NHL Player Props Today: Best Bets & Prop Picks for Thursday, Feb. 26

We're off to the races with the second game day after the Olympic break, and Thursday's action features 11 games. 

My NHL player props today feature the best two young players (Connor Bedard and Macklin Celebrini), and the Tampa Bay Lightning's Nikita Kucherov, who is scoring at an almost unprecedented pace. 

🏒 Best NHL player props today: Feb. 26 

See all of our experts' NHL picks based on the latest NHL odds.; picks rated on a 1-to-5 star confidence scale based on betting value.

Total wagered: 2.25 units | Max profit: 2.62 units

💰 Best NHL player prop bet today

Connor Bedard Over 0.5 assists (+105) at Predators 

Bedard will be raring to get back into action after having three weeks off, and he has fared well recently against the Nashville Predators. He has four assists in the previous four games against the Predators, including three in the last two in Nashville. 

Bedard had five points in as many games entering the Olympic break, and Nashville has the fourth-worst defensive record on home ice, allowing 3.37 goals per game. I'd play this bet to even-money odds of +100. 

🔥 More NHL player prop picks

Macklin Celebrini Over 1.5 points (+125) vs. Flames

Celebrini reaffirmed at the Olympics what everyone already knew: He is a generational talent. After finishing the tournament with the most goals (5), but falling short of his ultimate goal, I expect the 19-year-old to take his frustrations out on the league's second-worst road team. 

The Sharks' Hart Trophy odds contender scored at least two points in three of the six games before the break, and he exploded for four the last time the Flames played at SAP Arena. Celebrini has 11 multi-point games at home. 

I'd play this bet to +120. 

Nikita Kucherov Over 1.5 points (+112) at Hurricanes

Kucherov has resumed playing exactly as he left off before the Olympic break. He reeled off three points against the Toronto Maple Leafs at home, making it 17 multi-point games in the previous 21.  

It feels absurd writing those numbers; I can't even imagine what his teammates think of his exceptional exploits. Speaking of which, Kucherov features in my NHL award predictions. 

You won't be surprised to learn that he also terrorizes the Carolina Hurricanes, with 19 points in the previous 10 games against them. I'd play this bet to even-money +100 odds. 

💡 How I'm betting NHL player props today

Follow all of our NHL analysis and expert predictions this season.

As the NHL has only been back for two game days, I'm being more reserved with the units I invest. That's because most skaters are working from a clean slate after having three weeks off. For those who played at the Olympics, it's anyone's guess how they'll perform out of the gate.

I'm a big believer in momentum and how players performed in the last game or the previous five-game stretch. Considering the hiatus, I'm going to wait to see how each player performs in a certain sample size before increasing my investment. 

Bedard is well-rested and has enjoyed recent success against Nashville. That's why it gets a full unit. Bankroll management is a critical part of a successful long-term betting strategy, and it pays to be cautious in certain scenarios. 

🚀 Best NHL parlay picks today

I like this 3-leg SGP because of each leg's plus-money odds. I'm banking on a fresh Bedard and two players who notch multi-point outings more than most.