Betting Odds: Toronto’s Auston Matthews Among Players To Watch

After Auston Matthews’ dominant hat trick performance in Wednesday’s season opener, the Toronto Maple Leafs star’s NHL most valuable player odds will be worth watching between now and the end of the regular season in April.

Down by two goals late in the third period, the Leafs stormed back for a 6-5 shootout win over the Montreal Canadiens, scoring two empty net goals with the clock running down in regulation.

‘Animal On The Ice’

Overall, the futures betting lines on the Leafs’ Stanley Cup chances could  move, since the season opener exposed a porous defence and questionable goaltending. But that’s a story for another day.

Matthews, as one of the Top 3 players in the NHL, if he can stay healthy, is going to be a big discussion piece as the season evolves. As his teammate Mitch Marner said after Wednesday’s game, Matthews played like an “animal on the ice,” according to Sportsnet. Matthews apparently has fully recovered from the wrist injury that hampered his shooting ability last season.

According to BetMGM Sportsbook, the Hart Memorial Trophy (NHL MVP) odds on Matthews opened at 13.00, went to 15.00 on Oct. 9 and, even after the Wednesday opener, still sits at 15.00.

With the Rocket Richard Trophy (NHL scoring leader), though, betting on Matthews opened at 7.00, went to 4.00 on Oct. 9 and on Thursday moved to 3.75.

Player Props

Other interesting NHL player award props are seeing action this week, as the regular season now is in full stride.

At DraftKings Sportsbook, the Edmonton Oilers’ Connor McDavid is 1.95 (getting 77% of the handle and 75% of bets) to win the Hart, followed by the Colorado Avalanche’s Nathan MacKinnon (10.00), the Florida Panthers’ Matthew Tkachuk (13.00) and then Matthews (17.00).

DraftKings has McDavid at 3.20 to win the Rocket Richard, followed by Matthews at 6.50.