The Edmonton Oilers are already stacked with prospects on the wing; oddsmakers think they'll go for a dynamic playmaking centre when they make the first overall selection in the NHL Draft on Friday night.
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, a centre for the Red Deer Rebels of the Western Hockey League, has been listed at Sportsbook as the -190 favorite to head to the Oilers at the top of the draft on Friday night. Nugent-Hopkins had 106 points (including 75 assists) in 69 games for the Rebels this past season, and would slot in as the future setup man for young Oiler wingers Taylor Hall and Jordan Eberle.
About three quarters of mock drafts have Nugent-Hopkins going No. 1 on Friday – but the other quarter are siding with slick Swedish defenseman Adam Larsson. At Sportsbook Larsson is just behind Nugent-Hopkins on the prop bet at +160 odds to get taken first overall, and he would add some much-needed depth to Edmonton's blueline.
Winger Gabriel Landeskog (+1500) from the OHL and centre Jonathan Huberdeau (+2000) from the QMJHL are the underdogs at Sportsbook on the prop bet, and would be surprise picks by the Oilers at No. 1.
Landeskog and Huberdeau, however, are both likely to be gone by the time Ottawa (No. 6 overall) and Winnipeg (No. 7 overall) make their first-round picks in the NHL Draft.
The Senators, though, are still widely expected to take a forward at No. 6, with OHL centre Ryan Strome and QMJHL centre Sean Couturier top candidates for the spot. At Sportsbook you can get -160 odds on the Sens selecting a forward with their pick, with 'defenseman' (+130) and 'goaltender' (+1500) the underdog bets.
The same odds apply to Winnipeg, which could also snap up either Strome or Couturier or even Swedish centre Mika Zibanejad at No. 7 overall. However, defensemen Dougie Hamilton and Ryan Murphy of the OHL are good possibilities for the spot as well.
NHL Draft Prop Bets - Sportsbook
2011 NHL Draft - Who will the Edmonton Oilers draft with their 1st overall pick (#1 Overall)?
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins -190
Adam Larsson +160
Gabriel Landeskog +1500
Jonathan Huberdeau +2000
2011 NHL Draft - Who will the Ottawa Senators draft with their first pick (#6 Overall) in the draft?
Forward -160
Defenseman +130
Goaltender +1500
2011 NHL Draft - Who will Winnipeg draft with their first pick (#7 Overall) in the draft?
Forward -160
Defenseman +130
Goaltender +1500
2011 NHL Draft - Who will the Calgary Flames draft with their first pick (#13 Overall) in the draft?
Forward -160
Defenseman +120
Goaltender +2000
2011 NHL Draft - Who will the Montreal Canadiens draft with their first pick (#17 Overall) in the draft?
Forward -125
Defenseman +100
Goaltender +2000
2011 NHL Draft - Who will the Toronto Maple Leafs draft with their first pick (#25 Overall) in the draft?
Forward -175
Defenseman +145
Goaltender +1500
2011 NHL Draft - Who will the Vancouver Canucks draft with their first pick (#29 Overall) in the draft?
Forward -110
Defenseman -110
Goaltender +1500
2011 NHL Draft - How many Forwards will be drafted in the 1st Round?
Over 19.5 (-120)
Under 19.5 (-120)
2011 NHL Draft - How many Defensemen will be drafted in the 1st Round?
Over 12.5 (-120)
Under 12.5 (-120)
2011 NHL Draft - How many Goaltenders will be drafted in the 1st Round?
Over .5 (+500)
Under .5 (-800)
2011 NHL Draft - How many players from the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) will be drafted in the 1st Round?
Over 11 (-120)
Under 11 (-120)
2011 NHL Draft - How many players from the Western Hockey League (WHL) will be drafted in the 1st Round?
Over 6 (-120)
Under 6 (-120)
2011 NHL Draft - How many players from the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) will be drafted in the 1st Round?
Over 4 (-120)
Under 4 (-120)
2011 NHL Draft - How many players from the USA Hockey's National Team Development Program will be drafted in the 1st Round?
Over 3 (-120)
Under 3 (-120)
