Patrick Kane Given 5-1 Odds to Win Rocket Richard; Is There Value?

• Patrick Kane is second in the NHL in goals with 40 on the season
• Alex Ovechkin leads the league with 44 goals
• Kane has 18 goals since January 1st, tied for the most in the NHL

March hockey is fantastic.

You get all the down-to-the-wire playoff races and of course the chases for individual awards. Alex Ovechkin is still in the driver’s seat to win his eighth Rocket Richard Trophy, but there are other candidates creeping close enough to be worth a look.

One in particular is Chicago Blackhawks superstar Patrick Kane.

2019 Rocket Richard Trophy Odds

*Odds taken 3/1

Betting against Ovechkin in a goal scoring race may seem like a short sighted play, but Kane is on an offensive run that has seen his Rocket Richard odds shorten from +1200 a month ago, and absolutely makes him the value play here.

Nobody Can Stop Kane in 2019

Since January 1st, nobody in the league has scored more than Kane’s 18 goals. If you want to look at just the last month, he has 11 goals in only 13 games, which was four more than Ovechkin had in February.

Do you wish you could watch ALL 4⃣0⃣ of Patrick Kane's goals?

WELL NOW YOU CAN! 🚨🚨🚨 pic.twitter.com/e5zQtrXXke

— Blackhawks Talk (@NBCSBlackhawks) March 1, 2019

He has been an offensive dynamo, dragging the Blackhawks back into the playoff hunt. With the final wild card spot in the West likely going to be a race to the finish, Chicago should be playing meaningful games to the end of the year.

Kane won’t rest and all of his offense will be needed.

Rocket Richard the One Trophy Kane Doesn’t Own

The trophy room at the Kane residence is something to behold.

In addition to his three Stanley Cups, he has a Calder, Conn Smythe, Art Ross, Ted Lindsay, and Hart Memorial Trophy. The only meaningful award he hasn’t won is the Rocket Richard for the leading goal scorer.

If Kane is in a race late in the season, you’ll bet he’ll be absolutely committed to capturing it in what might be his best chance.

Patrick Kane nets goal no. 4️⃣0️⃣@88PKane is the seventh player in @NHLBlackhawks history to post multiple 40-goal seasons. #NHLStats pic.twitter.com/jLlZX6Accz

— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) February 28, 2019

The Price is Right For Kane

Let’s consider this a two-horse race. Leon Draisaitl, John Tavares, and other contenders certainly could score in bunches and bridge the gap, but it’s likely Kane is the only one close enough to pose a real threat.

Now, Ovechkin may be the favorite but the -500 price tag leaves little wiggle room when trying to find value. Kane, on the other hand, is paying +500, despite being clearly the hottest player in hockey for the last couple months.

He is currently playing on a line with Jonathan Toews, who is sure to provide Kane many opportunities to add to his goal total. If it isn’t 5-on-5, look for Kane to tally on the Blackhawks powerplay, which has moved all the way up to eighth in the league thanks to his scoring run.

🚨 Patrick Kane for MVP | We support this message 👍 pic.twitter.com/pMMF8n2x77

— NBC Sports Chicago (@NBCSChicago) February 28, 2019

Kane is an underdog, but one that is absolutely capable of making up the four-goal difference to pass Ovechkin and win the Rocket Richard.

Take the plunge, sprinkle some action, and enjoy Kane’s awesome goal celebrations as he makes you a big winner down the stretch.

PICK: PATRICK KANE (+500)