MacKinnon or Draisaitl? Predicting Who Prevails in Tight Art Ross Trophy Race
The NHL Awards have for the most part been handed out for sometime with odds heavily favouring someone for several months now. For example, there's not much debate around the Vezina trophy as Winnipeg's Connor Hellebuyck has been leaps and bounds above anyone else or around the Jack Adams award with Spencer Carbery leading the Capitals to one of their best season's in franchise history.
The tightest race left that has some remaining value in it is not surprisingly the Art Ross trophy for the league's top point producer. A trio of candidates has emerged with Colorado's Nathan MacKinnon, Edmonton's Leon Draisaitl and Tampa Bay's Nikita Kucherov.
More NHL:Maple Leafs Present Best Betting Value in Tight Divisional Race with Panthers, Bolts
The three are all averaging just over a point and a half per game on average with MacKinnon leading the pack with 102 points after playing one more game than Draisaitl with 67 on the season.
Kucherov has played six less games than MacKinnon and has resulted in him being ten points back in the race but a lot can change with 15 games left in the season knowing Kucherov's history of explosive hot streaks.
It's hard to say who will prevail as MacKinnon and Draisaitl have the same 1.52 point per game average. MacKinnon is listed at -145 as the current leader with Draisaitl close behind at +120 odds.
Both players will play hungry bubble teams contending for a playoff spot like the Blues and Utah Hockey Club but they will get their fair share of softball matchups against bottom ten defences like the Sharks, Blackhawks, Habs, Red Wings and Blue Jackets. Each team is also heading into a lengthy homestand before ending off the season with a series of road games.
More NHL:Utah Hockey Club Appears Likely Dark Horse to Make Stanley Cup Playoffs
Futures
The Oilers could be looked at as having the edge as they'll play the Jets twice, who Draisaitl has dominated in the past with 43 points in 34 matchups, as well as the Golden Knights once, who he has also taken advantage of for 30 points in 25 matchups.
Draisaitl will also get three games to put up as many points as he can against the league's worst defence in the Sharks plus two games against the Seattle Kraken, who are tied with the Sabres for the second-worst goals against average in the NHL over their last nine games.
The German winger looks like a great value as he's been gaining ground since the start of the new year with 43 points since January 4th compared to MacKinnon's 38 through 28 games each. We can look to capitalize before it's too late and get the value before Draisaitl has big night and takes the lead.
Topics
-
2025 Stanley Cup odds, NHL Awards picks: Expert hockey futures bets, updated betting trends for Hart Trophy
SportsLine handicapper Jimmie Kaylor shares his Stanley Cup futures picks and best bets for the Hart Trophy, James Norris Trophy, and Calder Trophy following the NHL trade deadlineCBS Sports - 2d -
Organizers of Taiwan marathon apologize over trophies shaped like a Chinese machine gun
Organizers of a military-linked marathon in southern Taiwan have apologized after handing out trophies in the shape of a Chinese machine gun.NBC News - 3h -
Chelsea overcome City and ‘substandard’ pitch to deliver first trophy of Bompastor era
Chelsea’s first trophy under Sonia Bompastor should have been won on a pitch better than this.Yahoo Sports - 1d -
Vedder Cup at stake when Padres face Mariners as part of Pearl Jam singer's charity drive
The winner of the annual series between the San Diego Padres and Seattle Mariners will now win the Vedder Cup, a trophy designed by Pearl Jam lead singer Eddie Vedder. This award is part of a ...Yahoo Sports - 2d -
'Lifting the trophy in your suit was certainly an odd one'
A decade ago the final round of the Six Nations produced one of the most dramatic days in the competition's long history with Ireland ultimately left celebrating.Yahoo Sports - 3d -
'Eddie, will you hurry up and win a trophy!'
The last captain to win a cup for Newcastle, Bobby Moncur, says it has been "far too long" since the Magpies claimed silverware and wants someone to "take this role over". Bruno Guimaraes has the ...Yahoo Sports - 1d -
Fifty-six years of pain: I have had enough of waiting for Newcastle to win a trophy
Wallace Wilson lets out a sigh when he remembers he was just 15 years old when Newcastle United last won a major trophy with the unexpected Fairs’ Cup success of 1969.Yahoo Sports - 2d -
The big idea: should we abolish art?
Down with expensive trophies at art fairs: it’s time to reclaim a more radical vision of creativity. Some of us will go to an art gallery this weekend. Maybe it will help us reflect or inspire us. ...The Guardian - Mar. 10 -
Ross Noble: ‘The weirdest place I have been recognised? During my vasectomy’
The British comedian on being shot into space by Jeff Bezos, his nightmarish run-in with a fan and the thing he loves most about Australia. Read more 10 Chaotic Questions Get our weekend ...The Guardian - 1d
More from Yahoo Sports
-
Rodriguez takes a common sense approach to analytics
West Virginia head coach Rich Rodriguez believes that analytics have a place in college football. Rodriguez has learned some really beneficial things from looking at the analytics but he doesn’t ...Yahoo Sports - 10m -
Two ESPN experts pick Rams' addition of Davante Adams as the best move of NFL free agency
The Rams made a splash by signing Davante Adams and two ESPN experts say it's the best move any team has made in free agencyYahoo Sports - 14m -
Manchester City need reliable players and not ‘more’ players insists Pep Guardiola in transfer message
Pep Guardiola has sent a clear message of intent to Manchester City’s chief decision makers over the club’s strategy moving forward into the next campaign.City are set to undergo a major squad ove...Yahoo Sports - 16m -
Tosh Lupoi opens up about what went wrong for Oregon Ducks vs. Ohio State
Oregon Ducks defensive coordinator Tosh Lupoi opens up about what went wrong against the Ohio State Buckeyes in the Rose Bowl.Yahoo Sports - 18m -
Lady Vols versus South Florida basketball TV channel, streaming in NCAA Tournament
A look at TV channel and streaming information for the Lady Vols versus South Florida basketball in the NCAA Tournament first round.Yahoo Sports - 19m
More in Sports
-
Rodriguez takes a common sense approach to analytics
West Virginia head coach Rich Rodriguez believes that analytics have a place in college football. Rodriguez has learned some really beneficial things from looking at the analytics but he doesn’t ...Yahoo Sports - 10m -
Two ESPN experts pick Rams' addition of Davante Adams as the best move of NFL free agency
The Rams made a splash by signing Davante Adams and two ESPN experts say it's the best move any team has made in free agencyYahoo Sports - 14m -
Manchester City need reliable players and not ‘more’ players insists Pep Guardiola in transfer message
Pep Guardiola has sent a clear message of intent to Manchester City’s chief decision makers over the club’s strategy moving forward into the next campaign.City are set to undergo a major squad ove...Yahoo Sports - 16m -
Ronald Acuna Jr. says he'll be more careful this season -- but no one believes him
From 40/70 to 40/30? The Braves' 2023 NL MVP is rehabbing with a plan to be stronger -- and healthier.ESPN - 18m -
Tosh Lupoi opens up about what went wrong for Oregon Ducks vs. Ohio State
Oregon Ducks defensive coordinator Tosh Lupoi opens up about what went wrong against the Ohio State Buckeyes in the Rose Bowl.Yahoo Sports - 18m