NHL draft best bets: 3 players worth targeting
The 2023 NHL Entry Draft is less than a week away! All the attention is being focused on Connor Bedard and who will follow him - Adam Fantilli or Leo Carlsson? How far will Matvei Michkov fall? However, I see the betting value a little further down the board.
Let's take a look at three plays that stand out, all of which can be found on theScore Bet.
Nate Danielson over 10.5
Danielson is a solid two-way center who had a productive year with the Brandon Wheat Kings. He put up 78 points in 68 games while leading the team in goals, assists, and points.
He's a well-balanced pivot who can do a bit of everything. But there have been questions about his ceiling, which would need to be quite high for him to warrant a top-10 selection in a very strong draft.
Bob McKenzie slotted Danielson 16th in his final draft rankings, which are informed by opinions from scouts representing 10 NHL teams. It's also worth noting that none of said scouts ranked him higher than 11th overall.
Although it only takes one team to love Danielson's game, I'm happy to take plus money on the over for a prospect who ranked closer to 20 than 10.
Odds: +140 (playable to -110)
Oliver Moore under 14.5
High-end skating ability is more important than ever before. Everybody wants to play fast to help win pucks, be it on the forecheck or pressuring on the backcheck. Oliver Moore has it in spades.
This kid is an excellent puck-transporter who can kill teams both in transition and off the rush with his straight-line speed. He also works hard without the puck and, again, his wheels are a huge factor.
The Buffalo Sabres (picking 13th) and Pittsburgh Penguins (14th) are a couple of teams I'd keep a close eye on with Moore.
Buffalo is one of the fastest teams in the NHL, so Moore would fit in nicely. Meanwhile, the Penguins are starved for quality prospects, particularly up front. A talented, competitive, speedster who is perhaps a little undersized strikes me as a player president and interim general manager Kyle Dubas could target.
It'll be tight, but I think Moore sneaks into the top 14.
Odds: -105 (playable to -125)
Colby Barlow under 16.5
Barlow had a remarkably impressive year in the OHL. Serving as the captain of the Owen Sound Attack, he netted a whopping 46 goals in just 59 games while pacing the team with 79 points.
He has a relentless work ethic, doesn't shy away from the dirty areas of the ice, and contributes in all aspects of the game.
Players with his kind of goal output don't tend to last long in drafts. He's also a complete player and a leader, making teams all the more interested.
The hard-working winger came in 12th in McKenzie's rankings and was ranked sixth by HockeyProspect.
Barlow strikes me as the kind of player more likely to be over-drafted than free fall, which is what would need to happen for this play to lose.
The price is a little juicy, but I think it's worth paying.
Odds: -160 (playable to -185)
Todd Cordell is a sports betting writer at theScore. Be sure to follow him on Twitter @ToddCordell.