MacKinnon’s Out 3 Weeks As His Hart Trophy Odds Continue to Worsen

• Colorado Avalanche forward Nathan MacKinnon will miss three weeks due to a lower-body injury
• Despite MacKinnon’s injury, he is the second betting favorite to win the Hart Trophy behind Oilers’ phenom Connor McDavid
• Read below to see how MacKinnon’s injury impacts both his NHL Hart odds and Avalanche’s Stanley Cup odds

The Colorado Avalanche were dealt a blow Wednesday when it was announced superstar Nathan Mackinnon will miss approximately three weeks with a lower-body injury. The Avs are currently co-favored to win the 2022 Stanley Cup.

Despite MacKinnon’s injury, he remains the second betting favorite in the Hart Trophy odds behind Oilers’ phenom Connor McDavid. Can the Avalanche superstar still win despite missing significant time with a lower-body injury?

Let’s take a look at how Mackinnon’s injury impacts the NHL odds.

NHL Hart Trophy Odds

Odds as of Nov.10 at DraftKings

MacKinnon Out 3 Weeks with Lower-Body Injury

Avalanche leading scorer Nathan MacKinnon will be out approximately three weeks after suffering a lower-body injury Saturday against Columbus. When asked about the injury timeline, Colorado coach Jared Bednar said “give or take three weeks”. Mackinnon’s injury sidelines him as the current team leader in scoring with 10 points (one goal) in eight games.

Coach Bednar says Nathan MacKinnon is out “give or take 3 weeks”. Lower body injury vs Columbus. pic.twitter.com/LCMaz0lVrO

— Marc Moser TV (@RadioMoser) November 10, 2021

This is a tough loss for a Colorado team that has already gotten off to an underwhelming start. The Avalanche have faded from +500 to +650 in the Stanley Cup odds after beginning the season with a 4-5-1 record. The surging Florida Panthers are now co-favored alongside the Avalanche to win the Stanley Cup in the NHL odds.

MacKinnon’s injury isn’t likely to impact Colorado’s Stanley Cup odds, as it doesn’t appear to be anything long-term. Mackinnon has exploded for 45 points in his last 30 playoff games and should be back to full health come April. The superstar expressed his frustration with another second-round playoff exit last season and is determined to not let history repeat itself.

What Mackinnon’s injury might do is give the Avs some value in the NHL odds over the next three weeks. They went 6-1-1 without MacKinnon last season and have enough talent to warrant wagers at discount prices. They take on some middle-of-the-road teams in Vancouver, San Jose, and Seattle over the next week.

MacKinnon’s Injury Leads to Hart Trophy Odds Worsening 

Nathan MacKinnon has seen his Hart Trophy odds fade from +500 to +750 since the beginning of the 2021-22 NHL season. Considering Oilers’ forward Connor McDavid won the award unanimously last season, MacKinnon was going to need to have a monstrous season to prevent McDavid from getting the repeat.

CONNOR MCDAVID (@cmcdavid97) IS NOT A HUMAN BEING. pic.twitter.com/RWSFBnZISB

— NHL (@NHL) November 6, 2021

MacKinnon has gotten off to a slow start by his standards, and the missed time isn’t going to help his cause. The Avalanche winger had already missed the first two games of the season while in NHL COVID-19 protocol and has struggled to get into a rhythm. MacKinnon sits 60th in the NHL scoring race.

MacKinnon’s injury gave an immediate Hart Trophy odds boost to the third-favorite, Leon Draisaitl (+900). The German forward is having an outstanding season with 23 points in 11 games (tied with McDavid) and actually beat out his teammate for the trophy in 2020. Draisaitl’s 2022 Hart Trophy odds will continue to improve with MacKinnon sidelined.

That's 2️⃣0️⃣0️⃣ career goals for Leon Draisaitl! #NHLFaceOff pic.twitter.com/MA1433VFXe

— NHL (@NHL) October 20, 2021

Durability is a key asset to winning the Hart Trophy, as only six players (non-goalies) have won the award since 1947 by playing in fewer than 75 games. MacKinnon’s injury timeline sets him up to miss a minimum of 10 total games this season. MacKinnon also missed eight games last year, so it’s no guarantee he stays healthy upon returning.

What MacKinnon’s injury will likely do is speed up the timeline for McDavid to become the odds-on favorite to win the Hart Trophy. The phenom already scored an absurd goal against the Rangers that showed just how superior he is to everyone else. McDavid became a -150 favorite at midseason last year and could run away with the Hart Trophy for the second straight season.