maple leafs

Matthews odds on favorite to win Hart, Leafs among favorites for Cup

Apr 11, 2022 • 11:00 am

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Around this time of year, the odds prognosticators begin to focus on which players are the favorites for individual awards and what teams have a pathway towards winning the Stanley Cup, and this season Auston Matthews and the Toronto Maple Leafs are among the favorites.

According to Bovada, Matthews (who currently leads the NHL with 57 goals, is within one point of being only the third Leaf to reach 100 points, and who named the NHL’s first star of the week on Monday) has the best odds at -400 to be the first Leaf to win the Hart Trophy since Ted Kennedy in 1955.

Other leading contenders are Connor McDavid (+400), Jonathan Huberdeau (+1500), Igor Shesterkin/Johhny Gaudreau (+2000), and Leon Draisaitl (+5000). In spite of McDavid having another 100+ point season, it is likely that Draisaitl will bleed some votes away with 50 goal/100 point campaign. Matthews main competition could be Huberdeau, who has 104 points with the Atlantic-leading Florida Panthers.

The Leafs (who with their 3-2 win over Montreal on Saturday clinched a playoff spot and reached the 100-point mark) are +900, ranked fourth behind the Colorado Avalanche (+350), Florida Panthers (+500), and Calgary Flames (+850), and ahead of the two-time Stanley Cup-winning Tampa Bay Lightning (+1000).

Toronto does have the fourth-best record in the NHL at 47-19-6, but their path from the outset looks to be difficult facing either Boston, Tampa Bay or Carolina in the first round.

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Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported on the “32 Thoughts… intermission segment on Saturday that the Leafs and prospect Matthew Knies are scheduled to discuss his future sometime this week.

The 2021 second-round pick’s college season ended last Thursday, as the University of Minnesota lost to Minnesota State-Mankato in the Frozen Four. A number of college players, including top picks Owen Power, Matty Beniers, and Kent Johnson have turned pro and are all expected to make their NHL debuts this week. Knies finished his freshman season with 33 points (15 goals, 18 assists) in 33 games, but reportedly is pondering returning pro with the prospect of the Golden Gophers having an excellent chance of winning a National Championship next year.

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