2026 NHL Draft: Best bets

The NHL Draft is one of the toughest events to handicap. Teams don't exactly advertise what they're planning to do and a lot can change in the days leading up to the draft. Still, there are several bets on the board that look worth a shot based on where things stand right now.

Here are four NHL Draft bets I'm looking at (odds courtesy BetMGM).

Ivar Stenberg to be selected second overall (-133)

Most signs continue to point toward Stenberg being the second player off the board.

There's been some debate over who belongs behind Gavin McKenna, but Stenberg has consistently been mentioned near the very top of the class throughout the process. He's viewed as one of the safest prospects available and there hasn't been much indication that his stock is moving in the wrong direction.

At -133, you're not being asked to lay an outrageous price and this feels like one of the more straightforward positions currently available. Draft betting can get messy in a hurry, but this is the outcome that appears to have the most support heading into draft week.

Caleb Malhotra to be selected third overall (-400)

The price isn't attractive, but sometimes that's because the betting marketplace is simply expecting something to happen and the price could actually be even loftier.

Malhotra has been projected near the top of the draft for a long time and there hasn't been much movement when it comes to his expected landing spot. Teams looking for a high-end forward are going to have a hard time passing on him - especially the Vancouver Canucks given their tie-in to Caleb's dad Manny.

I'm generally not interested in laying -400 on draft props, but if you're building a parlay or simply looking for what appears to be one of the safer outcomes on the board, this one deserves consideration.

Chase Reid to be selected second overall (+100)

If you're looking for a plus-money option, Reid is probably the most interesting play on the board.

While Stenberg remains the favorite for the second pick, Reid has been mentioned in the same conversation throughout the year and it wouldn't take much for a team to prefer his upside. We've seen plenty of surprises at the top of NHL Drafts before and this feels like one of those situations where there may not be a huge difference between the top two candidates. Without question, the San Jose Sharks are in need of a defenseman and they currently hold the second overall pick.

At even money, you're getting a better return and there's certainly a path to cashing this ticket if the Sharks decide to swing for the fences.

Keaton Verhoeff to be selected fourth overall (+250)

This is the longer shot of the group, but it's also the one that offers the most upside.

Verhoeff has steadily climbed draft boards over the last year and many scouts view him as one of the top defensemen available in this class. Teams picking near the top of the draft are often willing to pay a premium for a potential franchise blueliner, especially one with Verhoeff's size and all-around game. 

While there isn't nearly as much certainty here as there is with some of the top-three selections, the price is attractive considering Verhoeff is widely projected inside the top five. If a team looking for defense passes on one of the forwards ahead of him, this ticket could suddenly be in a great position.