Goal this long-shot rookie to win Calder Trophy

The 2024-25 NHL season remains to be six weeks in the space however the betting market is just about settled by now, so we now have a good idea of where expectations sit ahead of the brand new campaign. 

And, judging by the percentages, perhaps no race is anticipated to be more dramatic than the hunt for the Calder Trophy, which is handed to the league’s Rookie of the 12 months. 

This may very well be the deepest rookie class the NHL has seen in greater than a decade and the Calder odds definitely reflect that notion. There are currently six players with odds within the single-digits as we barrel toward September. That’s extraordinary. 

Matvei Michkov, the No. 7 overall pick within the 2023 NHL Draft, is the present favorite at +350 at BetMGM. There was loads of speculation about when (if ever) the Russian phenom would make the move from Russia, but he ended all that talk this summer and is coming to Philadelphia after posting 41 points in 47 games with Sochi within the KHL. 

In most seasons, a prospect of Michkov’s caliber could be a runaway favorite on this market. But the identical may very well be said of San Jose’s Macklin Celebrini, the much-hyped No. 1 overall pick from this summer’s draft. As a substitute, Celebrini is the co-second favorite alongside Logan Stankoven of Dallas, at +400 odds. 

While Celebrini was busy becoming just the fourth freshman ever to win the Hobey Baker Award last spring, Stankoven burst onto the NHL scene by posting 14 points in 24 games within the regular season and eight more in 19 playoff contests. 

There’s barely any jump from Celebrini and Stankoven to a different San Jose Shark, Will Smith, and Anaheim’s Cutter Gauthier at +500. 

Smith was the No. 4 overall pick in 2023 and led all of faculty hockey with 71 points last season. Gauthier was chosen No. 5 in 2022 and finished second within the NCAA with 65 points in 2022-23. 

But wait, don’t ignore Lane Hutson of the Montreal Canadiens at +700 odds.

Inbuilt the mold of Quinn Hughes, the smooth-skating Hutson quieted any doubters by putting up 97 points in his two seasons at Boston University. 

What makes this market much more compelling is that there are some viable long shots within the weeds too.

Dallas’ Mavrik Bourque led the AHL in scoring last season and could be certainly one of the favorites in most years, but there’s just no room for him at the highest of the board so he’s floating at 30/1 at bet365. 

Betting on the NHL?

Toronto’s Easton Cowan can be a tempting long shot at 50/1 odds. Cowan tore up the OHL for 96 points in 2023-24, but he’s not a sure thing to make the Leafs out of camp, which is keeping his price from crashing. If Cowan makes the team, you’ll be thrilled to be holding this ticket. 

One other intriguing long shot is Maxim Tsyplakov of the Recent York Islanders. Much older than the remaining of this class, the undrafted Tsyplakov, 25, finished fourth within the KHL with 31 goals and earned himself a one-year take care of the Isles. 

So now that we’ve set the stage, how about some betting strategy. 

Well, for starters I’d urge some caution with Michkov considering the worth. Perhaps he makes a seamless transition to North America, but that is going to be a steep learning curve for a young person and John Tortorella isn’t probably the most forgiving of coaches. 

Given a alternative between Michkov and Celebrini, I’d go together with the latter, but that doesn’t mean the No. 1 overall pick is the perfect bet on the board. 

For my money, that title goes to Bourque, fresh off a point-per-game campaign within the AHL, at 30/1.

BEST BET: Mavrik Bourque to win Calder Trophy (30/1, bet365)