The National Hockey League has many end-of-the-season awards, and most sportsbooks offer odds on who will win. These long-range plays can be fun, monitoring the player or players you bet on as they progress through their season. And, of course, Stanley Cup odds are updated daily.
Throughout the season, we will monitor Calder Trophy odds on this page. This trophy is awarded annually to the NHL’s top rookie. We will write in-depth about the favorites and contenders and what news affects the odds.
Here are the current odds for the Calder Trophy across the best sports betting apps:
Why Connor Bedard is the Calder Trophy Odds Favorite
Chicago’s Connor Bedard is the overwhelming favorite. Even a casual NHL fan knows Bedard. He is the highly-touted rookie experts consider the “Next Great Thing” in the NHL.
Bedard was drafted with the first overall pick by the Chicago Blackhawks in June. The Blackhawks won a lottery to acquire the first overall pick.
Bedard has dazzled throughout the preseason with his stick-handling and skating skills, scoring prowess, and overall hockey sense and smarts. Often, 18-year-olds don’t come out of the draft and earn a roster spot with their NHL club, but Bedard has.
Following his development will be entertaining. Only seven overall No. 1 picks have won the Calder Trophy. Bedard’s current odds to win Rookie of the Year at BetMGM is
Best Calder Trophy Odds Available
The following table lists the top candidates for the Calder Trophy and the best odds available at its designated sportsbook. Click on the odds to sign up at the sports betting app and place your bet.
Latest News on Calder Trophy
Anaheim Ducks center Leo Carlsson made his NHL debut last week and promptly scored his first goal. Carlsson was the second overall pick in June’s draft, surprisingly being selected over Adam Fantilli, who went third to the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Carlsson missed the Ducks’ first two games with a minor injury but when he returned he immediately played on Anaheim’s first line. In preseason Calder Trophy odds, Carlsson was the 10th choice at +4400. Now, he is sixth at +3000 on DraftKings.
Chicago Blackhawks forward Connor Bedard remains the overwhelming favorite in Calder Trophy odds at -170 on DraftKings. Arizona forward Logan Cooley is next at +700.
The (-) means Bedard is the odds-on favorite, and you would need to bet $170 to win $100.
Bedard has two goals and two assists in six games. Cooley, the third overall pick in 2022, has four assists in five games for the Coyotes.
It’s obviously way too early, but this rookie class might prove to be something special. The draft class of 2023 was highly regarded before the picks were made and their play has been impressive so far.
Bedard, Fantilli and Carlsson are 18-year-olds playing against men — in the world’s best hockey league — and already making their mark.
Bedard, Fantilli and Carlsson each scored in their first NHL games — Carlsson the only one to score a goal. Only once has the top three picks scored in their NHL debuts. In 2009, top pick John Tavares, second pick Victor Hedman and third pick Matt Duchene each recorded an assist in their debut.
There already is talk that Carlsson is a future star. He has size (6-foot-3, 194 pounds) with a blistering shot and is strong skater. If he remains one of the Ducks’ top centers, he will get plenty of ice-time and opportunities to put up points.
Of course, Bedard is the favorite given his acclaim coming into the league, but Carlsson might be more than a long-shot sleeper for the Calder Trophy. Given Carlsson’s +3000 Calder Trophy odds, he could be an intriguing, long-term play with some value.
Current Odds for Top-10 Calder Trophy candidates (DraftKings):
- Connor Bedard, Chicago: -170
- Logan Cooley, Arizona: +700
- Luke Hughes, New Jersey: +1200
- Adam Fantilli, Columbus: +1200
- Devon Levi, Buffalo: +1500
- Luke Evangelista, Nashville: +3000
- David Jiricek, Columbus: +3000
- Simon Nemec, New Jersey: +3000
- Matthew Knies, Toronto: +3000
- Leo Carlsson, Anaheim: +3000
It’s always interesting to follow the Calder Trophy race and track the rookies, as they are the future of the league. One of the expected future stars is Philadelphia Flyers forward Matvei Michkov, who is under contract for three years to a Russian team in the Kontinental Hockey League.
Experts had Michkov pegged as the second-best prospect going into June’s draft. He dropped to the Flyers with the seventh pick because of concerns about Michkov’s contract and the geopolitical situation in Russia.
Michkov has played 14 games in the top-tier KHL and he has seven goals and seven assists. When he arrives in North America, Michkov could be another star in a draft class full of them.
Other Rookies to Watch
- Jakob Pelletier (Calgary Flames)
- Luke Evangelista (Nashville Predators)
- Simon Nemec (New Jersey Devils)
- Leo Carlsson (Anaheim Ducks)
- Simon Edvinsson (Detroit Red Wings)
- Dustin Wolf (Calgary Flames)
- Marco Rossi (Minnesota Wild)
- Logan Stankoven (Dallas Stars)
- Olen Zellweger (Anaheim Ducks)
- Tyson Foerster (Philadelphia Flyers)
- Tye Kartye (Seattle Kraken)
- David Reinbacher (Montreal Canadiens)
- Jiri Lulick (Buffalo Sabres)
Other Top Candidates
Luke Hughes, Defenseman, New Jersey Devils
After a brilliant career at the University of Michigan, Hughes played four regular-season games last season with the Devils, scoring one goal and one assist. He also appeared in three playoff games and had one assist.
Hughes is an offensive-minded defenseman who can skate like the wind. He’s sure to put up points on a team that will be successful this season. He was the fourth overall pick in 2021.
Logan Cooley, Forward, Arizona Coyotes (+600, Caesars)
In September, Cooley scored one of the season’s highlight goals in a preseason game against the Los Angeles Kings in Melbourne, Australia.
Cooley unexpectedly went pro after his freshman season at the University of Minnesota, scoring 22 goals and 38 assists in 39 games. He was the third overall pick in 2022.
Cooley has dazzling offensive skills and always has been a goal-scorer. On what is expected to be a struggling Coyotes team, Cooley could get plenty of ice time and opportunities to get on the scoresheet.
Adam Fantilli, Center, Columbus Blue Jackets (+1200, Caesars)
Last season at Michigan, Fantilli won the Hobey Baker Award as college hockey’s best player. He was the third freshman to win the award. He scored 30 goals and 35 assists in 36 games for the Wolverines. His 65 points were the most in the country.
Fantilli was drafted third overall by the Blue Jackets, one spot below where most draft experts believed he would go. He fills an enormous hole for the Blue Jackets, who have looked for a big center for years.
Devon Levi, Goalie, Buffalo Sabres
A goalie hasn’t won the Calder Trophy since 2008-09, when Columbus’ Steve Mason took home the hardware. Only 16 goalies have won the Calder.
Levi played seven games last season for Sabres, going 5-2 with a 2.94 goals-against average and a .905 save percentage.
Levi played 34 games last season for Northeastern University (17-12-5, 2.24 goals-against average, .933 save percentage. Levi was a 2020 seventh-round draft pick of the Florida Panthers.
Other NHL Awards and Trophies
- Art Ross Trophy — Top point scorer
- Calder Memorial Trophy — Top rookie
- Selke Trophy — Top defensive forward
- Hart Memorial Trophy —Regular season MVP
- Conn Smythe Trophy —MVP of Stanley Cup playoffs
- Jack Adams Award — Coach of the Year
- Norris Memorial Trophy — Top defenseman
- Lady Byng Memorial Trophy — Sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct
- Ted Lindsay Award —Most outstanding player as voted by the NHL Players’ Association
- Vezina Trophy — Top goaltender
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