2025-26 NHL Awards Picks | 12-12-2025

The NHL season is roaring along and is less than two months from the Olympic Break. 2025-26 NHL Awards bets look at some potential candidates for the main awards and some surprises along the way. Sportsbooks often have a way when it comes to these things.

WHAT: 2025-26 NHL Awards and some nominees
WHEN: Usually around mid-June 2026 - Nominations Late April/Early May
WHERE: Awards show produced before middle of the Stanley Cup Final
WHY: It is always fun to look at some early surprises and shifts

We review the best NHL online betting sites. When it comes to NHL betting odds, awards can often be almost subjective rather than objective at times. However, speculation runs wild at certain points of the year and as 2025 is approaching an end, a peak at some standouts made some sense.

As always, there are plenty of sports ongoing. Do not forget to look at the latest bets in our online picks and news section.

2025-26 NHL Awards Betting Table

NHL Awards 2025-26
Rocket Richard Trophy
Nathan MacKinnon	+150	+140	+145
Leon Draisaitl	+450	+475	+500
Jason Robertson	+800	+825	+750
Kirill Kaprizov	+1100	+1000	+1000
Connor McDavid	+1700	+1400	+1300
Hart Trophy
Nathan MacKinnon	-210	-200	-175
Connor McDavid	+280	+270	+250
Norris Trophy
Cale Makar	-750	-800	-800
Zach Werenski	+800	+900	+900
Quinn Hughes	+1000	+1000	+1000

The table covers the Rocket Richard, Hart, and Norris trophies. We detail these and a little more.

Who Will Keep On Scoring Goals?

The 2025-26 NHL Awards bets ask who will keep on scoring goals? Yes, there are some funny numbers that do not quite correlate with the current stats. Nathan MacKinnon shoots a ton. He has led the league in shots a few times. This year has been different as Colorado has won 21 times in 30 games already. The center of attention has scored 24 goals. MacKinnon has 140 shots already. His shot percentage is far from outrageous at 17.1.

The thing with the odds is Morgan Geekie is now 4th at +1400. Geekie has 22 goals and had 33 goals last season with Boston playing on a line with David Pastrnak. Pastrnak has become the playmaker err pasta server if you will. Will he shoot 27.5% the rest of the season? That remains a question mark. Leon Draisaitl has 17 goals but has not gotten on a real hot streak yet. Draisaitl has won the Richard and a Hart Trophy too.

Normally, most experts would tend to the two favorites. Can MacKinnon keep scoring like this? We know Draisaitl has done it. He topped 50 goals four times in his career already and might do it a fifth time. MacKinnon scored 50+ goals two seasons ago. It will take at least 50 to lead the league in 2025-26.

With his 12 goals, Auston Matthews is way off the radar now. He has only played 24 games. If the center were to go on a streak, he could catch up quickly. Matthews has gone over 60 goals twice including 69 in 2023-24. The Toronto sniper has won the goal scoring award three times. He cannot be counted out. Matthews is at +6000 via Bovada right now. If not MacKinnon or Draisaitl, then maybe Matthews. Our pick is the favorite for now.

Nathan MacKinnon To win the Rocket Richard Award

+150

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2025-26 NHL Awards Bets Get Some Hart

Next, 2025-26 NHL Awards bets get some Hart. Now, the amount of previous winners makes this the prestigious award that it is. Naturally, MacKinnon is the big favorite early. The Colorado Avalanche forward shortened to -210 but one can get around -175 odds on a few sites still. After him and Connor McDavid, this becomes a longer shot fest. Nikita Kucherov was injured and got off to a slow start at +1900.

So, the list here becomes extensive. Kirill Kaprizov lurks around +2000. Draisaitl moved down to +5000. In the middle lies Cale Makar, also of the Colorado Avalanche, at +3000 via BetOnline. Could Makar and MacKinnon split the vote down the line? Stay tuned. You will see Makar one heading below.

For us, the idea is to stick with those names down the list instead of the obvious. If MacKinnon comes close to his 140 points from two years ago, this paragraph is moot. However, any opening of the door introduces us to a player like Kucherov or Kaprizov here. Kucherov won the award back in 2019 and has been a finalist the last two seasons. It makes some sense.

Nikita Kucherov To win the Hart Trophy

+1900

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Again, we wanted people to pay attention to some of the younger players like Macklin Celebrini and Connor Bedard. Both have been amazing in their second campaigns and have dazzled fans and betting sites alike. Also, do not forget Draisaitl again at +5000.

Did You Want The Norris Or Calder With That?

2025-26 NHL Awards Bets wonder did you want the Norris or Calder with that? One of the awards that almost feels wrapped up already may be the best defenseman award. Cale Makar is running away with this early. He has 10 goals and 36 points in 30 games. Makar has scored 28 or more goals twice in his career and is on pace to do it for a third time. Few defensemen have a career shooting percentage over 10. Makar is now at 10.4.

As for competition, Zach Werenski may be the closest at +900 via BetOnline. Quinn Hughes stands at +1000. Matthew Schaeffer is a nice story but that may be for the Calder. Jakob Chychrun could be a wildcard if he can keep scoring goals (11 in 30 games). The money is on Makar even at -750 barring an unforeseen injury. Werenski might finish in second again.

So, let us take the plunge with the Calder Trophy and Schaefer being a choice for that. Schaeffer is now at -200 via MyBookie. However, our longer option Beckett Sennecke is at +400. Sennecke is part of an even more intriguing story in Anaheim. The forward continues to improve his defense to go with his goal scoring ability.

Beckett Sennecke To win the Calder Trophy

+400

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