Last week, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 NHL Draft, Connor Bedard of the Chicago Blackhawks, won the Calder Memorial Trophy. It is given annually to the player “most proficient in his first year of competition.”
Bedard finished his rookie season with 61 points, 14 points ahead of Brock Faber of the Minnesota Wild and Lake Hughes of the New Jersey Devils. Bedard also led all rookies in goals scored.
He was the unquestioned top prospect in last year’s draft, and Macklin Celebrini came into the 2024 NHL Entry Draft with a similar status. Celebrini was expected to be the top pick, which he was when the San Jose Sharks selected him first overall.
But on the odds board for the winner of next year’s Calder Memorial Trophy, Celebrini is not leading the way.
Matvei Michkov – Philadelphia Flyers (+350)
In the same draft that saw Bedard go first overall, Matvei Michkov went with the seventh overall pick. He would have gone higher, but he had just signed a contract to play in Russia, and the fear was that he wouldn’t be free to come to the NHL for three seasons.
Instead, he’s just missed the one season, and now the Flyers’ risk is about to reap great rewards. The 19-year-old forward is an elite goal scorer who was the 2021 World U18 Championship most valuable player as a 16-year-old. Last season in Russia, he had 19 goals and 22 assists.
Macklin Celebrini – San Jose Sharks (+400)
Celebrini may not be the favorite right now, but he was the prize of the draft, and he will make an impact for the Sharks next season. He was the Hobey Baker Award winner at Boston University last year, and he just turned 18.
Celebrini should be very good as a first year professional, but even he conceded before the draft that there is still a lot of development needed.
Logan Stankoven – Dallas Stars (+400)
Yes, you just saw Logan Stankoven play in 19 games in the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the Dallas Stars, scoring three goals and recording 5 assists. But he played in just 24 regular season games, keeping him under the threshold of 25 games and making him eligible for the Calder Trophy in 2025.
He was drafted by the Stars in 2021, and is still only 21-years-old. Last season, he played the majority of his hockey with the Stars’ AHL affiliate, and was an AHL All-Star.
Cutter Gauthier – Anaheim Ducks (+500)
The fifth overall pick of the Flyers in 2022, Cutter Gauthier was traded to the Anaheim Ducks this past January for Jamie Drysdale and a 2025 second-round pick. The 20-year-old, Swedish-born American forward spent two seasons at Boston College after playing for two seasons with the United States Developmental Team. He’s also won three medals, including gold at the 2024 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships.
Will Smith – San Jose Sharks (+500)
Center Will Smith used to play against Celebrini when Smith was at Boston College and Celebrini was at BU. Smith was the fourth overall pick in 2023, and now he is teammates with the first overall pick in 2024. Smith played his season of college hockey after he was drafted, and he said of his move to the Sharks this season, “I can’t wait to get there.”
He led the nation last season with 71 points in 41 games with BC.
Lane Hutson – Montreal Canadiens (+700)
Another product of Boston University is defenseman Lane Hutson. He was selected in the second-round in 2022 by the Montreal Canadiens, but has since grown two inches and gained 15 pounds, and scouts today say he would be drafted in the top-15.
Hutson was on the gold medal-winning U.S. team at the 2024 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships, and he played for the senior team at the 2023 IIHF World Championship.
Dustin Wolf – Calgary Flames (+1500)
Dustin Wolf has the distinction of having the shortest odds for any goaltender on the list. The 23-year-old from Gilroy, California, has been named league goaltender of the year in each of the last four years – twice with the Everett Silvertips of the WHL, and twice with the Calgary Flames AHL affiliate, which is now called the Calgary Wranglers.
He played in 17 games for the Flames last season, and had a goals against average of 3.16.
With over 25 years of experience as a distinguished sports writer for renowned platforms such as Fox Sports and ESPN, Kyle Garlett is a sports betting specialist who has been at the forefront of documenting the global surge in sports betting and online gaming. Based in Denver, Colorado, Kyle hosts an NFL betting YouTube show and podcast. Kyle also has two sports books published by HarperCollins.
Kyle graduated the Azusa Pacific University in 1996 with a B.A. Degree in Communication and Journalism.
