Every so often, a hockey prospect comes along who is so much better than everybody else. This season, that honor goes to future Chicago Blackhawk Connor Bedard.
However, just because Bedard is set to have his name called first at the 2023 NHL Draft Wednesday night doesn't mean there aren't other NHL odds markets worth exploring. With seven rounds spanned over two days, the draft offers teams the opportunity to either rebuild and find a new face of the franchise while also giving contenders a chance to retool and bolster their depth in search of climbing the Stanley Cup odds board.
Connor Bedard is going first, but the top of the board has begun to see some movement as the draft is just hours away. Check out our NHL Draft prop picks for even more analysis before the first round gets underway.
Favorite to be picked first overall in the 2023 NHL Draft
Connor Bedard
Heading into the 2023 NHL Draft, Connor Bedard doesn't even have markets open for you to bet on as it's so damn obvious he'll be joining the Chicago Blackhawks next season. Bedard is the hottest prospect since Connor McDavid, and we've all seen what he's accomplished thus far in his career.
The 17-year-old possesses a shot we've seen in very few players, and although his skating isn't quite at the level of McDavid's, Bedard can find open space and create scoring chances just about any time he graces the ice. The former Regina Pat potted 71 goals in 57 games last season in the WHL, and with all the tools to dominate the NHL, Chicago will be happy to pick him less than six months after parting ways with Patrick Kane.
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2023 NHL Draft: Odds to be picked second overall
Player | Odds to go second overall |
---|---|
Adam Fantilli | -350 |
Matvei Michkov | +350 |
Leo Carlsson | +450 |
Will Smith | +3,500 |
Ryan Leonard | +7,500 |
Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook on June 28, 2023 as of 4:20 p.m. ET.
Although this market is fairly lopsided, at least we can bet on it. Adam Fantilli finds himself in the "Jack Eichel" situation where if he were to be in just about any other draft, he'd likely go first. Fantilli is coming off a stellar season with the University of Michigan and has everything a team is looking for in a top-line center.
The 6-foot-2 middleman possesses elite skating ability and can fill the net with the best of them — as well as being able to create for others. The Anaheim Ducks missed out on Bedard in a similar fashion to Sidney Crosby, but Fantilli has the potential to be a better consolation prize than Bobby Ryan.
Although Fantilli is still -300 to go No. 2 bettors should be aware of the monster steam Matvei Michkov has picked up, jumping from +2,500 to +350 to go second overall.
2023 NHL Draft: Odds to be picked third overall
Player | Odds to go third overall |
---|---|
Leo Carlsson | -140 |
Will Smith | +185 |
Adam Fantilli | +200 |
Matvei Michkov | +1,500 |
Ryan Leonard | +3,000 |
Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook on June 28, 2023 4:00 p.m. ET.
Leo Carlsson is not in the same orbit as Bedard or Fantilli, but the SHL center has an NHL-ready body and possesses a two-way game that could help the Columbus Blue Jackets in the future.
After originally seeing his odds jump to -350 on Tuesday, Carlsson's odds quickly shifted down to the -140 range, while Matvei Michkov's odds took a nosedive from +1,200 to +2,000 before coming back to +1,500 as of Wednesday afternoon. Columbus has made it clear it's looking to pick up a cornerstone center with this pick, but whether that be Carlsson or Will Smith remains to be seen.
2023 NHL Draft 1/2/3/4 exact order odds
Order | Odds |
---|---|
C. Bedard, A. Fantilli, L. Carlsson, W. Smith | +120 |
C/ Bedard, A Fantilli, L. Carlsson, W. Smith | +375 |
C. Bedard, A. Fantilli, L. Carlsson, M. Michkov | +500 |
C. Bedard, A. Fantilli, L. Carlsson, D. Reinbacher | +800 |
C. Bedard, A. Fantilli, M. Michkov, L. Carlsson | +2,800 |
C. Bedard, A. Fantilli, M. Michkov, W. Smith | +6,600 |
Odds courtesy of bet365 on June 28, 2023 as of 4:00 p.m. ET.
