Yesterday marked the official quarter point of the NHL season, so always a good time to share what we know about the 2021-22 season.
We know the Canucks are hard to watch. We know the Kings are hungry. We know the Kraken aren’t poised for a Vegasque run to the Cup Final. We know a great view in Edmonton ain’t so great. And we know Leon Draisaitl was the best value MVP futures bet up until last week, and maybe still is.
Prior to puck drop on opening night, the MVP odds were:
- Connor McDavid +225
- Nathan McKinnon +625
- Auston Matthews +925
- Leon Draisaitl +1950
- Alex Ovechkin +4250
Fast forward to November 10 and through the first month of the season:
- Connor McDavid +148
- Leon Draisaitl +750
- Nathan McKinnon +875
- Alex Ovechkin +1500
- Auston Matthews +1550
Two weeks and one massive Leon Draisaitl heater later, the gap between McJesus and the German Gretzky has been whittled away even further:
- Connor McDavid +150
- Leon Draisaitl +275
- Alex Ovechkin +1200
- Auston Matthews +1600
- Nathan McKinnon +2200
Waking up on November 29, the German Gretzky is currently the league leader in points (40), points per game (2.0), goals (20) and power play goals (10), game winning goals (6), sits second in assists (20), and the Oilers are currently at the top of the Pacific Division. Not bad, Leon. Not bad at all.
I’m not here to argue that Draisaitl is a better player or that Draisaitl is more valuable to his team than McDavid, but at the quarter mark of the season, Draisaitl is a legit MVP candidate with favourable (no longer great) odds to tempt a wager. As of today, a $100 wager on Draisaitl would earn you a princely $275 profit!
Which Oiler teammate will be the first to earn their second Hart Trophy as NHL MVP? Draisaitl or McDavid?
P.S. Might want to take a flyer on Ovechkin too!