Two weeks into the 2025-26 NHL season, the league is already serving up a thrilling blend of expected dominance and surprising upstarts. At the heart of the early action is Colorado Avalanche superstar Nathan MacKinnon, who’s wasted no time making his case as the frontrunner for the Hart Trophy. With the Avalanche boasting a 5-0-1 record and sitting atop both the Central Division and power rankings, MacKinnon’s electric start has hockey fans and oddsmakers buzzing about another MVP campaign.
MacKinnon’s numbers jump off the stat sheet: ten points in just six games, including six goals and a crucial game-winner. He’s not carrying the load alone, though. Linemate Martin Necas has matched him point-for-point, making the duo one of the most lethal in the NHL right now. According to the latest odds, MacKinnon leads the Hart Trophy race at +250, overtaking perennial favorite Connor McDavid, who’s currently listed at +270.
“There’s no reason to expect MacKinnon to slow down anytime soon,” noted Sports Interaction, highlighting his 367 points in 232 games over the last three seasons and his reputation for durability. But with Necas also producing at an elite level, some voters might find it tough to single out which Avalanche star is truly the most valuable. The Hart Trophy, after all, goes to the player deemed most valuable to his team—and Colorado’s dynamic duo is making that a real debate early on.
Elsewhere, the landscape for MVP hopefuls is just as intriguing. Jack Eichel of the Vegas Golden Knights is off to a blistering start, leading the league with 16 points (six goals, ten assists) in seven games. Despite the absence of playmaker Mitch Marner on his wing, Eichel’s offensive output has propelled him into the Hart conversation at +550 odds. “The Hart often goes to the most productive offensive player in the league, which Eichel is at the moment,” Sports Interaction observed, noting his separation from the rest of the Vegas roster by a three-point cushion.
Kirill Kaprizov of the Minnesota Wild is right in the mix as well, with ten points (five goals, five assists) in seven games and +600 odds to his name. However, Kaprizov’s case is complicated by the strong play of linemate Matt Boldy, who’s also racked up ten points. That parity, coupled with the fact that wingers rarely win the Hart—Nikita Kucherov in 2019 being the last to do so—could make Kaprizov’s path to the trophy a bit steeper.
Of course, no discussion of the Hart Trophy is complete without mentioning Connor McDavid. The Edmonton Oilers captain, widely regarded as the best player in the world, has had a surprisingly quiet start by his own astronomical standards: seven assists and no goals through six games. Still, it’s far too early to count out McDavid, who’s known for explosive stretches once he finds his rhythm. As one power ranking put it, “Connor McDavid is the best player in the world, and him not scoring a goal through the first six games of the season doesn’t change that.”
Beyond the household names, a few long-shot candidates are turning heads. New Jersey Devils center Jack Hughes, coming off an injury-hampered season but boasting a previous 99-point campaign, sits at +3500 odds. Mitch Marner, now skating for the Golden Knights, has slotted in seamlessly with two goals and eight assists in his first seven games, earning him +5000 odds. Dallas Stars’ Mikko Rantanen, adjusting to a new city but already tallying seven points in five games, is listed at +6000.
It’s worth remembering that last season saw a rare twist in MVP voting: Connor Hellebuyck of the Winnipeg Jets became the first goalie since 2015 to win the Hart Trophy, and he did so as a massive preseason long shot at +15000 odds. That win provided hope for underdogs everywhere, but the Hart has mostly been the domain of offensive juggernauts—no non-goalie MVP has finished below seventh in league scoring in the last 15 seasons. Defensemen? Forget about it. The last blue-liner to win was Chris Pronger, all the way back in 2000.
Looking at the broader league picture, the Avalanche aren’t the only team making waves. The Carolina Hurricanes have also come out flying, racking up wins and looking like a real threat in the wide-open Eastern Conference. The Vegas Golden Knights, despite some off-ice controversy with the signing of Carter Hart, remain a powerhouse, especially with Eichel and Marner clicking. Meanwhile, the Dallas Stars are getting solid production from their stars—Rantanen, Jason Robertson, and Wyatt Johnston—while the Utah Mammoth and Detroit Red Wings have surprised with strong early records.
Not every team has met expectations, though. The Tampa Bay Lightning and Ottawa Senators have stumbled out of the gate, while the Montreal Canadiens and Winnipeg Jets have shown flashes of promise. In Montreal, Cole Caufield’s back-to-back overtime winners have made him the talk of the town, while in Winnipeg, Mark Scheifele and Kyle Connor are keeping the Jets competitive as they look to shed the “frauds” narrative that’s dogged them in recent years.
As for the individual races, the Hart Trophy picture is as crowded as ever. MacKinnon’s early dominance has set the tone, but with so many elite talents chasing him—and the ever-present possibility of a goalie or long-shot candidate crashing the party—nothing is settled yet. The season is young, and if history is any guide, twists and turns are inevitable.
With the Avalanche rolling, MacKinnon and Necas lighting up the scoresheet, and a host of contenders nipping at their heels, the 2025-26 NHL season is shaping up to be a wild ride. Fans and pundits alike will be watching closely as the Hart Trophy race heats up, knowing full well that in hockey, fortunes can change in a heartbeat. For now, the spotlight shines brightest on Colorado—but the story is far from over.
