2024 NHL Draft Best Bets: Celebrini A Lock For No. 1

The Next NHL Star

The 2024 NHL Draft is just around the corner (June 28-29), so now is the time to take a look into the market for any last-minute bets before we get underway. One thing that we know for sure, however, is that Macklin Celebrini is going to be the No. 1 overall pick for the San Jose Sharks.

The Canadian center for Boston University is so likely to be the first pick, that there are currently no odds listed for who will be the first overall pick. Oddsmakers seem to think that it is already decided that it will be Celebrini, so you can't even bet on that market anymore.

He's going first for a good reason, as he is clearly the best overall prospect in this draft. During his freshman season at Boston, Celebrini won the Hobey Baker Award, which is essentially college hockey's MVP and goes to the best player. At just 17 years old, he became the youngest player to ever win the award, and the fourth freshman to do so. The other three were Paul Kariya in 1993, Jack Eichel in 2015, and Adam Fantilli in 2023.

Who Will Go No. 2?

While the first pick will be no surprise, things start to get interesting immediately after that. There is no clear-cut player that should go right after Celebrini, but the Chicago Blackhawks hold the second overall selection, and we can gain some knowledge based on what they need and what the market says. As a Blackhawks fan myself, I want them to take the player that they feel is the best overall after Celebrini, as we need just about all the help we can get. However, defense is a serious issue, and I'd expect them to select a defenseman at No. 2.

The market agrees with me, as Artyom Levshunov is the -270 favorite to go second overall to the Blackhawks. The decision is essentially between him and forward Ivan Demidov, if Chicago wants to go with more offense after taking Connor Bedard last season at No. 1.

Odds For Third, Fourth, and Fifth Overall

Taking a look at the market, there are certainly no guarantees here either about what teams will do. The Anaheim Ducks are slated to pick third fresh off of unveiling their new logo, which just happens to be their old logo, the Mighty Ducks. Right now, oddsmakers seem to think that Anton Silayev is headed to southern California, but he's sitting at +130 odds. That definitely isn't set in stone, but the talented Russian defenseman is right behind Levshunov.

The Columbus Blue Jackets own the fourth pick, and Vegas seems to have a better read on who they will be targeting. Cayden Lindstrom is a -170 favorite to go here, which still isn't any sort of lock, but better than some other odds. He's probably the most talented offensive player outside of Celebrini, although Demidov's odds are quite interesting.

He's favored to go fifth overall to the Montreal Canadiens with +165 odds, yet was just +180 to go second overall to the Blackhawks. Unlike Celebrini and Lindstrom, Demidov is a winger. I'd say he is right there with the two forwards in terms of talent, but team need will play a big factor in where these three guys get drafted.