The 2024 NHL Draft gets underway Friday, only four days after the Panthers hoisted the Stanley Cup.
Boston University's Macklin Celebrini is already penciled in as the Sharks' choice with the first overall pick. Sportsbooks aren't even offering odds on what seems to be a lock.
But the draft gets interesting after Celebrini's name is called with the Blackhawks at No. 2.
2nd overall pick
| Player | Odds |
|---|---|
| Artyom Levshunov | -250 |
| Ivan Demidov | +185 |
| Cayden Lindstrom | +3000 |
| Anton Silayev | +4000 |
All odds via theScore Bet
Oddsmakers believe Chicago is leaning toward picking Michigan State defenseman Artyom Levshunov to bolster its blue line rather than taking a forward to complement Connor Bedard.
Levshunov played one season for the Spartans, recording 34 points in 38 games. If he goes second to the Blackhawks, Levshunov would become the first Belarusian selected inside the top five in the draft.
3rd overall pick
| Player | Odds |
|---|---|
| Anton Silayev | +135 |
| Artyom Levshunov | +300 |
| Beckett Sennecke | +500 |
| Ivan Demidov | +550 |
| Cayden Lindstrom | +1400 |
| Sam Dickinson | +1800 |
The Ducks could go anywhere with this pick, according to oddsmakers, who've priced four players below +600.
Anton Silayev is the favorite at +135, while Levshunov is at +300. With two defensemen as the top favorites, oddsmakers believe the Ducks will take the best blue-liner available.
Additionally, Ivan Demidov, who's +185 to go second overall, is +550 to end Friday evening as a Duck. The discrepancy in odds suggests Anaheim will likely take a defenseman over the Russian forward.
4th overall pick
| Player | Odds |
|---|---|
| Cayden Lindstrom | -185 |
| Ivan Demidov | +350 |
| Beckett Sennecke | +700 |
| Anton Silayev | +850 |
The Blue Jackets will likely take a forward with the fourth overall pick, according to the odds. Cayden Lindstrom is a big -185 favorite to land in Columbus after recording 46 points in 32 games for the Medicine Hat Tigers last season.
5th overall pick
| Player | Odds |
|---|---|
| Ivan Demidov | +175 |
| Cayden Lindstrom | +225 |
| Beckett Sennecke | +260 |
| Anton Silayev | +1400 |
| Zeev Buium | +1800 |
The Canadiens hold the fifth pick and also appear likely to take a forward early. Oddsmakers have priced three forwards close to each other, signaling how evenly scouts view Demidov, Lindstrom, and Beckett Sennecke while suggesting Montreal hasn't provided any hints as to whom it prefers.
The draft starts at 7 p.m. ET from The Sphere in Las Vegas.
