Huberdeau Closes on Art Ross Trophy

Connor McDavid is looking to win the Art Ross Trophy for the fourth time in the last six seasons. McDavid is currently leading Jonathan Huberdeau by two points with a little over a week left in the regular season, but Huberdeau is right behind McDavid in terms of the most recent Art Ross Trophy betting odds. McDavid and Edmonton have five more games, while Huberdeau and Florida have six more games, so this race could come down to the final day.

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CURRENT ART ROSS TROPHY BETTING ODDS

• CONNOR MCDAVID (EDMONTON) -110
• JONATHAN HUBERDEAU (FLORIDA) +120
• JOHNNY GAUDREAU (CALGARY) +800

Jonathan Huberdeau had moved ahead of Connor McDavid in the Art Ross race on Wednesday after a three-assist performance the previous night. However, McDavid retook the lead after notching a goal and two assists in a 5-2 win over Dallas on Wednesday night. Huberdeau will get the chance to re-take the lead on Thursday as the Florida Panthers welcome the lowly Detroit Lions to south Florida.

We haven’t seen Huberdeau perform well against Detroit this year though. He failed to register a point against the Red Wings last weekend, and he has just two assists through three games against this team. If Huberdeau doesn’t have a good performance against the Red Wings this time, he might fall behind McDavid for good as Florida has three straight games against playoff teams before closing out against minnows Ottawa and Montreal north of the border. Additionally, the Panthers might decide to give him rest as they will soon lock up the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference.

Edmonton doesn’t have that luxury. The Oilers have yet to clinch a playoff spot, although they have been in good form lately. However, McDavid has been held without a point in three of his last five games and had a four-game scoring drought when the teams were at even strength prior to his three-point performance against Dallas on Wednesday night. McDavid might be held in check by Colorado once again on Friday night, but he has the chance to explode in his last four games. That makes McDavid the best bet to win the Art Ross Trophy.

Johnny Gaudreau can’t be counted out yet though. Gaudreau is currently five points behind McDavid in the Art Ross race, and the Flames have some favorable matchups in their last five games. Gaudreau has seven points in his last three games, so he is hot entering the final week of the regular season.