The NHL Draft 2026 begins on Friday, June 26th, and BetUS has an entire slate of draft predictions and accompanying odds. Hockey fans are passionate about their sport, which is why BetUS has an expansive betting menu of NHL futures available for next season as well.
The Carolina Hurricanes defeated the Vegas Golden Knights, 4-2, to win the franchise’s second Stanley Cup and the first since 2006. Carolina’s captain, Jordan Staal, was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy, and Hurricanes fans are reveling in their victory.
But that's all in our rearview mirrors because now the 2026 NHL Draft is upon us, and teams are searching for their next crop of young forwards, blueliners, and goalies to make NHL news and take them to the promised land.
The excitement is building, and NHL rumors are swirling about possible draft night trades that could affect a team’s entire trajectory. The most elite amateurs in the world are ready to take the next step into the professional ranks, and BetUS has it all covered with an entire menu of NHL Draft odds.
Those who have done their own NHL mock draft or have researched what the experts believe will occur on Friday night at the KeyBank Center in Buffalo are nearly unanimous in the opinion that Penn State forward Gavin McKenna will be the first overall selection. According to the NHL Draft order, Toronto will be making the first pick, and there is little doubt that the team has already fitted McKenna for a Maple Leafs uniform.
The 18-year-old phenom has been described as a generational talent, along the lines of future Hall of Famer Connor McDavid, who was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2015 draft, chosen by the Edmonton Oilers. In fact, McKenna is such a prohibitive favorite that BetUS is offering the following No. 1 overall NHL Draft 2026 prop: Gavin McKenna – 20,000 and Field (vs. McKenna) +3,000.
BetUS also has a litany of other NHL Draft props, including odds on players being chosen exactly as the No. 2–10 overall picks. But BetUS did not forget about the lower half of the opening round, with over/under props on the likes of Youngstown Phantoms center Jack Hextall of the USHL. Currently, the oddsmakers at BetUS have set the number at 26 ½ overall on Hextall, but there are many more props available on other first-round candidates.
However, once the draft is over, BetUS will continue to offer its vast array of NHL futures, including odds on teams to win their respective divisions and conferences, as well as the Stanley Cup. There is even an NHL Specials section with unique props, such as odds on Gavin McKenna to register 50+ points (-350), 55+ points (-150), 60+ points (+175), all the way to 70+ points (+1400).
BetUS has it all for hockey fans, from the NHL Draft in late June right through to the Stanley Cup Finals a year from now. We welcome everyone to experience the BetUS difference and prove why we remain the industry leader after more than 30 years in the online gaming industry.
The 2026 NHL Draft will take place on Friday night, June 26th, at the KeyBank Center in Buffalo, New York.
The Toronto Maple Leafs won the NHL Draft lottery and were awarded the No. 1 overall pick in the draft.