2023-24 NHL Award Winners Predctions with Betting Odds
As the 2023-24 NHL season approaches, it is time for us all to lock in our futures. And what’s more exciting than predicting the stars for the upcoming season? We will go from award by award (per DraftKings odds) and take a look at who the favorite for each award is, who I got winning it, and a potential dark horse to keep your eye on.
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Rocket Richard Trophy
The Favorite:
Connor McDavid +220
McDavid comes in as the favorite this year after leading the league with 64 goals last year. He edged out David Pastrnak, who finished with 61 goals, playing a huge factor in the Bruins magical run last season. McDavid also tallied eight more goals in 12 playoff games before the Oilers were eliminated. It’s no secret McDavid is always involved when he is on the ice, and he forms the best duo in the league with his teammate Leon Draisaitl. McDavid is the best offensive player in the league, on the best offensive team, so he is a prime candidate to lead the league in goals for a second straight season.
My Pick:
Connor McDavid +220
Dark Horse:
Jason Robertson +1500
Robertson finished the year with 46 goals, which was good for seventh in the league. In 2022, the young star totaled 41 goals. This year could be his year to take a huge jump offensively. The Dallas Stars are in their Cup window and will be full throttle all year long. They took a huge step forward offensively last season, but they know they need to do more, and Robertson will be the one to lead the charge. I like Robertson to surprise this season; he is a special talent that should continue to hang with the other stars in this league.
Hart Trophy
The Favorite:
Connor McDavid -105
No this is not an article on McDavid. However, it might as well be, since he is the best player in the league. He led the league in points by a long shot, 25 more than Draisaitl, while also leading in goals and assists (89). McDavid became the fifth player to ever lead all three categories. It was also his third time winning the award. Oh, by the way, McDavid is just 26. Again, best player on the best offensive unit, so there is little to argue here.
My Pick:
Connor McDavid -105
This might be the most chalk pick in history. But, hey, can you blame me? McDavid is the face of this league.
Dark Horse:
Auston Matthews +1600
I do like Matthews, though, if we are looking at someone to dethrone McDavid this season. Matthews has already done so, as he won the award back in 2022 after scoring 60 goals in 73 games. He had a bit of a down year, for his terms, and finished with just outside the top 20 in points (85), tallied 40 goals (14th in league), and 45 assists. The Leafs have gotten much better on paper this offseason, and a return to MVP form might be on the horizon for Matthews.
Vezina Trophy
The Favorite:
Ilya Sorokin +400
Sorokin finished third in SV%, sixth in GA/G, SA, and S, while allowing just 140 goals this last season. Sorokin was a finalist for the award last year but was unable to beat out the magic of Linus Ullmark. However, the Bruins magic ran out and will not carry over to this season. He was the main reason for the NY Islanders snagging the wild card, so it is no surprise to see him as the favorite for the award.
My Pick:
Juuse Saros +600
Saros is right on Sorokin’s heels for the favorite to win this award. The former all star was not a finalist for the award last season, perhaps because his team had an awfully disappointing season. However, Saros led the league in saves by a long shot (121 more than Connor Hellebuyck) and was tied for sixth in the league in SV% at .919. His 2.69 GA/G was in the lower half of the league. However, when you face the most shot attempts (by far), it is expected that you will allow some more goals. However, the Nashville Predators have improved their blueliners this season, and that should only help Saros dominate the opposition once again.
Dark Horse:
Filip Gustavsson +2000
This is my biggest reach on this article. Gustavsson was great last season, but he played in only 39 games. He finished second in the league in GA/G (2.10) and SV% (.931) but he was 27th in shot attempts against. He is a stud and will have to be near perfect again if the Wild are to do anything this year, but don’t count out the Swede.
Norris Trophy
The Favorite:
Cale Makar +190
It’s no surprise to see Makar as the favorite to hoist the Norris trophy once again. The 24-year-old blueline won the award in 2022 and finished third in the voting last season despite only playing in 60 games. Makar did manage to tally 66 points. If you do a little math, if he played in all 82 games, he would have finished with 79, which would have been the second highest total among D in the league. There is plenty of juice left in those skates, and he plays for one of the Western Conference titans.
My Pick:
Cale Makar +190
Dark Horse:
Miro Heiskanen +1400
Heiskanen must win this award at least once in his career. He finished sixth in the league in TOI as he averaged a time of 25:29 per game. He trailed only Erik Karlsson and Quinn Hughes in assists (of defensemen) as he finished with 62 and he had 73 points overall, which was 5th among blueliners. Dallas is right there. Can Miro and Robo get them over the hump this year?
Calder Trophy:
The Favorite:
Connor Bedard -140
No analysis needed. This guy has changed the landscape of Blackhawks hockey and has turned the ship around. Now they just need to build around the budding star.
My Pick:
Connor Bedard -140
Dark Horse:
Luke Evangelista +3000
Evangelista tallied 15 points (7 G, 8 A) in 24 games down the stretch for the rebuilding Preds team last year. He will likely headline the second line for Nashville this season and should get plenty of good looks as a result. Similar to the likes of Gustavsson, if Nashville is to have a positive season, it’s safe to assume Evangelista had a stellar season.
Jack Adams Award
The Favorite:
Rod Brind’Armour +600
The Hurricanes and Maple Leafs look primed and ready to dethrone the Bruins as top dogs in the Eastern Conference this year. Brind’Armour won the award back in 2021 after his Hurricanes finished with the third most number of points in the COVID shortened season. Last year they held off the Devils and finished atop Metro Division before being bounced from the playoffs by the Panthers. If Carolina can stave off any surprises this season, they could win the Presidents Trophy and make a deep run for Stanley this season.
My Pick:
Sheldon Keefe +1500
I am shocked that Keefe has these odds with such a great team. His Maple Leafs have had a busy offseason, and their roster is stacked. The Bruins aren’t going to be the same beast as they were last season, and the Lightning and Panthers do not look to be as competitive as last season. With additions like John Klingberg, Max Domi, Tyler Bertuzzi, and heavy hitter Ryan Reaves on top of a roster that already contains the likes of Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, John Tavares, William Nylander, and Ilya Samsonov as their netminder, this team is forecasts to be a real-life video game roster.
Dark Horse:
Sheldon Keefe +1500
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