Whether the Montreal Canadiens will make the playoffs is still up in the air. Their win against the Florida Panthers on Sunday helps their case, and the play of one of their best players was a massive reason for the victory. When looking at the updated NHL Awards betting odds, one Hab has gone head and shoulders above his competition.
Lane Hutson
Lane Hutson has been among the betting favorites for the Calder Memorial Trophy for most of the season. However, he is starting to widen the gap between him and most of the rookies. It was a four-horse race between Hutson, Macklin Celebrini, Matvei Michkov, and Dustin Wolf, but Michkov and Wolf have fallen off.
Hutson is now a -380 favorite at Fanduel Sportsbook to be the winner. He is matching rookie records for a defenseman that have only been broken by Hall of Famers and some of the best defensemen in history. If Hutson continues to add to his points total for the rest of the season, he will likely run away with the award voting.
Celebrini and Michkov's production has fallen off over the past few weeks, which is largely contributing to Hutson's rise. He has also been the best player on a Canadiens team that is miraculously making a playoff run and will be a big reason why if they finish the job and make the postseason.
Wolf was the one in the most danger of stealing the trophy from Hutson. He was posting elite numbers and also had the Flames on the precipice of playoffs. However, it's looking more likely that they'll be on the outside looking in and Wolf hasn't been helping as much over the past few weeks.
Martin St. Louis
Spencer Carbery is running away with the Jack Adams Trophy odds, with Dean Evason being the far-away second option. It'd be hard not to give Carbery the award after leading the Washington Capitals to a likely President's Trophy. Evason is also worthy of the award after the hurdles he navigated for the Columbus Blue Jackets this season.
Martin St. Louis is a distant third in the betting odds, but it'd be a nice honor to be one of the three finalists for the award. St. Louis would be in the same boat as Carbery if the Canadiens make the playoffs, as no one expected them to make it this far.