Understanding NHL Draft betting
Most sportsbooks will display odds in the American format as listed above. Adam Fantilli stands as the heavy favorite to go second overall in the 2023 NHL Draft, so his odds have a minus (-) sign ahead of the number.
- Adam Fantilli -425
This meant that a bettor needed to wager $425 to win $100 by betting on Fantilli. Everyone else in that field had plus (+) odds to win.
- Leo Carlsson +300
Leo Carlsson has the second-best odds to go No. 2 at +300. A bettor would stand to profit $300 for every $100 wagered on Carlsson.
If American odds aren't your thing, simply use a tool like our odds converter to switch the odds to decimal or fractional format. Most online sportsbooks also give you the option to change the odds format that you see.
What is the NHL Draft?
The NHL Draft is an annual event conducted by the National Hockey League to select new players for its 32 teams. It serves as a mechanism for distributing talent among the clubs and ensuring competitive balance in the league. The draft allows teams with poorer records from the previous season to have a higher chance of selecting top-rated players, while teams with better records receive lower picks.
The NHL Draft has a rich history that dates back to the early years of the league. The inaugural NHL Draft took place in 1963 at the Queen Elizabeth Hotel in Montreal. Just 21 players were selected as most of the major prospects had already signed with clubs.
In the early years, the draft process was much less formalized compared to today. It didn't become a public event until 1980, and it wasn't televised until 1984.
The NHL Draft has seen many changes throughout its run, with the order being solely based on regular-season records the season prior. In 1995, all that changed when the Draft Lottery was introduced, and only teams who missed the postseason were involved. Many changes were made to the format to combat tanking, and as of 2022, only the Bottom 11 teams have a shot at capturing the No. 1 pick and it's still not a guarantee.
In recent years, the NHL Draft has become a highly anticipated event, attracting significant media coverage and fan interest. Draft prospects are scouted extensively, and their performances in junior, international leagues, or college hockey can greatly impact their draft stock. The draft provides an opportunity for teams to add young, promising talent to their rosters and potentially reshape the future of their franchises.
NHL Draft betting trends
Here are some recent trends you'll want to keep in mind when betting on NHL Draft odds:
- Positions have been reasonably well-distributed among the No. 1 picks. Over the past 20 NHL Drafts, nine have been centers, six have been wings, and five have been defensemen.
- Canada continues to produce top-end talent, with 10 of the last 20 picks coming from the Great White North.
- Although NCAA hockey has elite talent, just one No. 1 overall pick in the last 20 years came from college — Owen Power from Michigan.
How to watch the NHL Draft
The 2023 NHL Draft will air in its entirety on ESPN and NHL Network beginning at 8:00 p.m. ET.
First overall NHL Draft picks since 2004
Year | Player (Team) | Position |
---|---|---|
2022 | Juraj Slafovsky (Montreal Canadiens) | LW |
2021 | Owen Power (Buffalo Sabres) | D |
2020 | Alexis Lafreniere (New York Rangers) | LW |
2019 | Jack Hughes (New Jersey Devils) | C |
2018 | Rasmus Dahlin (Buffalo Sabres) | D |
2017 | Nico Hischier (New Jersey Devils) | C |
2016 | Auston Matthews (Toronto Maple Leafs) | C |
2015 | Connor McDavid (Edmonton Oilers) | C |
2014 | Aaron Ekblad (Florida Panthers) | D |
2013 | Nathan MacKinnon (Colorado Avalanche) | C |
2012 | Nail Yakupov (Edmonton Oilers) | RW |
2011 | Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (Edmonton Oilers) | C |
2010 | Taylor Hall (Edmonton Oilers) | LW |
2009 | John Tavares (New York Islanders) | C |
2008 | Steven Stamkos (Tampa Bay Lightning) | C |
2007 | Patrick Kane (Chicago Blackhawks) | RW |
2006 | Erik Johnson (St. Louis Blues) | D |
2005 | Sidney Crosby (Pittsburgh Penguins) | C |
2004 | Alexander Ovechkin (Washington Capitals) | LW |