Rocket Richard Trophy Odds 2024-25: Matthews Remains Favorite After Slow Start
Auston Matthews isn't easy to knock off his Rocket Richard Trophy odds pedestal. Despite his comparatively slow start with four goals over 10 games, the Maple Leafs sniper remains the clear favorite at our best NHL betting sites.
Nikita Kucherov, last season's Hart Trophy finalist, has been enjoying another scorching start while scoring eight goals in nine games. He's the player posing the most significant threat to Matthews while trading at +650, according to the NHL odds.
The leaderboard looks drastically different from how it appeared to start the season, with Tage Thompson, Mikko Rantanen, and Cole Caufield putting themselves among the front-runners thanks to sizzling starts.
Rocket Richard Trophy odds 2024-25
Here are the latest notes regarding the Rocket Richard trophy odds:
- Nico Hischier, who is tied with Caufield for the most goals (nine), is listed at +10000 through BetMGM
- Kucherov opened at +3000
- Thompson has logged seven goals in 10 games. His odds opened at +8000, and his career-best is 47 goals
- Caufield is playing in his fourth full season while looking to score 30 goals for the first time. He netted a career-best 28 last season
Rocket Richard Trophy odds favorites 2024-25
Auston Matthews (+125)
There's ample reason Matthews remains the 2024-25 Rocket Richard odds favorite. His goal-scoring resume speaks for itself. The 26-year-old reached the 60-goal plateau in two of the last three seasons.
Matthews has failed to reach the 40-goal mark just twice over eight seasons. He scores goals as consistently as his team disappoints in the playoffs.
And while he's currently tied for 49th with Alexander Ovechkin and many others, Matthews is a streaky scorer who can turn it on in a flash.
Plus, he leads the league in shots, averaging 4.7 per contest. His 8.5 shooting percentage through 10 games is just under four percent below his previous career low (12.2% in 2022-23).
Positive regression is almost certainly coming. And when it does, watch out. However, his current +125 odds at BetMGM are way too short to pull the trigger on now.
The +180 from Caesars is more palatable. Still, those odds are a bit too expensive.
Best odds: +180 via Caesars | Implied probability: 35.71%
My 2025 Rocket Richard Trophy player to watch
Leon Draisaitl (+2000)
Leon Draisaitl will need to go to work without his partner in crime for a while. While it's nice to have the world's best player feeding you the puck, Draisaitl should be just fine without Connor McDavid, at least temporarily.
That will also give Draisaitl, who has registered two 50-plus-goal seasons in the last three, a chance to step up. He's tallied six goals on 26 shots, a 23.1% shooting percentage. The 29-year-old is renowned for maintaining a high shooting percentage, so 23% isn't farfetched.
His previous best is 21.1% (2022-23).
The Oilers will want to see Draisaitl shoot more though, even if that means his shooting percentage decreases a bit. He needs to for a chance to win this award for the first time. A winning $10 bet would profit $200.
Best odds: +2000 via BetMGM | Implied probability: 4.76%
How to bet on Rocket Richard Trophy futures
There are a few critical areas to pay close attention to before locking in your Rocket Richard futures pick.
First, take a look at the player's recent goal-scoring record, ensuring they are consistently productive and have been knocking on the door in recent seasons. Also, ensure the player is still in his prime and amid an upward trajectory.
It's also important to pick a player who plies his trade for an offensively explosive team. In addition, who is the player you're looking at on a line with? Does he have one of the world's best set-up men feeding him the biscuit, akin to McDavid dishing to Draisaitl and Zach Hyman on the power play?
Make sure the player you're backing isn't injury-prone or susceptible to missing extended periods.
Look at how proficient the power play has been in recent years and whether the player you're backing is in a weaker division. That will facilitate more opportunities.
How to read Rocket Richard Trophy futures odds
Reading Hart Trophy odds is straightforward. Odds are usually presented in a format like +500 or -200. Positive odds (e.g., +500) show how much profit you’d make on a $100 bet.
For example, a $100 bet at +500 odds would win you $500, plus your original $100 stake, totaling $600. Negative odds (e.g., -200) indicate how much you need to bet to win $100. So, a $200 bet at -200 odds would win you $100, plus your $200 stake, totaling $300.
These odds also reflect the probability of a team winning the championship. Lower odds (e.g., +300) suggest a higher likelihood, while higher odds (e.g., +2000) indicate a lower probability.
Sportsbooks adjust these odds based on performance, injuries, trades, and betting patterns.
