McDavid Still Getting +225 Art Ross Odds; He’s as Short as -120 Elsewhere

• Books list Connor McDavid as the +225 favorite to win the Art Ross Trophy
• He’s currently one point ahead of his Oilers teammate Leon Draisaitl in the NHL scoring race
• McDavid is the only player among the NHL’s current top-seven scorers who’s ever won the Art Ross

The hockey world likes to play it safe and, when it comes to the Art Ross Trophy, the play doesn’t get any safer than Connor McDavid.

The Edmonton Oilers captain has won two of the last three NHL scoring titles. He finished second last season, even though McDavid missed four games due to injury.

Oddsmakers have McDavid listed as the +225 favorite in the sportsbook’s Art Trophy odds, just ahead of teammate Leon Draisaitl, who’s at +275.

Odds to Win NHL Art Ross Trophy

Odds taken Dec. 2. 

McDavid currently leads the league in scoring with 51 points, one more than Draisaitl.

Draisaitl-McDavid A Deadly 1-2 Punch

Edmonton hasn’t seen anything like this since the halcyon days of the 1980s, when Wayne Gretzky and Jari Kurri combined to toy with NHL defenses.

Draisaitl and McDavid share the NHL lead in assists with 32 , or 1.10 per game. They’ve both been on the ice for 26 power-play goals. McDavid shares the NHL lead with two hat tricks. Draisaitl shares the NHL lead in game-winning goals with five.

Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl are off to a HISTORIC start. 😳 pic.twitter.com/gyGMdmKsS1

— NBC Sports Hockey (@NBCSportsHockey) December 2, 2019

Draisaitl also shares the NHL lead with 15 even-strength goals. McDavid tops the NHL in goals created with 18.7. Draisaitl is third at 18.1.

On the power play is where the two show the widest discrepancy. McDavid leads the NHL with 22 power-play points. Draisaitl is second with 18. But in power-play goals, while McDavid is tied for third with eight, Draisaitl is in a distant tie for 37th with just three goals on the man advantage.

McDavid’s been on the ice for a league-high 63 of his team’s goals. That’s one better than Draisaitl.

A November To Remember

At the 21-game mark, Draisaitl held a four-point advantage over McDavid in the Art Ross race. But that lead evaporated quickly.

McDavid was named November’s NHL First Star of the Month. He led all skaters with 13 goals and 26 points and found the scoresheet in all but two of the Oilers’ 14 games.

⭐ @cmcdavid97 topped the NHL in goals (13), points (26), power-play goals (6) and power-play points (11) across 14 contests to power the Pacific Division-leading @EdmontonOilers (16-9-3, 35 points) to a 7-5-2 November. #NHLStats pic.twitter.com/t8zPhvpyxZ

— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) December 1, 2019

McDavid’s month was highlighted by two hat tricks, including one in a six-point performance against the Colorado Avalanche on Nov. 14.

Art Ross Is Center Of Attention

Since the 1967 expansion that doubled the NHL from six to 12 clubs, teammates have finished 1-2 in NHL scoring in 11 seasons. In eight of those instances, the player that finished on top was a center.

McDavid is the center and Draisaitl is McDavid’s winger, although Oilers coach Dave Tippett is toying with the idea of separating them on different lines.

Leon Draisaitl is now 7th player in last 25 years to score 50 points in the first 29 games (or fewer) of a season.

Joins Mario Lemieux, Jaromir Jagr, Peter Forsberg, Rob Francis, Sidney Crosby and Connor McDavid (he did it in first period). #NHL

— Jason Gregor (@JasonGregor) December 2, 2019

Twice, Gretzky-Kurri ended up 1-2 in scoring and both times, Gretzky, the center, was the winner. He also came out ahead of teammate and defenseman Paul Coffey in the 1983-84 scoring race.

McDavid and Draisaitl appear to have turned the Art Ross Trophy pursuit into a two-player race – there’s a seven-point gap between second-place Draisaitl (50) and third-place Brad Marchand (43).

Scoring 101 featuring Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid (@cmcdavid97). 📓 pic.twitter.com/IxQkAkQHZi

— NHL (@NHL) December 2, 2019

McDavid traditionally grows stronger as the season continues. He averages 1.30 points per game prior to the All-Star break and 1.39 PPG post All-Star break.

Statistically, March has proven to be his best month. McDavid has averaged 1.55 PPG game in March for his career.

Pick: Connor McDavid (+225)