The 2021 NHL regular season will be one of the more interesting ones in recent league history. Due to the coronavirus, the league realigned into four divisions placing all the Canadian teams in one and the remaining U.S. teams in the other three all organized by geographic location.
Where to Bet on the NHL in 2021
The league will play a 56-game schedule with teams only playing the other teams in their division. That alone will make the season interesting. Playing the same teams over and over will also have an impact on some individual player props bets.
Here’s how the race for the Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy, given to the NHL player that scores the most goals in a season, will play out.
You can bet on NHL player props at BetOnline (Canada/USA) this season.
Matthews the Favorite
Toronto’s Auston Matthews is the favorite to score the most total goals this season. The Maple Leafs have four of the best forwards in the game and are favored to win the North Division. Matthews scored 47 goals last season, second in the NHL. He is listed at +250, the only player listed under +650. In four seasons in Toronto, Matthews has scored 40, 34, 37, and 47 goals. He is one of the league’s best players and plays on one of the NHL’s most-feared lines.
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Pastrnak or Ovechkin?
Last season, Boston’s David Pastrnak and Washington’s Alexander Ovechkin tied for the most goals scored with 48. It was the third straight year that Ovechkin either won or tied for the Richard Trophy. Ovechkin, listed at +650, has won the most Richard Trophies with nine for his career. There is also some precedent for Ovechkin in a shortened season. He led the league with 32 goals in 48 games in 2012-13, a season shortened by a lockout.
Pastrnak, who is given +900 odds, underwent hip surgery in the offseason. He was slated to return to the team in mid-February, but is ahead of his rehab schedule. Still, Patrnak, who also had 48 goals last year, will not play in all 56 games this season.
MVP Contender
Last year’s NHL MVP Leon Draisaitl is another potential strong bet for this NHL player prop. Draisaitl led the league in points with 110 last year, scoring 43 goals (4 th ) in the process. He is listed at +900 along with his Edmonton teammate Connor McDavid.
McDavid finished last season second in the NHL in scoring with 97 points on 34 goals. In his previous two seasons, the 24-year-old McDavid scored 41 goals each and has the ability to win this year’s Richard Trophy.
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The Longshot
Bettors looking for a value pick can take a look at Steven Stamkos of Tampa Bay, one of only three others since the 2007-08 season to lead the NHL in goals scored. Stamkos tied Pittsburgh’s Sidney Crosby with 51 goals that season. Stamkos is listed at +1600.
The real value may be on Colorado’s Nathan MacKinnon. Many believe he is the best player in the game right now. The Avalanche are favored to win the Stanley Cup and the big reason is MacKinnon who scored 35 goals and had 93 points last season.
MacKinnon has had just one 40-goal-plus season (41 in 2018-19), but he has the talent to score a goal per game. He is given +1400 odds to win the NHL total goals scored player prop.
