Pastrnak (+1000) & Marchand (+1200) Both Top-Ten in Hart Trophy Odds for NHL-Leading Bruins; Who’s Better Value?
- Bruins teammates David Pastrnak and Brad Marchand are both among sportsbooks top-eight Hart Trophy favorites
- Pastrnak shares the NHL lead in goals with 12
- Phil Esposito, in 1973-74, was the last Bruins player to win the Hart
Should you place a wager on David Pastrnak in the 2019-20 Hart Trophy odds, or is a vote for Brad Marchand more to your licking … er …liking?
The Boston Bruins, fresh off the heartbreak of a Game 7 Stanley Cup final loss to the St. Louis Blues, appear determined to get right back for another crack at the title. Boston shares the Atlantic Division lead and is also tied for second overall in the Eastern Conference standings.
Pastrnak and Marchand, the wingers on Boston’s Perfection Line on each side of center Patrice Bergeron, are significant elements to the Bruins’ fast start. Pastrnak holds a share of the NHL goal lead with 12 and is second overall in the scoring race with 24 points.
Marchand is fifth in NHL scoring with 21 points.
Sportsbooks rate both of them among the top-10 candidates to win the Hart. Pastrnak shares sixth spot in the odds with former Hart winner Alex Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals. Each is at +1000.
Marchand is right behind them, eighth in this betting market at +1200.
2019-20 NHL Hart Trophy Odds
| Player (Team) | Odds |
|---|---|
| Connor McDavid (Oilers) | +200 |
| Sidney Crosby (Penguins) | +700 |
| Nathan MacKinnon (Avalanche) | +700 |
| Auston Matthews (Leafs) | +700 |
| Nikita Kucherov (Lightning) | +800 |
| Alex Ovechkin (Capitals) | +1000 |
| David Pastrnak (Bruins) | +1000 |
| Brad Marchand (Bruins) | +1200 |
| Mark Stone (Golden Knights) | +1600 |
| Taylor Hall (Devils) | +2000 |
Odds taken on November 1, 2019.
You have to go all way back to 1973-74 to find a Bruin being awarded the Hart Trophy. The winner that season was Phil Esposito. Espo’s triumph was the fifth Hart win by a Boston player in six seasons.
A Steady Diet Of Pastrnak
Pastrnak is averaging two points per game. What’s astonishing about that is he launched the season with back-to-point pointless performances.
He’s just the sixth NHLer in the last 30 years to post four or more 10-game point streaks before the age of 24. Four of the guys on that list – Ovechkin, Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Eric Lindros – won the Hart Trophy.
David Pastrnak of the @NHLBruins became the sixth player to debut in the last 30 years with four or more point streaks of at least 10 games before age 24.
More #NHLStats: https://t.co/0bcdgN5HZ9 pic.twitter.com/QmoBEDDpKc
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) October 30, 2019
Pastrnak is on pace for 82 goals and 164 points. Yeah, that’s not going to happen, especially when you consider his career high for a single season is 81 points.
Pastrnak posted a four-goal game and a five-assist game during October. Nine of his 12 helpers were primary assists.
Marchand Making Noise
Marchand’s been called any number of things over the years but shrinking violet isn’t one of them. When he’s out there on the ice, you notice him. Not always for positive reasons, mind you. There was his licking of opposing players during the 2018 playoffs, for instance.
Brad Marchand (2-3—5) and David Pastrnak (0-5—5) are the third set of @NHLBruins teammates in the last 30 years to each have five points in a game. The others:
Joe Thornton and Glen Murray (Dec. 28, 2001)
Dmitri Khristich and Jason Allison (March 14, 1998)#NHLStats pic.twitter.com/fiuaKGiS2z— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) October 28, 2019
It can’t be debated that Marchand is a valuable cog for the Bruins. During a recent 7-4 victory over the New York Rangers, both Marchand and Pastrnak collected five points.
Does Either Have A Chance?
Marchand was a 100-point scorer last season, finished tied for fifth in scoring, and was also fifth in Hart Trophy balloting. But he garnered nary a first-place vote. He’s too much of a loose cannon to ever get the backing to win this award.
Pastrnak, though, is an intriguing possibility. His 81 points last season came in 66 games. That works out to a 101-point pace over 82 games.
Top shelf is where momma puts the… pasta? 🍝
David Pastrnak roofs one to top the scoring pic.twitter.com/tHo5g3J0P6
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) October 29, 2019
In truth, Pastrnak would need to put together a campaign like last year’s Hart Trophy-winner Nikita Kucherov’s 128-point performance to warrant consideration for the award.
Pastrnak’s a much better bet for the Lady Byng or Rocket Richard Trophy.
An industry veteran, Bob literally taught the course on the history of sports at Elder College. He has worked as a Sports Columnist for Postmedia, appeared as a guest on several radio stations, was the Vice President of the Society For International Hockey Research in Ontario, and written 25 books.
