NHL Draft Odds 2023: Which Center Follows Connor Bedard to Stage First?

Nashville will have the full attention of the hockey world Wednesday night, and Canadian center Connor Bedard is the consensus first overall selection in the 2023 NHL Draft odds. Here’s our look at the draft based on the latest NHL odds across our best sports betting apps.

Canadian center Connor Bedard has been the consensus No. 1 pick in the 2023 NHL Draft for so long that it's been months since there was even a betting market available to back him to go first.

He’s been billed as a franchise-changing, generational talent since gaining exceptional status to the WHL during the 2020-21 season, and Bedard did nothing to sway opinions this year.

The future star put Team Canada on his back at the IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship, while also racking up a healthy 71 goals and 72 assists across 57 games for the Regina Pats. Regina didn’t have much playoff success, but Bedard still added another 10 tallies and 10 helpers over seven postseason contests.

With Bedard already written in stone to the Chicago Blackhawks, our attention shifts to who will follow. Here’s a peek at the various NHL draft markets available hrough our best sports betting sites.

NHL draft odds 2023: No. 2 pick

It’s looking more and more like Bedard and Fantilli will respectively go first and second overall in the 2023 NHL Draft. The Anaheim Ducks already have a talented young core, but they are lacking a true No. 1 center. 

Fantilli fits the bill.

Russian winger Matvei Michkov is going to make this draft interesting, though.

He posted record-setting numbers for a draft-eligible player in the KHL, and his offensive ability and acumen are elite. He’s going to put points on the board, but it might take some time for him to make his NHL debut. His contract with SKA St. Petersburg runs through the 2025-26 season.

Swedish center Leo Carlsson and American center Will Smith are also in the mix to go second overall, but I’m not expecting either to leapfrog Fantilli.

NHL draft odds 2023: No. 3 pick

The 2023 NHL Draft begins here, and it’s reinforced by the odds across our best live betting sites. 

Carlsson might be the consensus favorite to be selected third overall, but the Columbus Blue Jackets are a true wildcard, and general manager Jarmo Kekalainen has gone off the board in the past. Additionally, Columbus brought in head coach Mike Babcock and defensemen Ivan Provorov and Damon Severson, so the Blue Jackets have tipped their hand and are looking for both immediate improvement next season and a franchise center with the No. 3 pick.

Smith is also in the equation, and he has been connected to the Blue Jackets. However, he’s committed to Boston College for at least a freshman season, so he’s further from the NHL than Carlsson.

NHL draft odds 2023: No. 4 pick

The San Jose Sharks hold the No. 4 pick in the NHL Draft, and they land in a cushy spot to take whoever falls to them, or general manager Mike Grier could also opt to trade the pick.

There isn’t an immediate path to contention ahead for the Sharks, so swinging for the fences with Michkov is definitely in play. Additionally, this would also appear to be the perfect trade-down opportunity for Grier.

A coveted prospect will still be on the board, and that's why the odds across our best sportsbooks present multiple players in the mix to be selected fourth overall.

NHL Draft best bets

Matchup: Ethan Gauthier (-120 via DraftKings) vs. Lukas Dragicevic ⭐⭐⭐

This is strictly a bet on a scouting staff and general manager making a low-risk pick on Gauthier before taking a risk on Dragicevic.

Gauthier checks all the boxes and projects as a secondary scorer capable of playing an intelligent game without sacrificing any competitiveness. Add in his father, Denis Gauthier, playing 554 NHL games, and the second-generation forward should transition smoothly to the highest level.

I project Dragicevic to be an offensive-first defenseman with suspect skating ability and so-so defensive acumen. His offensive numbers skyrocketed in 2022-23, and the modern defenseman excels at both ends of the rink and skates well.

Draft position: Oliver Moore Under 14.5 (-115 via DraftKings) ⭐⭐

FanDuel is hanging this prop with Moore priced at -125 to go before the 15th overall pick, so I value the -115 number through DraftKings. For reference, bet365 is also hanging -120 odds.

Moore is a world-class skater with coveted two-way prowess and untapped offensive upside. He’s going to be a solid NHL player, and I’m anticipating a team banking on his high-floor, high-ceiling profile closer to pick 10 than 15.

Draft position: Gavin Brindley Under 29.5 (-110 via DraftKings) 

A praised, NHL-ready defensive game complements Brindley’s speed and compete level. His offense improved when he climbed the Michigan University depth chart, which quieted any concerns about his 5-foot-7, 170-pound frame to further showcase a complete player.

Brindley’s unlikely to be a go-to scorer at the highest level, but he’s skilled enough to contribute in a middle-six role while the rest of his attributes do the heavy lifting. I suspect he’ll be knocking on the NHL door after a second season in the NCAA, so a team in the compete-now window can land a quick return on investment by making him a late, first-round selection.

No. 2 overall pick: Adam Fantilli (-310 via FanDuel) 

This is an outlier price for Fantilli to go second overall, and I recommend pouncing on it.

The market has been pulled at some of our best live betting sites, but Fantilli was trading as low as -600 through PointsBet to go second on Tuesday. 

Nothing has changed, and the Anaheim Ducks still need the prototypical, two-way No. 1 center to steer their youth movement in the right direction. Fantilli is exactly that and probably then some.

Recent No. 1 picks

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NHL betting odds pages

NHL draft FAQs

When will the NHL draft be held?

The first round of the NHL Draft is scheduled for Wednesday, June 28th, 2023, and will be televised on ESPN, ESPN+ and Sportsnet starting at 7 p.m. ET. Rounds 2 through 7 will be held Thursday, June 29.

Who is favored to be drafted first overall? 

Canadian center Connor Bedard is a massive favorite to be selected with the first overall pick by the Chicago Blackhawks. He scored 71 goals and 143 points across 57 games for the Regina Pats of the Western Hockey League.

Who was drafted first overall in 2022? 

Slovakian winger Juraj Slafkovsky was selected first overall in the 2022 NHL Draft by the Montreal Canadiens. He played 39 games as a rookie for Montreal and registered four goals and 10 points. Slafkovsky missed the second half of the season with lower-body injury.

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