The 2022 NHL Entry Draft is coming up on Thursday as the top prospects in the game will aim to help out the most talent-needy teams. This year, there is no clear-cut consensus No. 1 pick, so there could be a lot of moving and shifting at the top of the draft. Nonetheless, with some fun props on the board, let’s take a look at the best bets to make for this Thursday’s event.
Juraj Slafkovsky to Go First Overall
If you’re looking at the NHL odds and listening to the media, you’re probably thinking that Shane Wright is signed, sealed and delivered as the No. 1 pick in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft. Regardless of what people say, that’s far from a certainty.
The Montreal Canadiens haven’t decided and, if anything, they’ve been sending smoke signals out there. Shane Wright underwhelmed a little bit last season. The price on him is -250 while Slafkovsky pays +120 if he goes No. 1. There’s a real chance it happens, so take a flier.
Slafkovsky Under 2½ Draft
It’s hard to imagine a scenario where Slafkovsky isn’t first or second. Sure, there could be some wild things that happen, but this is all but a certainty. While -300 is not a cheap price in the sportsbook, it seems like a good choice for your NHL picks because he’s very, very, very unlikely to go third or later. Every single mock draft out there has him going first or second
Simon Nemec Over 4½
Simon Nemec is one of the better offensive defensemen in this draft and he’s not going to fall too far. At the same time, seeing him going in the top four spots seems like a reach. We’re almost sure to have Slafkovsky and Wright go No. 1 and No. 2 in some capacity. Logan Cooley is also going to go ahead of Nemec, so that already takes up three of the top four.
Overall, there is sort of a consensus top six, but Nemec tends to be viewed at the back-end of that. That’s not a slight on who he is as a player but more the reality of the players ahead of him.
The most likely landing spots for Nemec are somewhere in the range of No. 5, No. 6 or No. 7. Landing at No. 6 with the Columbus Blue Jackets probably makes a ton of sense. At any rate, the over seems to be the play here given that he’s faced with a number of 4½.
Lekkerimaki Under 9½
Jonathan Lekkerimaki is an interesting player to look at for those who bet online because his over-under sits right at a number where most people think he’s going to land. If you read through the latest mock drafts and listen in to what the experts are saying, they seem to be pairing him with the Buffalo Sabres, who are at the No. 9 overall spot of the draft.
The Sabres need more goal scoring and more help up front, and Lekkerimaki is one of the more gifted scorers in this draft. He’s got a great shot and should fit in well with the young core that they’re building. Go under with this prop.
