Skip to main content
Tampa Bay Lightning forward Nikita Kucherov and Edmonton Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl look for a loose puck as we analyze the 2024-25 Rocket Richard Trophy odds.
Tampa Bay Lightning forward Nikita Kucherov and Edmonton Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl look for a loose puck: Photo by Perry Nelson via Imagn Images

After another goal-per-game week, Leon Draisaitl retained his spot as the Rocket Richard Trophy odds favorite, trading just ahead of Sam Reinhart at our best NHL betting sites.

Draisaitl is on pace for 58 goals, which would be a career-high for the Edmonton Oilers center. He hasn't won the Rocket Richard but is a goal ahead of Reinhart over a quarter through the season. 

Reinart finished second last season with 57 goals and is on pace for 53. 

Kirill Kaprizov, the Hart Trophy odds front-runner, Mikko Rantanen, and Brayden Point round out the five favorites.

And don't look now, but Auston Matthews, who missed almost a month of action due to an upper-body injury, has seen his odds improve from +1600 to +1200 at DraftKings over the last week.  

Rocket Richard Trophy odds 2024-25

Here are the latest notes regarding the Rocket Richard trophy odds:

  • Draisaitl has 20 goals and leads Reinhart by one, scoring 10 at home and 10 on the road
  • Kaprizov is the only one of the favored five that hasn't reached the 50-goal plateau during his career. His previous career best was 47
  • The Florida Panthers are 11-6 when Reinhart scores
  • Point, Kaprizov, and Rantanen are all tied on 18 goals
  • Point has 18 goals on a league-best 36.7 shooting percentage. That's over 15% better than his previous best
  • Reinhart has maintained a shooting percentage of almost 25% since the start of last season (24.7%) in the current campaign
  • Matthews has four goals in five games since returning

Rocket Richard Trophy odds favorites 2024-25

Leon Draisaitl (+370)

Draisaitl has graduated from my Rocket Richard Trophy odds player to watch to the standalone favorite in about a month. His odds have improved from +2000 to +370, and he's the best bet to win the award.

The Oilers are 12-3-1 when Draisaitl scores a goal, and he has netted seven in the last nine games. 

While Reinhart poses a formidable threat, Draisaitl has Connor McDavid feeding him the puck on the power play and, at times, in 5-on-5 situations. He's hit the 50-goal milestone three times and netted at least 50 in two of the last three seasons. 

Only four of Draisaitl's 20 goals have come on the power play, a startling statistic considering 21 of his 41 goals last season came with an extra man.

I expect the shooter's power-play tally to increase considerably in the coming weeks. Coupled with his even-strength proficiency, you have a player on course for his first Rocket Richard Trophy.

Best odds: +390 via FanDuel | Implied probability: 20.41%

My 2025 Rocket Richard Trophy player to watch

Auston Matthews (+1400)

Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews and right wing Mitch Marner talk before a face-off against the Pittsburgh Penguins as we analyze the 2024-25 Rocket Richard Trophy odds. 
Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews and right wing Mitch Marner talk before a face-off against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Photo by Charles LeClaire via Imagn Images

Matthews missed a month of action after starting the season with five goals in 13 games. He's cut the deficit on Draisaitl to 11 goals and has netted four in five since returning from injury. 

And while it's definitely considered a long shot, if anyone's worth a crack in this scenario, it's Matthews.  

The Toronto sniper scored at least 60 goals in two of the last three seasons, including 69 last season to win the award. He's also one of the streakiest goal-scorers and can light the lamp at a goal-per-game clip for extended periods. 

The Four Nations Face-Off odds favorite, Matthews scored six hat tricks last season and had a stretch where he netted 10 in eight games and another with 10 in five. 

Putting up those gaudy numbers will be more challenging under Craig Berube's defensive prioritization, but anything is possible where Matthews is concerned. 

His odds shifted from +1600 to +1200 at DraftKings last week, so if you're a believer, jump on the bandwagon now before his odds improve further. FanDuel currently offers the best price, and a winning $10 bet would profit $140. 

Best odds: +1400 via FanDuel | Implied probability: 6.67%

How to bet on Rocket Richard Trophy futures

There are a few critical areas to pay close attention to before locking in your Rocket Richard futures pick.

First, take a look at the player's recent goal-scoring record, ensuring they are consistently productive and have been knocking on the door in recent seasons. Also, ensure the player is still in his prime and amid an upward trajectory. 

It's also important to pick a player who plies his trade for an offensively explosive team. In addition, who is the player you're looking at on a line with? Does he have one of the world's best set-up men feeding him the biscuit, akin to McDavid dishing to Draisaitl and Zach Hyman on the power play?

