2025 NHL Draft betting odds, predictions
While the 2025 NHL Draft class is not considered to be overly deep by most scouts, as the top 15 appears to be one of the most volatile in recent memory, and many analysts are speculating about the potential for several significant trades to be made on draft day.
The draft can be a highly profitable event for bettors that keep their eyes out for reliable reports, and that leverage their outs at various online sportsbooks to secure strong positions. No reports are ever concrete this time of year, but if you see relatively firm word on what a team is planning to do, it can be worth betting into. Often times we are talking about long betting prices so you can risk some inaccuracy.
A good example of this was Beckett Sennecke going third overall to the Anaheim Ducks last year. He was priced at higher than 10-1 early in draft week to go third overall, but on the day of the pick, reliable draft analysts had reported that the Ducks were leaning that way, with long numbers still on the board.
Monitoring as many sportsbooks as possible to gather information and attempt to get longer prices is another important part of the strategy. If several major oddsmakers significantly reduce the number for a player to go in a certain spot and you have access to an out that has not yet adjusted, it could be worth betting into the movement under the assumption that the other sportsbooks have gained some knowledge of a team’s plans.
Matthew Schaefer is considered to be in a tier of his own at the top of the draft board, and the majority of sportsbooks are no longer even taking bets on whether or not the New York Islanders will select Schaefer with the first overall pick.
After Schaefer, there appears to be another clear tier, composed of two centers, Michael Misa and Anton Frondell. Misa was priced as high as -900 to go second overall earlier in the month, but the idea that they could surprise and go with Frondell has picked up steam in recent days.
NHL Insider Elliotte Friedman, in particular, noted on the “32 Thoughts” podcast that he had heard rumors that teams were beginning to believe Frondell would be selected by the San Jose Sharks. With the price for Frondell to go second overall down to +225, there no longer looks to be enough value to bet into these speculations, but it’s a situation worth monitoring if further reports arise.
Oddsmakers are fairly aligned in believing that Caleb Desnoyers will be selected fourth overall by the Utah Mammoth. The former first overall pick in the QMJHL Draft is a versatile center who sees the ice very well, and has high enough offensive upside to warrant being a top-five selection.
FanDuel and Sports Interaction are quite bullish on Desnoyers going fourth overall currently offering prices of -160 and -175 respectively, while bet365 is currently offering -105. Scott Wheeler of The Athletic also has the Mammoth selecting Desnoyers at fourth overall in his latest mock draft, but noted that Brady Martin is also on the Mammoth’s radar.
While there may be a little value in backing Desnoyers to go fourth overall at bet365‘s price of -105, there looks to be a little more value in betting on what will happen at five after Desnoyers’ likely selection at four.
Best Bet: Porter Martone to Be Selected Fifth Overall +250 (Sports Interaction)
James Hagens was previously considered to be the top prospect in this year’s entry draft and was the betting favorite to go first overall earlier on in the season. He had a less productive season than expected with Boston College, but stood out on a gold medal-winning USA team at the World Junior Championships.
Nashville Predators GM Barry Trotz stated earlier in the week that Hagens was a prospect right in the Predators’ wheelhouse, but Trotz would have reason to posture and hide his team’s actual intentions.
Hagens, likely availability at five is a concern for this bet, but given the other information available and the upside of Martone, a price of +250 looks pretty enticing to fade Trotz’s initial statement.
Martone ranked third on Bob McKenzie and Corey Pronman’s final draft rankings, and third on the consensus list.
At six-foot-two and 208 lbs, Martone has an NHL-ready frame. He displayed elite puck skill in generating 98 points in 57 games in the OHL this season. His game is based on using his big frame and elite awareness to help find dangerous looks, which typically translates well to the NHL style of play, and likely suits Trotz’s eye.
Martone was not overly effective at the World Juniors playing on head coach Dave Cameron’s messy Team Canada side, but bounced back with a strong finish to the season, including totalling nine points in six OHL playoff games.
Scott Wheeler has Martone going fifth overall in his most recent mock draft, and noted that the Predators were in Brampton a lot to watch him this season.
Bet365, Bet99, and FanDuel have all dropped their prices to +200 or lower for Martone to be selected at fifth overall, as of Wednesday afternoon.
If you couple the current odds of other major sportsbooks with the scouting community’s consensus rank of Martone, Wheeler’s most recent mock draft, and Sports Interaction‘s outlier price of +250 appears to hold plenty of value.