🏒 NHL Hart Trophy Odds: Are Celebrini, McDavid Providing Value Following Olympics?

We've got a Canadian-heavy Hart Trophy odds race as we enter the second half of the season, with Nathan MacKinnon (-240) and Macklin Celebrini (+430) leading the pack. Behind them, there are only two players worth betting, with Nikita Kucherov (+600) and Connor McDavid (+900) the only other skaters trading shorter than 9-to-1.

We're looking for NHL MVP value here, though, and I'll make the case for 19-year-old Celebrini to join the rarified air of former greats.

📊 Hart Trophy odds and predictions 2026

Here are the Hart Trophy odds from FanDuel:

Let's get serious here, I'm not writing this article to tell you to back Nathan MacKinnon to win NHL MVP at -240 odds from our best NHL betting sites. I'm trying to find the best bang for your buck, and I've identified not one, but two bets to potentially fill your pockets once the regular season comes to an end. 

🦈 The case for Macklin Celebrini to win NHL MVP (+430)

The amount of value Celebrini brings to his rebuilding Sharks team is tough to duplicate, making him a legitimate contender in the Hart trophy race. To put into perspective: the Sharks are just five points out of a wild-card spot with a game in hand entering the second half of the season with 27 wins under their belt. A year ago, they won 20 games all year. The difference? Celebrini.

The 19-year-old has 81 points in 55 games this season, and has been involved in close to 50% of the goals the Sharks have scored all year. That is genuinely insane. He's on pace to record 100 points, which would put him on a list with Wayne Gretzky, Sidney Crosby (twice), Mario Lemieux, Jimmy Carson, and Connor McDavid as the only players to do so at 19 years old. If the Hart trophy is truly about value brought to the team, it's Celebrini's award to lose. He leads the second-highest scorer in San Jose by 40 points, averages 21 minutes of ice time per night, and is the only reason why the Sharks are even sniffing the playoffs.

I'd be remiss if I didn't mention the teenager is also coming off a standout performance at the Olympics, where he was second among all players with 10 points (five goals, five assists) in six games for Canada.

How Celebrini wins the Hart: The Sharks will likely need to make the playoffs for the first time since 2019 for him to seal his case for NHL MVP. Watch their Stanley Cup odds as the regular season winds down.

Most points by a 19-year-old in NHL history

🟧 The case for Connor McDavid to win NHL MVP (+900)

Connor McDavid always remains a powerhouse favorite for the 2026 Hart Trophy primarily because he continues to operate in "God Mode," leading the NHL in points per game as the regular season enters its second half.

McDavid is just four points away from 100, recently overtaking Nathan MacKinnon for the league lead behind an incredible 20-game point streak. His case is bolstered by a shift in narrative: after two consecutive losses in the Stanley Cup Finals and a heartbreaking silver medal finish at the 2026 Milano Cortina Olympics - where he was named tournament MVP with a record 13 points - McDavid will look to carry an Oilers team that continues to struggle with goaltending. His ability to single-handedly dictate the pace of play and his status as the irreplaceable engine of Edmonton makes him the gold standard for the Hart trophy.

Simply put, McDavid is the best player on the planet, but while he has another top-10 player in Leon Draisaitl to operate with, Celebrini continues to defy expectations by himself.

How McDavid wins the Hart: McDavid will need to continue his surge in production in the second half, needing to record at least 130 points while leaving the rest of the league in his dust.

🔢 Celebrini vs. McDavid tale of the tape

📜 Hart Trophy history

Here's a snapshot of the last 10 Hart Trophy winners:

❓ Hart Trophy FAQs

Who votes for the NHL Hart Trophy?

The winner is selected by a poll of the Professional Hockey Writers’ Association (PHWA) across all NHL cities at the conclusion of the regular season. Each voter submits a ranked ballot of their top five candidates, with points distributed on a 10-7-5-3-1 scale to determine the MVP. 

What is the criteria for winning the Hart Trophy?

The trophy is awarded annually to the player judged to be the "most valuable to his team" during the regular season. While statistical dominance often leads to a win, voters also consider a player’s individual impact on their team's success and playoff positioning. 

Who has won the most Hart Trophies in NHL history?

Wayne Gretzky holds the record with nine Hart Trophy wins, including an unprecedented eight consecutive victories from 1980 to 1987. Among active players in 2026, Connor McDavid and Alex Ovechkin are tied for the lead with three trophies each.