Bettors backing McDavid to win Conn Smythe, split on Stanley Cup champ
Bettors are putting their money on Connor McDavid to win the Conn Smythe Trophy but remain split on who will hoist the Stanley Cup.
The Oilers captain is garnering 15.08% of all bets on the playoff MVP market at theScore Bet and ESPN Bet, nearly twice as much as Sergei Bobrovsky, who comes in second. McDavid also accounts for 22.96% of the market's handle (money wagered), substantially more than Matthew Tkachuk's 9.77%.
McDavid - with his playoff-leading 31 points - is +200 (33.3% implied probability) to win the Conn Smythe, while Edmonton remains the underdog at +115 (46.5% implied probability).
The Panthers opened at -130 over the Oilers once the series was set, odds that shifted slightly in their favor to -135.
The small move is not a result of one-sided action. The Panthers are receiving 44.72% of the bets compared to the Oilers' 55.28% when it comes to who will win the Cup. The handle splits are even tighter, with the Panthers amassing 49.94% of the money wagered.
However, Florida is getting some love to win the series opener as -140 home favorite. It accumulated 61.1% of the game's moneyline handle.
Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final begins Saturday at 8:00 p.m. ET.