The Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy is one of the most prestigious individual awards in hockey and also the trophy that gets the most bets each year up there with the Hart Trophy.
Given annually to the NHL’s top goal-scorer, the award has been claimed by some of the league’s most elite snipers since its was first introduced in 1999. Superstars like Alex Ovechkin, Sidney Crosby, and Steven Stamkos have all had their names etched on the trophy, but in the most recent years, Auston Matthews and Connor McDavid have dominated the race.
For the 2024-25 season, the battle for the Rocket Richard Trophy is heating up. Leon Draisaitl is holding on as the frontrunner for the coveted trophy, but several other elite goal-scorers, including William Nylander, Mark Scheifele, Sam Reinhart, and Kyle Connor, are still in the hunt.
| Name | Team | Odds | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Leon Draisaitl | Edmonton Oilers | -1400 | 43 |
| William Nylander | Toronto Maple Leafs | +1900 | 33 |
| Mark Scheifele | Winnipeg Jets | +2200 | 32 |
| Sam Reinhart | Florida Panthers | +2500 | 31 |
| Kyle Connor | Winnipeg Jets | +3000 | 30 |
At this point in the season, Leon Draisaitl looks like the safest bet to win the Rocket Richard Trophy and it’s not even close. The Edmonton Oilers star forward has racked up an impressive 43 goals in 58 games, giving him an absolutely massive lead in the NHL goal-scoring race.
With 44 assists and 87 points, he’s not just lighting the lamp night after night, but also playing a big role in Edmonton’s offense.
Draisaitl has already proven he can be a dominant scorer and we all know that. However, playing alongside Connor McDavid, who knows how to set up plays, he gets plenty of opportunities. Whether on the power play or at even strength, he’s in the right place at the right time and has the skills to find the back of the net.
If he continues at this pace, we think it’s hard to see anyone catching him. The -1400 odds just go to show how big of a lead he has.
William Nylander is having a career year with the Toronto Maple Leafs as he tallied 33 goals in 58 games. That’s not bad, but barring Draisaitl getting injured, catching up is a tall order hence his odds.
On top of that, he’s also added 25 helpers, bringing his total to 58 points. While Nylander has always been known as a skilled goal-scorer, he’s taken his game to another level this season. He’s showing more confidence and a willingness to attack the net.
However, there’s a big hurdle in his path — injuries. He’s currently listed as day-to-day with an undisclosed issue, which could slow him down at a critical point in the season. If he misses a game or two, we could see his odds slip just a bit.
At +1900 odds, the sportsbooks still aren’t giving him great chances to overtake Draisaitl. If he gets hot down the stretch, and Draisaitl takes some breaks as Edmonton seals their playoff fate, he could close the gap.
Mark Scheifele is quietly putting together a solid season for the Winnipeg Jets and he still remains in the hunt for the trophy. With 32 goals and 33 assists in 58 games, he’s a name that we didn’t expect to see in the race. His 65 points also go to show that he’s more than just a goal-scorer — he’s also a key playmaker.
The challenge for Scheifele is that he’s not known for putting up monster goal totals. Sure, he’s a solid player and he’s been a point-per-game player for much of his career, but he’s never even hit the 50-goal mark.
The odds reflect this as well, as +2200 tells us he’s a long shot to catch Draisaitl.
Sam Reinhart has been one of the biggest surprises of the season to many NHL fans.
The Florida Panthers forward has 31 goals and 32 assists in 58 games and that’s good enough to keep himself in the Rocket Richard conversation.
Reinhart has thrived on Florida’s top line and power play unit. His goal-scoring has been a huge reason for the Panthers’ success again this year.
However, much like Scheifele, he’s not a player who is typically expected to win a goal-scoring race and definitely not one we thought would be in the conversation.
His career high in goals before this season was 33, so while he’s having quite a year for himself and his team, it’s tough to see him catching Draisaitl.
Rounding out the contenders is Kyle Connor. He’s another Winnipeg Jets sniper who has 30 goals and 41 assists in 58 games. Connor has always been a consistent goal-scorer and he’s undoubtedly having a great season, but he’s a bit behind the leaders this year.
At +3000 odds, Connor would need an unbelievable scoring streak and have the other 5 get icy cold to have a shot at the Rocket Richard Trophy. Of course, he’s capable of going on a tear — he’s had multiple 40+ goal seasons and this will probably be another one — but the gap between him and Draisaitl seems too big at this point.
Right now, Leon Draisaitl is the clear favorite, and just looking at the numbers, it’s easy to see why.
With 43 goals and a significant margin over the rest of the field of contenders, it’s hard to imagine anyone catching him.
If you’re looking for a longshot bet, William Nylander at +1900 might be worth a small bet. If he can stay healthy and go on a scoring tear, this bet could really pay out in a big way. But realistically, this is easily Draisaitl’s race to lose.
We’re going to go with Leon Draisaitl to win the 2024-25 Rocket Richard Trophy. He’ll claim the title of the NHL’s top goal-scorer for the first time in his career.
It’s the final day of games before the playoffs officially begin! We move to Memphis…
The final spot of the Eastern Conference playoff will be filled on Friday when the…
Two more Play-In games are on tap tonight. Let’s focus on the 9/10 matchup in…
With everything on the line, the Canadiens host Carolina in a do-or-die game at the…
Happy Tuesday to all! We hope you’re fired up about the NBA playoffs that are…
Columbus is clinging to playoff hopes and enters Philly on fire. Here's our pick for…
This website uses cookies.