Ovechkin (+600) Favored to Win Rocket Richard Trophy, Followed by Tavares, McDavid & Matthews

• Alexander Ovechkin is a +600 favorite to lead the NHL in goals this season
• Ovechkin scored 51 goals last year to his eighth Maurice Richard Trophy
• John Tavares (+900), Connor McDavid (+1000), Auston Matthews (+1100), and Patrik Laine (+1100) round out the top five

After claiming his eighth Maurice Richard Trophy last season, Washington’s Alexander Ovechkin enters the 2019-20 NHL campaign as a sturdy +600 favorite to once again lead the league in goals.

Odds to Lead the NHL in Goals in 2019-20

*Odds taken on 09/19/19.

Stanley Cup Hangover Fails to Slow Ovie

A Stanley Cup hangover did little to slow down Ovechkin last season. The Capitals captain reached the 50-goal mark for the fourth time in six seasons, narrowly edging out Edmonton’s Leon Draisaitl (50) to take home the Richard Trophy for the second year in a row.

Tonight, Alex Ovechkin will win his record eighth Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy. With a 51 goal season, Ovechkin joined Wayne Gretzky and Mike Bossy (9) as the only players in NHL history to record eight 50 goal seasons. pic.twitter.com/bWrH4Bn2O8

— CapitalsPR (@CapitalsPR) June 20, 2019

Now well rested after the Capitals were bounced from the  2019 playoffs by the Hurricanes in the first-round, Ovechkin has reportedly arrived at training camp looking slimmer and trimmer in an effort to keep pace with the increasing speed of the NHL game.

Has Father Time Caught Up To Ovechkin, Capitals?

However, with the Capitals sporting an aging roster and increased competition from Metropolitan Division rivals, concerns remain as to whether the soon-to-be 34-year-old can continue to dominate on the scoresheet.

Last season, Ovechkin became the oldest player to lead the NHL in goals since Phil Esposito potted 61 markers as a 32-year-old in 1974-75.

Alex Ovechkin, who turns 34 next week, is the oldest player on the #Caps for the first time. “Time flies,” he said. pic.twitter.com/LS5zBXFd0O

— Tarik El-Bashir (@Tarik_ElBashir) September 13, 2019

Equally rare are players in their thirties reaching the 50-goal mark, with Ovechkin becoming the oldest to reach the milestone since Jaromir Jagr scored enjoyed a 54-goal campaign as a 34-year-old in 2005-06.

Maple Leaf Teammates Poised to Dominate Scoresheet

While Ovechkin’s ability to once again pile up the goals cannot be underestimated, he faces some fierce competition in the upcoming season.

Toronto’s John Tavares sits second to Ovechkin at +900 after scoring a career-high 47 goals last season, followed by Connor McDavid at +1000, and then Tavares’ Maple Leafs teammate Auston Matthews and the Jets’ Patrik Laine both at +1100.

John Tavares was 5th in the NHL in goals for between his draft and signing with the Leafs, averaging 33 per 82. The year before, Tavares scored 37 goals while turning Anders Lee into a 40 goal scorer. **This year**, he scored 25 goals where Marner had no assists. https://t.co/HIawVlxSzA

— Jeff Veillette (@JeffVeillette) September 12, 2019

In Tavares first season in Toronto, he benefited from regular playing time alongside Mitch Marner. With Marner now signed to a lucrative contract that will keep him blue and white for six seasons, Tavares could be poised to become the first Maple Leafs player to win an NHL goal-scoring title since 1946, and the first to reach the 50-goal mark since Dave Andreychuk scored 53 back in 1993-1994.

Tavares could be poised to become the first Maple Leafs player to win an NHL goal-scoring title since 1946, and the first to reach the 50-goal mark since Dave Andreychuk scored 53 back in 1993-1994.

Matthews clearly possesses the talent to fill the net, and has racked up 111 goals in just 212 career NHL contests. However, the challenge for the top-pick in the 2016 NHL Draft has been staying healthy.

Matthews has missed 34 total regular-season games over the past two seasons, a trend that the 21-year-old must put behind him to take his statistics to the next level.

Draisaitl Quietly Emerging as Superstar in Edmonton

While Laine’s inability to come to terms on a new contract with the Winnipeg Jets diminishes his value as a +1100 bet, no such concerns exist when it comes to Connor McDavid. The two-time Art Ross Trophy-winner was once again among the NHL’s leading point getters, scoring 41 goals and a career-high 75 assists last season.

However, the real sleeper has to be McDavid’s teammate in Edmonton, Leon Draisaitl, who’s at a distant +2000 odds. The 23-year-old is coming off a spectacular 2018-19 campaign, finishing fourth in the NHL with 105 points, and combining with McDavid to account for over 39% of the Oilers’ total goal production.

Two-man show in Edmonton?…

Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid led all #NHL tandems in goals last season. Should they be split up to spread out the Oilers' scoring?

More from @TSNRyanRishaug on @7ElevenCanada #ThatsHockey: 7pm et on TSN2, #TSN App & TSN Direct… pic.twitter.com/cYLCCEDNyA

— Gino Reda (@GinoRedaTSN) September 9, 2019

The Oilers have taken steps to shore up an otherwise feeble offensive attack during the offseason, most notably by dealing for former 40-goal scorer James Neal, and signing free agent Markus Granlund and Swiss import Gaetan Haas. However, the job of scoring goals in Edmonton will once again largely fall to McDavid and Draisaitl.

The German sniper continued his torrid pace by scoring five goals in eight games while playing for his country at last spring’s IIHF World Championship. As the only NHL player apart from Ovechkin to reach the 50-goal mark over the past four seasons, Draisaitl is an outstanding value bet to assume the mantle from Alexander the Great this season.

Pick: Leon Draisaitl (+2000)