2023 NHL Draft Betting Odds: Predicting the Top 5 Selections

• With Connor Bedard widely expected to be selected first overall in the 2023 NHL Draft, betting value can still be found throughout the top five.
• Andrew Fantilli is heavily favored to be selected overall at -700, but Matvei Michkov has sneaky longshot value at +1600.
• Leo Carlsson, William Smith, and Ryan Leonard round out the first five selections on Wednesday night.

NASHVILLE – Connor Bedard is expected to go first overall in the 2023 NHL Draft, as the Canadian standout is such a lock that there aren’t even odds available for it. Michigan standout Adam Fantilli is a very likely second overall selection by the Anaheim Ducks, who saw his odds grow more expensive from -600 to -750 on Tuesday morning.

No. 2 Overall Pick Odds

• Adam Fantilli -750
• Leo Carlsson +400
• Matvei Michkov +1600
• William Smith +5000

Adam Fantilli is the best talent available at this pick, but the Anaheim Ducks could make a surprise move and select winger Matvei Michkov. According to an NHL Draft evaluator, “They’re loaded at center…Michkov is an elite scorer. It’s close enough between him and Fantilli.”

The -750 odds at legal NHL betting sites on Adam Fantilli indicate the Anaheim Ducks will select him, but his odds are too steep to wager on.

The Anaheim Ducks selected Russian defenseman Pavel Mintyukov 10th overall in the 2022 NHL Draft. With a plethora of young talent and the willingness to draft players for the future, there is some value to Matvei Michkov’s +1600 odds to be selected second overall by the Anaheim Ducks.

No. 3 Overall Pick Odds

• Leo Carlsson -300
• William Smith +200
• Adam Fantilli +450
• Matvei Michkov +800

Leo Carlsson has an argument to go second overall to the Anaheim Ducks based on his size and high hockey IQ. The Swedish center is 6-foot-3, 194 pounds and can play the wing if necessary.

With the Columbus Blue Jackets making trades for Ivan Provorov and Damon Severson, they indicated a sense of urgency to win now. Between William Smith (+200) and Leo Carlsson (-300), Carlsson’s playmaking abilities make him the better wager considering Columbus acquired goal scorer Johnny Gaudreau last season.

No. 4 Overall Pick Odds

• William Smith -170
• Leo Carlsson +225
• Matvei Michkov +325
• David Reinbacher +500

The San Jose Sharks are projected to take William Smith (-170) with the fourth overall selection in the 2023 NHL Draft. Will Smith was a standout in the US National Team Development Program, tallying nine goals and 11 assists across seven USA U-18 games.

Smith has good value at legal online sportsbooks to be selected fourth overall as a gifted puck handler and dominant goal scorer by a rebuilding San Jose Sharks team.

No. 5 Overall Pick Odds

• Ryan Leonard +160
• David Reinbacher +200
• Matvei Michkov +250
• William Smith +600
• Dalibor Dvorsky+700
• Zach Benson+1200

The fifth overall selection in the 2023 NHL Draft is the first without a heavy legal sports betting favorite. Ryan Leonard is favored with +160 odds to be selected fifth overall by the Montreal Canadiens.

Montreal needs scoring, which Ryan Leonard can provide from the center position or from the wing. However, Montreal also needs right-shooting defensemen, which can be found with David Reinbacher at +200 odds.

Since the Canadiens traded for Justin Barron at the deadline last season, it’s more likely that Montreal focuses on the offensive side of the puck. Bet Ryan Leonard’s +170 odds to be the fifth overall selection in the 2023 NHL Draft.

News tags: Anaheim Ducks | Andrew Fantilli | Columbus Blue Jackets | Connor Bedard | David Reinbacher | hockey | Matvei Michkov | Michigan Wolverines | NHL | NHL draft | Ryan Leonard | San Jose Sharks | William Smith