Rocket Richard Trophy odds over time
(Odds via FanDuel)
| Player | Opening odds (July 2) | Sept. 29 | Oct. 30 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Auston Matthews | -115 | -115 | +125 |
| David Pastrnak | +550 | +550 | +650 |
| Leon Draisaitl | +750 | +750 | +1900 |
| Kirill Kaprizov | +750 | +750 | +3000 |
| Connor McDavid | +1000 | +1000 | +2000 |
| Filip Forsberg | +1200 | +1200 | +5000 |
| Nathan MacKinnon | +1500 | +1500 | +3000 |
| Brayden Point | +2000 | +2000 | +3000 |
| Zach Hyman | +2000 | +2000 | +8000 |
| Jack Hughes | +3000 | +3000 | +5000 |
| Mikko Rantanen | +3000 | +3000 | +1400 |
| Nikita Kucherov | +3000 | +3000 | +850 |
| Brady Tkachuk | +3000 | +3000 | +8000 |
Rocket Richard Trophy past winners
| Year | Player | Team | Preseason odds |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-24 | Auston Matthews | Toronto Maple Leafs | +300 |
| 2022-23 | Connor McDavid | Edmonton Oilers | +1200 |
| 2021-22 | Auston Matthews | Toronto Maple Leafs | +350 |
| 2020-21 | Auston Matthews | Toronto Maple Leafs | +450 |
| 2019-20 (tie) | David Pastrnak | Boston Bruins | +1600 |
| 2019-20 (tie) | Alex Ovechkin | Washington Capitals | +550 |
| 2018-19 | Alex Ovechkin | Washington Capitals | +650 |
| 2017-18 | Alex Ovechkin | Washington Capitals | +500 |
| 2016-17 | Sidney Crosby | Pittsburgh Penguins | +1400 |
| 2015-16 | Alex Ovechkin | Washington Capitals | +250 |
| 2014-15 | Alex Ovechkin | Washington Capitals | +300 |
Rocket Richard Trophy winners by team
One of the newer individual awards, the Rocket Richard Trophy was first handed out in 1998-99, with Teemu Selanne securing the honor. If the team is not listed, they haven't had a player who won the Rocket Richard.
| Team | Rocket Richard Trophies |
|---|---|
| Washington Capitals | 9 |
| Toronto Maple Leafs | 3 |
| Tampa Bay Lightning | 3 |
| Calgary Flames | 2 |
| Florida Panthers | 2 |
| Pittsburgh Penguins | 2 |
| Anaheim Ducks | 2 |
| Atlanta Thrashers | 1 |
| Boston Bruins | 1 |
| Columbus Blue Jackets | 1 |
| Edmonton Oilers | 1 |
| Detroit Red Wings | 1 |
| Colorado Avalanche | 1 |
| San Jose Sharks | 1 |
NHL betting odds pages
| Stanley Cup Odds | Calder Trophy Odds | NHL Draft Odds |
| Conn Smythe Trophy Odds | Norris Trophy Odds | |
| Hart Trophy Odds | Jack Adams Award Odds | |
| Vezina Trophy Odds | Rocket Richard Odds |
Rocket Richard Trophy FAQs
Who is the Rocket Richard Trophy favorite?
Auston Matthews is the 2024-25 Rocket Richard Trophy odds favorite. He's getting +125 odds, which carry an implied win probability of 44.44%, according to our odds calculator.
Who won the Rocket Richard Trophy last year?
Matthews won last year's Rocket Richard Trophy after scoring 69 goals. It was his third Rocket Richard in the last four seasons.
When will the Rocket Richard Trophy be decided?
The 2023-24 regular season ended on Thursday, April 18, which was when Matthews was anointed the NHL's top goalscorer for a third time.
The Rocket Richard is awarded to the player who has the most regular-season goals.
Who has won the most Rocket Richard Trophies?
Alexander Ovechkin has won nine Rocket Richard Trophies, the most of any player.
Which active player has won the most Rocket Richard Trophies?
Oveckin has nine Rocket Richard Trophies, while Matthews has three.
Who won the most consecutive Rocket Richard Trophies?
Ovechkin won the award four times in a row from 2013 to 2016.
Why was it named the Rocket Richard Trophy?
The trophy is named after former Montreal Canadiens superstar Maurice “Rocket” Richard, the first player to score 50 goals in a season and the first to reach the 500-goal plateau.
When was the first Rocket Richard Trophy awarded?
The first Rocket Richard Trophy was handed out in 1999.
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