The 2025-26 NHL season reached its midpoint earlier this month. With fewer than 42 games left in the current campaign, Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon is the favorite to win the 2025-26 Hart Memorial Trophy as the NHL’s most valuable player. Also under consideration are San Jose Sharks center Macklin Celebrini and Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid.
The Hart Trophy, awarded every year since 1924, is named after Dr. David Hart, who donated the original trophy to the NHL. The trophy goes to “the player adjudged to be the most valuable to his team.” The award is voted on at the end of the regular season by the members of the Professional Hockey Writers’ Association (PHWA). The Hart Trophy has been awarded 99 times to 61 different players. Wayne Gretzky holds the record for most wins with nine. Connor Hellebuyck, the goaltender for the Winnipeg Jets, won the Hart in 2024.
McDavid is one of two active NHL players with three Hart wins (2017, 2021, 2023). Alex Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals is the other active three-time winner (2008, 2009, 2013). MacKinnon won the Hart in 2024. Celebrini is in his second year in the NHL. Last year, Celebrini was third in voting for the Calder Trophy for rookie of the year.
Below, we look at the betting breakdown for the 2026 Hart Trophy, as the 2025-26 season heads into its second half.
| To Win 2025-26 Hart Trophy |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nathan MacKinnon | -400 | -350 | -350 |
| Macklin Celebrini | +350 | +350 | +425 |
| Connor McDavid | +425 | +450 | +550 |
| Nikita Kucherov | +5000 | +6000 | +8000 |
| Kirill Kaprizov | +15000 | +20000 | +800 |
| Leon Draisaitl | +15000 | +20000 | +1000 |
| Jack Eichel | +15000 | +30000 | TBA |
| Quinn Hughes | +15000 | +50000 | TBA |
| Cale Makar | +15000 | +20000 | +4000 |
| Mikko Rantanen | +15000 | +30000 | +7500 |
Nathan MacKinnon had the best season of his career in 2023-24, scoring 140 points (51 goals, 89 assists) for the Avalanche. He was second in the NHL in points, fourth in goals, and third in assists, helping the Avalanche to a third-place finish in the Western Conference’s Central Division. MacKinnon followed that with 116 points in 2024-25 (32G, 84A), which was good enough to put him in fourth place in MVP voting.
This year, with 45 games played, MacKinnon leads the league in points (81), goals (36), and plus/minus (+49). The 30-year-old center is third in assists (45), and the Avalanche have the best record in the NHL (33-4-8), leading the second-best Dallas Stars by nine points.
If MacKinnon stays on pace, he will end the year with 148 points (66G, 82A). The 2024 season was the first time MacKinnon broke the 50-goal barrier.
Last year, Macklin Celebrini missed 12 games of the season because of a hip injury. That time off hurt his chances to win the rookie of the year award. The Calder went to Lane Houston of the Montreal Canadiens, who played in all 82 games, scoring 66 points, three more than Celebrini’s 63. Despite missing those 12 games, Celebrini was second in rookie goals (25) and assists (38) and third in points. However, he was a -31 on a San Jose Sharks club that finished last in the NHL with a record of 20-50-12.
The 2025-26 version of the Sharks are in fourth place in the Pacific Division with a 23-19-3 record, and would be in the playoffs with a wildcard berth if the postseason began today. A lot of that improvement has to do with Celebrini’s play. The 19-year-old leads the Sharks in points (70), goals (24), and assists (46). He is also tops in ice time for the team’s forwards at 21:04 per game. Celebrini has played in all 45 games for the Sharks this season.
Celebrini is currently third in scoring in the league. He is on pace for a 128-point season (44G, 84A).
Only three players have won more Hart Awards than 28-year-old Connor McDavid. Those players are Eddie Shore (four), Gordie Howe (six), and Wayne Gretzky (nine). McDavid’s company on the three-time winner list is Alex Ovechkin, Mario Lemieux, Bobby Clarke, Bobby Orr, and Howie Morenz. In short, McDavid, who is in his 11th season with the Edmonton Oilers, is in elite company.
The last time McDavid won the Hart was in 2023. He finished in third place in voting in 2024. Last year, McDavid was 10th in MVP voting. McDavid is second in the NHL in points (80) and goals (30). He leads the league in assists. As always, one thing that hurts McDavid in MVP voting is his teammate Leon Draisaitl, who is fifth in points (64) in the NHL with 24 goals and 40 assists.
McDavid is on pace for his second-best year in points (143). His best year was 2023, when he had 153 points (64G, 89A).
Nathan MacKinnon is currently the overwhelming betting favorite to win the 2026 Hart Trophy, and MacKinnon is our pick to walk away with the Hart. However, when it comes to betting value, a wager on Macklin Celebrini is worth considering, with how well he and the Sharks are performing after finishing last season in the NHL basement.
Before making any bets on the NHL, check out the current NHL online Las Vegas odds. Being aware of the latest Vegas betting site bonuses too helps this time of year, and make sure to look at our Vegas odds for the 2026 Stanley Cup.
