Macklin Celebrini, Cale Makar making noise in MVP race

We’re a month into the new NHL season, and already it looks like the Hart Trophy hunt is going to be wide open, which is terrific news for bettors.

For years, fans and punters had grown accustomed to this award coming down to a matchup between Connor McDavid and the Field, but the landscape has shifted in the past calendar year. McDavid is still one of the favorites, but a new crop of heavyweights has emerged, turning this into more of a Kentucky Derby-style race with plenty of worthy competitors.

At the moment, there are four players that bettors should consider jumping on now, because it won’t be too long before these numbers start tanking.

Cale Makar, Colorado Avalanche (28/1, Caesars)

It’s been 25 years since a defenseman (Chris Pronger) won the Hart Trophy, but that streak could come to an end if Cale Makar keeps up this pace.

Not only does Makar have seven more points than any other defenseman, but he’s also just two points back of Mark Scheifele for the league lead going into Tuesday night.

If any other defenseman was playing at a 113-point pace through the first month, you’d doubt that he could keep it up, but this isn’t that shocking for Makar. He’s played at a 94-point pace over the last three campaigns, so it wouldn’t be out of the ordinary for the 27-year-old to take things to a whole new level now that he’s in the middle of his prime. It also doesn’t hurt that Makar is a linchpin for the league’s most dangerous offensive team.

Makar should be one of the favorites to win the award right now, but you’re getting a discount because of his position.

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Betting on the NHL?

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Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh Penguins (75/1, bet365)

The Penguins have been one of the surprise packages in 2025-26, and Sidney Crosby is the team’s key cog. The 38-year-old has nine goals and eight assists in 14 games, and he’s also doing his bit defensively, guiding Pittsburgh to an 8-4-2 record.

It’s a big “if”, but if the Penguins do surprise and make the playoffs, the hockey media, which adores Crosby, will have a hard time ignoring his case for a third Hart Trophy, and his first since 2014.

Macklin Celebrini, San Jose Sharks (150/1, Caesars)

It is quite possible that Macklin Celebrini is already one of the five best forwards in the NHL. A dynamo with the puck, Celebrini is tied for sixth in the NHL with 18 points (7 G, 11 A), and his play-driving numbers are off the charts, especially when weighed against the help he has around him.

We’ve seen generational stars take massive leaps in their sophomore year, and it looks like Celebrini is on his way to doing just that.

As long as he stays healthy, Celebrini has a chance of blowing past the 100-point mark, especially if San Jose continues to trend in the right direction.

Connor Bedard, Chicago Blackhawks (200/1, bet365)

Everything went wrong for Connor Bedard last season. It got so bad that the hockey world wondered if we over-hyped Bedard’s pedigree before his draft year.

It seems like rumors of his demise were greatly exaggerated.

Not only is Bedard on pace for 101 points, but the Blackhawks look like they could be relevant in the Western Conference playoff chase this season.

If Bedard continues to roll and the Blackhawks stay in the mix, he’ll start moving up the betting board very quickly.

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Why Trust New York Post Betting

Michael Leboff is a long-suffering Islanders fan, but a long-profiting sports bettor with 10 years of experience in the gambling industry. He loves using game theory to help punters win bracket pools, find long shots, and learn how to beat the market in mainstream and niche sports.