2023 NHL All-Star Betting Odds, Predictions & Picks for Skills Competition
Struggling with injuries throughout the year, the Avalanche are still one of the favorites in the Stanley Cup odds, despite clinging to the final Wild Card playoff spot in the Western Conference. Reigning Conn Smythe and Norris Trophy winner, Cale Makar will be representing the Avs in the fastest skater competition.
Record Setter, Dylan Larkin Favored in NHL Fastest Skater Odds
Everybody would’ve loved to see Hart Trophy odds favorite and speed demon, Connor McDavid compete in this event, but unfortunately, it’s not happening. The Oilers captain won the event three years in a row between 2017 and 2019.
Don’t despair, the man who recorded the best time in this event in 2016 is back. As a rookie, Dylan Larkin became the fastest skater in the history of the NHL All-Star Skills competition that year in Nashville, clocking in at a time of 13.172 seconds.
Although he’s the chalk again, we’re going in a different direction with our prediction. While you don’t get points for walking the blueline, not many players impress with their skating ability like Colorado’s Makar. He participated last year, finishing in fifth with a time of 13.834 seconds.
We know this isn’t a video game, but the Avs rearguard is tied with Larkin for the fourth-best speed rating in EA Sports’ NHL 22 ratings. None of the top three will be participating in this event, so at +320, Makar is more than worth the wager.
- Pick: Cale Makar (+320) at DraftKings Sportsbook
2023 NHL All-Star Accuracy Shooting Odds
Connor McDavid is Chalk in NHL Accuracy Shooting Competition
No player who has previously won this competition is participating this time around. So how do you decide the favorite? You’ll never go wrong with McDavid.
Having never scored 50 goals before in his career, the four-time Art Ross trophy winner seems determined to add the Rocket Richard to his trophy case. He leads the NHL with 41 tallies, putting him on pace to obliterate his previous career high of 44 markers, set last year.
Besides looking at who has the most goals, how else can you decide who’s a good bet in this event? Well, McDavid is also the most accurate shooter participating, with a 19.6 shooting percentage. Right behind him? His teammate Leon Draisaitl who also shoots 19.6%, but is lower by decimal points.
Hockey is a team sport, but if an individual could single-handedly win the Stanley Cup, it would be McDavid. He seemingly can do anything he wants to on the ice, so there’s no way we’re going to bet against him in the NHL odds in the accuracy shooting competition here.
- Pick: Connor McDavid (+500) at DraftKings Sportsbook
2023 NHL All-Star Hardest Shot Odds
Will Ovechkin Go Out With a Bang in NHL Hardest Shot Odds?
While the Russian Machine never breaks, it must wear down. Or maybe not. At 37 years young, Alexander Ovechkin is the favorite in the hardest shot competition, and who could blame the oddsmakers for making him the chalk.
Amazingly, the Great 8 is on pace for what would be a record setting, 10th season with 50 goals, breaking a current three-way tie with Wayne Gretzky and the late Mike Bossy for the most campaigns hitting the half-century mark.
Every hockey player and fan knows the force of Ovie’s unstoppable shot when he posts up on the power play, but this isn’t an event for the hardest one-timer. The puck is at a standstill here and although he’s won this competition once before, we’re going to go with somebody on the younger side.
Two years ago, Elias Pettersson finished third in the hardest shot event, behind Shea Weber and John Carlson, with a clocked speed of 102.4 miles per hour. Now 24, he’s a couple years older, a couple pounds heavier, and a bit stronger, so we like the Swede to give sorry Canucks fans something to cheer about during this dreadful campaign.
We should warn you though, a defenseman has won this event 11 of the past 12 times it’s taken place, but the blueliners available in this one aren’t up to the standard of the Shea Weber’s and Zdeno Chara’s from years past.
