We are counting down the weeks until we get to see the Philadelphia Flyers’ young Russian phenom Matvei Michkov hit the ice in an NHL regular season game. It is all that has kept us comfortable heading into the 2024-25 Flyers season — the anticipation for greatness.
And while we might be possibly hyping up the 19-year-old a little too much as the potential savior of the franchise and that if he doesn’t become one of the best players in the league, that this team is doomed to have a prolonged period of mediocrity — the folks that make the betting odds for the NHL are also buying into the hype.
The most obvious bet, if you love Michkov like we all do, is for him to win the Calder Trophy as the league’s top rookie. The odds set by BetOnline, have the winger as the consensus favorite to win the award at +300. San Jose Sharks center and the most recent first-overall pick, Macklin Celebrini is second at +450, and Dallas Stars forward Logan Stankoven is third at +500. Unfortunately, for all of us, the stupid Cutter Gauthier is over there sitting at fourth, with +600 odds.
That was a given. Michkov will be one of the top betting favorites to win the Calder across all platforms (but we love you BetOnline for putting him at the top).
What is somewhat shocking, is Michkov’s involvement with the Rocket Richard Trophy, and his odds to be the NHL’s leading goalscorer for the 2024-25 season. BetOnline has Michkov at what seems like an obviously low mark — 80/1 odds — but when you glance around at what they have set when it comes star forwards across the league, it is tantilizing.
Auston Matthews leads the odds as a -175 favorite (duh), but scrolling down to where Michkov is and you come across some of the greatest players in the league. Below him, at 100/1 odds, sits players like Tage Thompson (who has scored 114 goals in his last three seasons), Jack Eichel, Elias Pettersson, Brock Boeser, and one guy named Sidney Crosby. Matvei Michkov is more of a favorite to finish the 2024-25 NHL season with the most goals than Sidney Crosby. That puts a smile on everyone’s face.
At the same 80/1 odds as Michkov, there just so happens to be one Alexander Ovechkin, and other countrymen Artemi Panarin — as well as Steven Stamkos. Three dudes who certainly know how to put the puck into the back of the net. All three of them hold the same odds as winning the Richard as a player who has never played a professional hockey game in North America.
While it is still incredibly low odds, it feels even lower when you consider that the last time a rookie led the NHL in goals was Teemu Selanne’s legendary rookie campaign where he tied with Alex Mogilny for the lead with 76 goals. As for in the Rocket Richard Trophy era (since the trophy has only been around since the 1998-99 season) the closest we got to it was Rick Nash leading the NHL in goals with 41 during his sophomore season, after winning the Calder, of course.
We want to temper expectations, so we aren’t let down, but boy, do these betting odds not help. Let’s go.
