Odds and Picks to Win All 2021 NHL Player Awards

• Odds have been released on which players will win the major NHL Awards in 2021
• Andrei Vasilevskiy, Victor Hedman and Connor McDavid are among those favored to bring home hardware
• Read below for our 2021 NHL Awards predictions and analysis

The 2021 NHL season begins on January 13th, 2021, which means it’s time to place some early bets on which players will be taking home some individual hardware this year. Odds have been released for the Hart, Norris, Vezina and Calder Trophy, in addition to the Jack Adams Award.

In this unique 56-game schedule that features temporary divisional realignment, which players are the best bets in the odds? We take a look at last season’s winners and provide our predictions for 2021 below.

Hart Memorial Trophy 

• 2019-20 Winner: Leon Draisaitl, Edmonton Oilers
• 2020-21 Pick: Nathan MacKinnon, Colorado Avalanche (+550)

Edmonton Oilers’ phenom Connor McDavid is the favorite in the Hart Trophy odds, but it was Colorado Avalanche superstar Nathan MacKinnon who gave 2020 winner Leon Draisaitl the biggest challenge last season. MacKinnon finished second with 1162 total points from votes, while Draisaitl won with 1309 voting points. All signs are pointing to MacKinnon taking home his first MVP award in 2021.

MacKinnon has become one of the NHL’s top players over the last few years, and some experts would even take him on their team over McDavid at this point. The 25-year-old Halifax native is in the prime of his career and has stringed together three consecutive 90-plus point seasons. The Avalanche are going to be an absolute powerhouse this season with Devon Toews and Brandon Saad added to an already stacked roster. Bet on MacKinnon leading the Avalanche to a monstrous season and capturing some hardware in the process.

James Norris Memorial Trophy 

• 2019-20 Winner: Roman Josi, Nashville Predators
• 2020-21 Pick: Dougie Hamilton, Carolina Hurricanes (+650)

After a dominant postseason that saw him help lead the Lightning to the Stanley Cup and capture the Conn Smythe Trophy in the process, Tampa Bay blueliner Victor Hedman is favored to win his second Norris Trophy in 2021. Nashville Predators’ rearguard Roman Josi won the trophy last season after a remarkable season that saw him pace the Predators in scoring with 65 points in 69 games.

Hedman is as reliable as they come on the blueline, but it often takes some eye-popping offensive stats to capture this trophy. Carolina defenseman Dougie Hamilton is sitting at +650 in the Norris Trophy odds after a remarkable 2019-20 campaign that saw him put up 14 goals and 40 points in 47 games before suffering a leg injury that required surgery.

Hamilton is a key piece on this rising Hurricanes’ team that should challenge the Bolts for the Central Division crown in 2021. Hamilton logs major minutes and has scored 32 goals over just two years with Carolina. Considering the last four Norris winners have racked up 60-plus points, there’s value betting Hamilton here due to his role quarterbacking a lethal Carolina offense.

Vezina Trophy 

• 2019-20 Winner: Connor Hellebuyck, Winnipeg Jets
• 2020-21 Pick: Carter Hart, Philadelphia Flyers (+1000)

The 2020 Vezina Trophy voting was as close at it gets, with Jets’ netminder Connor Hellebuyck edging out Tuukka Rask of the Bruins by 24 voting points. It could be another very tight race in 2021 with no runaway favorite in the Vezina Trophy odds. I could easily see Hellebuyck going back-to-back given his skill and ridiculous workload, but Flyers’ goalie Carter Hart at +1000 is too good to pass up.

Hart is just 22 years of age, but he’s already proving to be one of the best goaltenders in the game. The youngster has posted a .915 save percentage and 2.59 GAA in 74 career starts with the Flyers and should deliver his best year yet behind a talented Philadelphia quad. Hart has a great chance of leading Philadelphia to a division title with the favored Bruins losing two of its top blueliners in Zdeno Chara and Torey Krug.

One primary reason I’m leaning Hart in this prop is due to his past play against Washington and Pittsburgh, two teams that are expected to challenge the Bruins for the East Division crown alongside the Flyers. Hart has allowed just 12 goals in six career starts against the Capitals and Penguins and appears to thrive in rivalry games when the pressure is on the most.

Calder Memorial Trophy 

• 2019-20 Winner: Cale Makar, Colorado Avalanche
• 2020-21 Pick: Kirill Kaprizov, Minnesota Wild (+400)

Predicting who will win Rookie of the Year in the NHL is never as easy as it seems. Take the 2019-20 season as an example.  The two top picks in the 2019 NHL draft, Jack Hughes (+230) and Kaapo Kakko (+240), were the clear 2020 Calder favorites in the opening odds. They wouldn’t even finish with a single vote by the time the trophy was handed out at the end of the year.

It comes as no surprise that 2020 first overall pick Alexis Lafreniere of the New York Rangers is the early favorite in the 2021 Calder Trophy odds. While the Rimouski star is destined for great things in the Big Apple, I’m not sure it immediately comes to fruition in Year 1. The Rangers are loaded on offense and won’t necessarily be counting on Lafreniere to take on a huge role in his rookie year.

Here’s a clip of Kirill Kaprizov’s goal in tonight’s scrimmage. The speed. The hands. The finish. pic.twitter.com/ptNqyTrnGF

— Dane Mizutani (@DaneMizutani) January 9, 2021

The best value here is KHL standout Kirill Kaprizov of the Wild, who is projected to start the season on Minnesota’s first line and first power-play unit alongside Kevin Fiala. At 23 years of age, Kaprizov is more physically mature than many of these rookies and will be expected to make a major impact. He’s racked up consecutive 30-plus goal seasons in the KHL and has the skill to lead the Wild into the playoffs in the West Division.

Jack Adams Award

• 2019-20 Winner: Bruce Cassidy, Boston Bruins
• 2020-21 Pick: Jared Bednar, Colorado Avalanche (+800)

Colorado Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar is favored to win the Jack Adams Award as the NHL’s best bench boss in 2021. Given the price tag, this is the award category where betting the favorite is the play. As mentioned previously, the Avalanche boast a ridiculously talented roster this season that should compete for the Presidents’ Trophy. It’s very possible the Avs put together a sensational campaign and run rampant over their competition.

The Avalanche will open camp with these lines and pairings: pic.twitter.com/CieDl6MoOJ

— Daily Faceoff – Fantasy (@DFOFantasy) January 3, 2021

If the Avalanche play to their full potential, it’s hard not to envision Bednar at least being a finalist. The Colorado head coach finished fifth in voting last year with 96 points, while Bruins’ bench boss Bruce Cassidy took home the trophy with 288 points. Cassidy guided the Bruins to the Presidents’ Trophy last year, and Bednar could follow in his footsteps with his stacked Avalanche this time around.

Boston was praised for allowing the fewest goals in the NHL last season, which is an area to consider for Colorado. The Avs’ offense is going to lethal like usual, but the defense has the chance to really shine with Makar having a full year of experience under his belt and Toews being brought into the fold. Bendar offers the most upside here due to the sky-high potential of this Avalanche team.