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When the Chicago Blackhawks won the lottery ahead of the 2023 NHL draft, there wasn't a scintilla of suspense as to which player was off to the Windy City. Connor Bedard is the new face of the franchise.
Bedard’s been hyped as much as any prospect in the history of the league, and there are many who believe he’s well on the path to greatness. He is going to enter the ‘23-’24 season at just 18 years of age, though, playing on a team that’s had a few miserable seasons.
Bedard wasn’t the only draft prospect that had some hype. It was agreed this was a loaded draft class. With that in mind, here is a very early look at the odds to win the Calder Trophy.
Bedard is Odds-On
Calder Memorial Trophy, given to the best rookie performer in the NHL (props to Frank Calder, first president of the NHL), finds nothing but one-way odds traffic in the direction of Connor Bedard. He is currently priced at -175, thus a huge favorite to win, according to NHL Calder Trophy odds.
However, if Bedard slips at all, here are some of the other rookies worthy of consideration…
Luke Hughes (New Jersey Devils) +450
Devon Levi (Buffalo Sabres) +800
Adam Fantilli (Columbus Blue Jackets) +1000
Simon Nemec (New Jersey Devils) +1800
Brandt Clarke (Los Angeles KIngs) +1800
Matthew Knies (Toronto Maple Leafs) +1800
All Others +2000 or Higher
Fantilli, the third choice in the draft, intrigues at 10-1 (+1000) to win the Calder. He is going to be someone to watch with the skills he possesses on offense.
As injuries can impact players in the NHL, betting on someone not named Bedard isn’t a bad plan. There aren’t any locks, but no value in going to the window with the puny price.
‘Hawks in Playoffs?
Fans of the Chicago Blackhawks are going to love Connor Bedard, but at some point, this team needs to find a way to win some games. That’s because as good as Bedard is taken to be this season, there’s still plenty of holes on the roster.
Odds the Blackhawks make the playoffs this season sit at 7-1 (+700). Teams may change their outlooks and fortunes in a hurry, but it’s going to take more than just one generational player to make that happen in Chicago, which hasn’t sniffed the postseason since 2020.
Odds are currently at -1400 that the ‘Hawks miss the postseason. That’s simply too much risk versus minimal reward.
If you are among the incredibly bold out there, Chicago is 150-1 (+15000) to win the title, as per NHL Stanley Cup odds. If only it could return to the 2010’s.
Who’s After Avalanche?
What might help the Chicago Blackhawks is that the Central Division should have some wins available to grab. As the Colorado Avalanche are-again-expected to be the best team in that division, perhaps there’s a somewhat of a changing of the guard underneath them.
Chicago is home to some of the best fans in the sport. Even though the Blackhawks have had some rough seasons of late, people still arrive in droves to support this franchise.
The NHL and NBA are two sports where rookies can make an impact. There’s no denying Bedard should be on that path. Chicago will continue to look to add some other players, ensuring it’s at least competitive.
- Dan Shapiro, Gambling911.com
