McDavid Now a +135 Favorite to Win 2020 Art Ross; Pastrnak Back at +2200

• Connor McDavid is the favorite to win the Art Ross Trophy as NHL scoring leader
• The two-time winner is listed at +135 odds 
• McDavid was the NHL scoring leader in 2016-17 and 2017-18

Did Thursday’s Connor McDavid vs John Carlson Art Ross Trophy showdown leave you on the edge of your seat?

McDavid’s Edmonton Oilers played host to current NHL scoring leader Carlson and the Washington Capitals at the Rogers Place.

While no one truly expects Carlson (a defenseman) to lead the league at season’s end, McDavid consolidated his status as Art Ross favorite by outpointing Carlson 3-1. His Oilers also rallied for a 4-3 overtime triumph over the Caps.

McDavid’s Art Ross Trophy odds, which opened at +280, are now down to +135.

2019-20 NHL Art Ross Trophy Odds

Odds taken on Oct. 24, 2019.

McDavid led the NHL in scoring in 2016-17 and 2017-18 before giving way to Nikita Kucherov of the Tampa Bay Lightning last season.

McDavid On A Mission

Edmonton’s star hit a bump in the road after getting off to a white-hot start. McDavid went three games without a point after posting 17 points through his first seven games. That performance included a five-point game against the Philadelphia Flyers and a four-point effort against the New York Rangers.

The first-overall selection in the 2015 NHL entry draft, the 22-year-old McDavid has collected at least 100 points in each of his past three seasons. He led the NHL with 100 points in 2016-17, and won his second straight Art Ross Trophy with 108 points in 2017-18.

McDavid posted a career-high 116 points last season despite missing four games. That was only good enough for second in the scoring race behind the 128 points of Tampa Bay’s Nikita Kucherov.

Retweet if you think Connor McDavid is the best player in the @NHL!! 17 points in 7 games, come on…. #McJesus

— Jeremy Roenick (@Jeremy_Roenick) October 17, 2019

Nonetheless, McDavid opened as the preseason chalk to capture his third Art Ross Trophy in four seasons. His hot start only served to fortify that status as the man to beat in this betting market.

Johnny On The Spot?

When Capitals defenseman Carlson collected 18 points during his first 10 games of the season, he joined a very exclusive club. The only other defensemen in NHL history with 18 points through the first 10 games are Bobby Orr and Paul Coffey.

Not bad company to be keeping.

Carlson leads the NHL scoring race with 21 points, one better than McDavid. No defender has won the Art Ross since Orr in 1974-75. In fact, Orr, also top scorer in 1969-70, is the only defenseman to ever lead the NHL in scoring.

Carlson’s currently on pace for 144 points. The last NHL rearguard to hit the century mark was Brian Leetch of the New York Rangers with 102 points in 1991-92.

McDavid Is McDandy

Assuming Carlson doesn’t keep up his current torrid pace – a fairly safe bet, since Orr has held the NHL record for points in a season by a d-man (139) since the 1970-71 campaign – who else is capable of unseating McDavid?

Carlson had an assist tonight, so he maintains NHL lead with 21 points.

McDavid pulls within one with 20 points. Draisaitl at 19.

— Tom Gulitti (@TomGulittiNHL) October 25, 2019

Kucherov is averaging a point per game with nine in nine games. He’ll need to pick up the pace to be part of this conversation. Boston’s David Pastrnak has 10 goals and 17 points but his career high is 81 points.

McDavid’s Oilers teammate Leon Draisaitl is the current second choice in the odds at +700. He’s right there with McDavid at 19 points but how often is Draisaitl going to get a point when McDavid doesn’t?

McDavid and Draisaitl remain lethal in OT pic.twitter.com/KWA5GTQDzD

— Brady Trettenero (@BradyTrett) October 25, 2019

This is McDavid’s trophy to lose. Hopefully, you got action on him at +280. If not, +135 is about as good as you’ll do from here on out, so why are you waiting? (The only acceptable answer is “injury concerns”.)

Pick: Connor McDavid (+135)