NHL Rocket Richard Trophy Odds: Can Auston Matthews Hold On to Lead?

The halfway point of the NHL season is coming up and the goal-scoring race is heating up.

Unlike the rest of the player awards in the NHL, the Rocket Richard Trophy is a battle between the top players to walk away as the NHL's leading goal scorer. So far this season, the lead has seen several changes at the top, making for an exciting second half.

Let's take a look at the Rocket Richard Trophy odds, per FanDuel Sportsbook.

NHL Rocket Richard Trophy Odds

Auston Matthews (-150)

Surprise, surprise -- Auston Matthews leads the NHL in goals, and as he's been all season long, he's the favorite to take home his third Rocket Richard Trophy.

Matthews has long been the best goal scorer in the NHL, but after coming up short in a major way last season with just 40 goals -- following a 60-goal campaign -- it was only a matter of time before he would get back to doing what he does best.

Through 36 games, Matthews has recorded an incredible 30 goals, and it gives him a two-goal lead on the next-best player. It's hard to see a world where Matthew isn't able to keep pace and take home the award -- as shown by his -150 odds as the season reaches its halfway mark.

Playing on a great offensive team, averaging 4.47 shots per game, and being the focal point of the Maple Leafs' attack, he should be able to keep the pace as long as he's healthy. While 60 goals are well in his view, beating his career-best also seems possible at his current pace, as well.

It's all about catching up to Matthews from here on out.

David Pastrnak (+430)

David Pastrnak has had a complete performance this season, but the goals have taken a slight hit as a result.

The Boston Bruins' winger has 56 points through 39 games, posting 24 goals and 32 assists. Of course, it's the goals that matter in this conversation, and with 24 on the year, Pastrnak is going to have to get hot as he has in the past if he wants to catch up with Matthews.

Boston's star is coming off a 61-goal campaign but has had to deal with defenses focusing on him much more than in previous seasons. Not only has he established himself as the Bruins' best player, but with the departures of Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci, the focus has been put directly on Pastrnak with few to take away from it.

At +430 odds, it's hard to see Pastrnak being able to make up the six-goal differential with other names ahead of him, and Matthews looks as good as ever. There's always a chance with his skill set, but it's a big ask.

Nikita Kucherov (+650)

Nikita Kucherov is in second place with 28 goals, and based on how he's played in the 2023-24 season, he's well on his way to not only trying to get the Rocket Richard Trophy but also the NHL's triple crown.

Through 40 games, Kucherov is just two behind Matthews for the league lead in goals. It's an impressive accomplishment, as he's got the potential to shatter his previous career-high of 41 goals.

Overall in his career, he's topped the 40-goal plateau only twice, which makes it difficult to get behind him taking the Rocket Richard Trophy at the end of the season.

The odds (+650) are in his favor to take a shot with him just behind Matthews, but history is not on his side.

Sam Reinhart (+850)

What a season it's been for Sam Reinhart, and he doesn't seem to be stopping any time soon.

Reinhart is in the midst of the best season of his career. The 28-year-old has 28 goals this season, just 5 off of his career-high with more than half a season to go. He's reached a hot streak where he's recorded five goals over the last three games, including a hat trick in his latest outing.

The main reason that it's difficult to get behind Reinhart keeping this pace is that he has an insane shooting percentage. He has 28 goals on just 101 shots. Those shots rank 71st in the NHL while, unsurprisingly, his 27.7% shooting percentage leads the entire league. It's difficult to see that keeping up with averaging 2.59 shots per game.

Reinhart has been simply "out of this world" in his overall play, but sooner than later, that percentage is likely to start going down and so will his current trend in the goal column.

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