NHL Draft: Odds, bets to consider

Draft-based prop bets are the theme of the week.

A day after the next wave of future NBA stars heard their names called at the podium, our attention shifts to the NHL Draft, which begins Friday evening.

Here's what kind of prop bets are being offered:

Who will go 3rd overall?

This is the most intriguing prop on the board considering this is likely where the draft breaks. It feels as though nobody is truly sure what the Blackhawks are going to do at No. 3.

"The Blackhawks are playing this one close to the vest," an observer on the ground told theScore on Friday. "We heard about a week ago that Byram was going to be the pick, but not sure if that's changed. The Turcotte buzz here in Vancouver doesn't appear to be going away. Dach would be the sleeper pick if they pull a surprise."

Turcotte missed some time this season, but as an Illinois native with top-end scoring touch, he's frequently been linked to Chicago at No. 3. Byram is seen as the best player available at this slot, though talent in the organization's defensive pool has others thinking Chicago may base this pick more off need. Dach and Cozens are the wild cards who've gained some traction to go third overall, albeit under the radar.

Going off what we've been told, we'd play both Byram and Dach at plus-money.

Over/Under 1 goaltender taken in Round 1 (Over -130 / Under -110)

It'd be a slow burn for over bettors, who would be wise to simply check the board following the first round. Goalies haven't been sought early in the draft recently - the last netminder to be taken in the top 20 was Andrei Vasilevskiy back in 2012. You may be waiting a while, even for a push and your money back.

Spencer Knight, who theScore profiled, could go as early as the mid-teens if a team's really in love with him, but it's tough to peg a surefire second for this one to go over. There were no goalies taken in the opening round of theScore's final mock draft, so we'd go under in this spot and hope Knight falls out of the first.

Over/Under 2.5 QMJHL players drafted in 1st round (Over -160 / Under +120)

Raphael Lavoie is the lone QMJHL skater who's a consensus first-rounder. It gets a little tricky after that. Jakob Pelletier and Samuel Poulin could realistically be selected in Round 1, too, although there are enough credible mock drafts - including theScore's - which have only two skaters from the Q taken in the first. We're leaning under here, also.

Over/Under 5.5 OHL players drafted in 1st round (Over -110 / Under -130)

Under bettors will like the first half of this draft. There shouldn't be an OHL player selected until the middle of Round 1, until Arthur Kaliyev, who should start the domino of OHL skaters. Ryan Suzuki, Philip Tomasino, Thomas Harley, and Connor McMichael have been slotted as first-round players. That makes five, meaning another look to the under.

Alex Kolodziej is theScore's betting writer. He's a graduate of Eastern Illinois who has been involved in the sports betting industry for 11 years. He can quote every line from "Rounders" and appreciates franchises that regularly wear alternate jerseys. Find him on Twitter @AlexKoIodziej.