The 2020 NHL Draft took place earlier this week, as the two-day draft wrapped up on Wednesday, Oct. 7. Several NHL teams improved their organizations through the draft, and some of the game’s future stars we’ll be seeing for years heard their name this week.
The draft had previously been scheduled for June 26-27 at Bell Centre in Montreal but was postponed on March 25 due to concerns of the coronavirus.
The first ever virtual NHL Draft probably wasn’t what the players had expected in their dreams, but these are moments that will stick with them the rest of their lives. After seven rounds, 217 draft picks and 27 trades, the draft is complete.
With the first overall pick, the New York Rangers selected Canadian left wing Alexis Lafreniere, who had significant odds to be selected No. 1 overall on Tuesday night.
With the first overall selection in the 2020 #NHLDraft, the @NYRangers select Alexis Lafreniere! pic.twitter.com/xOgF8Pq3We
— NHL (@NHL) October 6, 2020
Now that the dust has settled, let’s take a look at some of the most interesting betting results according to the prop bets that were released prior to Round 1 of draft night on Tuesday, Oct. 6.
All odds are via a popular United States sportsbook.
Canadian born players selected in the top 10
- Over 4.5 (+195)
- Under 4.5 (-275)
Result: It took till the final pick of the top 10, but the over 4.5 Canadian born players was a success for those who took the risk at +195 odds. Canadians Alexis Lafreniere, Quinton Byfield, Jamie Drysdale and Jack Quinn were taken before Cole Perfetti was selected 10th overall by the Winnipeg Jets.
Finnish born players selected in the first round
- Over 1.5 (+200)
- Under 1.5 (-286)
Result: The under had fairly significant odds at -286, and those bettors were rewarded with a slight payout. Anton Lundell was the only Finnish born player to go in the first round at No. 12 to the Florida Panthers.
Swedish born players selected in the first round
- Over 4.5 (-125)
- Under 4.5 (-106)
Result: This prop bet had fairly even odds, but this one went under by a fairly wide margin. Lucas Raymond went to the Detroit Red Wings at pick No. 4, and the New Jersey Devils selected Alexander Holtz with the seventh pick. That was it for the first round. The fifth Swedish born player to be selected didn’t happen till the ninth pick in the second round, which was 40th overall.
United States born players selected in the first round
- Over 2.5 (+175)
- Under 2.5 (-240)
Result: A year after seven of the first 15 selections were United States born players, only two were drafted in the first round in 2020. Jake Sanderson went fifth overall to the Ottawa Senators, and Brendan Brisson was selected by the Vegas Golden Knights 29th. This was the lowest amount of United States players selecte the first round of the NHL Draft since 1994.
Total defencemen drafted in the first round
- Over 6.5 (-115)
- Under 6.5 (-115)
Result: It came down to the very end, but only six defencemen were selected in the first round. Justin Barron was the sixth at the position at No. 25, but the final six picks of the first round went to other positions. Unfortunately for those who took the under, the first pick of the second round was a defenceman.
Total forwards drafted in the first round
- Over 23.5 (-115)
- Under 23.5 (-115)
Result: The number went over by 0.5, so over bettors left this one happy. It all came down to the final pick when Ozzy Wiesblatt went to the San Jose Sharks on pick No. 31.
Player to be drafted first
- Tim Stuzle (-143)
- Quinton Byfield (+105)
Result: In a bit of an upset, Quinton Byfield went second overall with Tim Stuzle right behind him at pick No. 3.
Player to be drafted first
- Marco Rossi (+115)
- Lucas Raymond (-155)
Result: Lucas Raymond went fourth overall, and Marco Rossi was at No. 9.
Player to be drafted first
- Jamie Drysdale (-115)
- Jake Sanderson (-115)
Result: Both coming in with equal odds, Jake Sanderson was drafted fifth with Jamie Drysdale sixth.
Player to be drafted first
- Alexander Holtz (-155)
- Jack Quinn (+115)
Result: Alexander Holtz, picked seventh, went right ahead of Jack Quinn, who was selected eighth.
Player to be drafted first
- Yaroslav Askarov (-134)
- Anton Lundell (+100)
Result: It was as close as possible, but Yaroslav Askarov went 11th, and Anton Lundell was picked right behind him at No. 12.
Player to be drafted first
- William Wallinder (-115)
- Noel Gunler (-115)
Result: William Wallinder was the first pick of the second round, and Noel Gunler was the 10th pick of round 2.
Player to be drafted first
- Lukas Reichel (-200)
- John-Jason Peterka (+150)
Result: Lukas Reichel went at pick No. 17, and John-Jason Peterka fell out of the first round to pick No. 34.
Player to be drafted first
- Hendrix Lapierre (-115)
- Rodion Amirov (-115)
Result: Rodion Amirov went 15th, while Hendrix Lapierre was drafted 22nd.
First overall pick
- Alexis Lafreniere (-10000)
- Quinton Byfield (+2000)
- Tim Stuzle (+2500)
- Cole Perfetti (+5000)
- Lucas Raymond (+5500)
- Jamie Drysdale (+7500)
- Alexander Holtz (+8500)
- Yaroslav Askarov (+10000)
Result: No surprise here. A $10,000 bet on Lafreniere to go No. 1 to the Rangers would’ve netted a $100 payout, so this was highly expected going in.
