for training sessions with Toronto Maple Leafs star Auston Matthews, McDavid, the two-time league MVP, stayed close to home to train from the upcoming season. He didn’t have to travel far to find a friendly training partner with Draisaitl moving in nearby.

Both McDavid (132 points) and Draisaitl (106) eclipsed the 100-point mark last season, but the two had to battle after the Oilers opened 2023-24 with just two wins in their opening 12 outings. They combined for 73 points during the Stanley Cup Final run last spring.

“I went with a little bit of a different strategy this summer,” McDavid told Sportsnet. “In years past, it’s just been very volume heavy, Very go, go, go. Throw everything at the wall and hope something sticks. That strategy, as well as it’s worked for me, I think about the beginning of last year.

“I was just very tired and fatigued from a long summer of training, and was not feeling very good on the ice. And it translated.”

Will it develop into his third Hart honor?

Will Nathan MacKinnon Repeat?

MacKinnon is not resting on his laurels.

After placing second on the NHL’s scoring list with 51 goals among 140 points last season, MacKinnon is planning for bigger things next season.

Sure, the Avalanche could compete for their second Cup title since 2022, but during breaks from his star-studded training sessions over the summer, the 2013 first-overall draft pick is talking 4 Nations Face-Off lineups and power-play matchups with Crosby.

“Me and Sid were just on a golf trip, talking about the powerplay, the lines,” MacKinnon told TSN1050. “I’d love to play right wing with him. That’d be my little kid in me, I would gladly go to the wing. Can’t win face-offs anyway, so that would work. That would be a dream.”

The 4 Nations Face-Off international tournament is slated for Feb. 12-20, 2025, in Boston and Montreal.

“It’s going to be really fun,” MacKinnon said. “It’s cool that it’s mid-season. I’ve never played mid-season in an event, so I’m looking forward to it.”

2024-25 NHL Hart Memorial Trophy Odds 

Here is an early look at the NHL’s top-20 players’ odds to capture the 2024-25 Hart Memorial Trophy Odds, according to BetOnline Sportsbook:

NHL Player 2024-25 Hart Memorial Trophy Odds
Connor McDavid   +150
Nathan MacKinnon   +550
Auston Matthews  +800
Jack Hughes +1400
Nikita Kucherov  +1800
Kirill Kaprizov  +2000
Leon Draisaitl +2200
David Pastrnak +2500
Cale Makar +2500
Connor Bedard +3300
Matthew Tkachuk +4000
 Jason Roberson +5000
Artemi Panarin +5000
Quinn Hughes +5000
Jack Eichel +7500
Tage Thompson  +7500
Elias Petterson +7500
Igor Shesterkin +7500
Aleksander Barkov  +8000
Mikko Rantanen +10000

* Odds through Friday

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Author photo
Jeff Hawkins
Sports Editor

Jeff Hawkins is an award-winning sportswriter with more than three decades in the industry, in both print and digital media. He joined the Sportscasting team in 2021 following a decade of freelancing. He spent his early career as a reporter for various newspapers in Illinois, New York, Florida, North Carolina, and Michigan, with a particular emphasis as a beat reporter for the Chicago Blackhawks. Jeff earned his bachelor's degree in journalism from Oakland University. Over the course of his career he earned several sports writing awards, including two national awards from the Associated Press Sports Editors for column writing and news reporting. One of the five prized columns included a commentary on NASCAR's increasing corporate influences, particularly in northern racetracks — commentary which you might find Jeff building on as part of the Motorsports writing team at Sportscasting now.  

Get to know Jeff Hawkins better
Author photo
Jeff Hawkins Sports Editor

Jeff Hawkins is an award-winning sportswriter with more than three decades in the industry, in both print and digital media. He joined the Sportscasting team in 2021 following a decade of freelancing. He spent his early career as a reporter for various newspapers in Illinois, New York, Florida, North Carolina, and Michigan, with a particular emphasis as a beat reporter for the Chicago Blackhawks. Jeff earned his bachelor's degree in journalism from Oakland University. Over the course of his career he earned several sports writing awards, including two national awards from the Associated Press Sports Editors for column writing and news reporting. One of the five prized columns included a commentary on NASCAR's increasing corporate influences, particularly in northern racetracks — commentary which you might find Jeff building on as part of the Motorsports writing team at Sportscasting now.  

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