Make sure the player you're backing isn't injury-prone or susceptible to missing extended periods.

Look at how proficient the power play has been in recent years and whether the player you're backing is in a weaker division. That will facilitate more opportunities.

How to read Rocket Richard Trophy futures odds

Reading Hart Trophy odds is straightforward. Odds are usually presented in a format like +500 or -200. Positive odds (e.g., +500) show how much profit you’d make on a $100 bet.

For example, a $100 bet at +500 odds would win you $500, plus your original $100 stake, totaling $600. Negative odds (e.g., -200) indicate how much you need to bet to win $100. So, a $200 bet at -200 odds would win you $100, plus your $200 stake, totaling $300.

These odds also reflect the probability of a team winning the championship. Lower odds (e.g., +300) suggest a higher likelihood, while higher odds (e.g., +2000) indicate a lower probability.

Sportsbooks adjust these odds based on performance, injuries, trades, and betting patterns.

Rocket Richard Trophy odds over time

(Odds via FanDuel)

PlayerOpening odds (July 2)Sept. 29Dec. 12
Auston Matthews-115-115+1400
David Pastrnak+550+550+6000
Leon Draisaitl+750+750+350
Kirill Kaprizov+750+750+700
Connor McDavid +1000+1000+1600
Filip Forsberg+1200+1200+6000
Nathan MacKinnon +1500+1500+6000
Brayden Point+2000+2000+900
Zach Hyman +2000+2000+20000
Jack Hughes +3000+3000+7500
Mikko Rantanen+3000+3000+800
Nikita Kucherov+3000+3000+2600
Brady Tkachuk+3000+3000+7500

Rocket Richard Trophy past winners

YearPlayerTeamPreseason odds
2023-24Auston Matthews Toronto Maple Leafs +300
2022-23Connor McDavidEdmonton Oilers+1200
2021-22Auston MatthewsToronto Maple Leafs+350
2020-21Auston MatthewsToronto Maple Leafs+450
2019-20 (tie)David PastrnakBoston Bruins+1600
2019-20 (tie)Alex OvechkinWashington Capitals+550
2018-19Alex OvechkinWashington Capitals+650
2017-18Alex OvechkinWashington Capitals+500
2016-17Sidney CrosbyPittsburgh Penguins+1400
2015-16Alex OvechkinWashington Capitals+250
2014-15Alex OvechkinWashington Capitals+300

Rocket Richard Trophy winners by team

One of the newer individual awards, the Rocket Richard Trophy was first handed out in 1998-99, with Teemu Selanne securing the honor. If the team is not listed, they haven't had a player who won the Rocket Richard. 

Team Rocket Richard Trophies
Washington Capitals9
Toronto Maple Leafs 3
Tampa Bay Lightning 3
Calgary Flames2
Florida Panthers2
Pittsburgh Penguins 2
Anaheim Ducks2
Atlanta Thrashers1
Boston Bruins1
Columbus Blue Jackets1
Edmonton Oilers 1
Detroit Red Wings1
Colorado Avalanche1
San Jose Sharks1

NHL betting odds pages

Rocket Richard Trophy FAQs

Who is the Rocket Richard Trophy favorite?

Leon Draisaitl is the 2024-25 Rocket Richard Trophy odds favorite. He's getting +370 odds, which carry an implied win probability of 21.28%, according to our odds calculator.

Who won the Rocket Richard Trophy last year?

Matthews won last year's Rocket Richard Trophy after scoring 69 goals. It was his third Rocket Richard in the last four seasons. 

When will the Rocket Richard Trophy be decided?

The 2023-24 regular season ended on Thursday, April 18, which was when Matthews was anointed the NHL's top goalscorer for a third time. 

The Rocket Richard is awarded to the player who has the most regular-season goals. 

Who has won the most Rocket Richard Trophies?

Alexander Ovechkin has won nine Rocket Richard Trophies, the most of any player. 

Which active player has won the most Rocket Richard Trophies? 

Oveckin has nine Rocket Richard Trophies, while Matthews has three. 

Who won the most consecutive Rocket Richard Trophies? 

Ovechkin won the award four times in a row from 2013 to 2016. 

Why was it named the Rocket Richard Trophy?

The trophy is named after former Montreal Canadiens superstar Maurice “Rocket” Richard, the first player to score 50 goals in a season and the first to reach the 500-goal plateau.

When was the first Rocket Richard Trophy awarded? 

The first Rocket Richard Trophy was handed out in 1999. 

Here are our best NHL betting sites:

(21+. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER)
* Bonuses not applicable in Ontario.

Not intended for use in MA.
Each betting site featured on SBR has been meticulously researched and selected by our team of experts. If you sign up through our links, we may get a commission.

Related pages