NHL Draft Odds: Who Will Be the No. 2 Pick?

The 2023-24 NHL season might have just ended, but it's time to look forward to next season -- starting with the 2024 NHL Entry Draft this Friday night in Las Vegas.

Following a rough season, the San Jose Sharks will get the chance to jumpstart their franchise, and they're expected to select Macklin Celebrini with the first overall pick. After that, however, is when the fun begins.

The Chicago Blackhawks will be on the clock with the second pick in the draft, one year after selecting Connor Bedard with the first pick in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft. With no pick being a lock heading into Friday, let's dive into the No. 2 Pick odds via the NHL Draft odds on FanDuel Sportsbook to see who Chicago may consider.

Note: Lines are subject to change throughout the day after this article is published. All NHL betting odds and totals are from the NHL odds at FanDuel Sportsbook.

NHL Draft Odds -- No. 2 Pick

Artyom Levshunov (-350)

Defensively, the Chicago Blackhawks can use plenty of help, which brings us to Michigan State defenseman Artyom Levshunov. This is a pick that could potentially help them in the scoring department with his offensive gifts, as well.

The 18-year-old is coming off a freshman campaign where he shined for the Spartans, helping push them to the quarterfinals of the Frozen Four this year before losing to Michigan.

What makes him such an exciting prospect is that he brings the size, skating, and physicality that teams are looking for in today's NHL. Levshunov stands at 6'2" and weighs 209 lbs, giving him the size you'd look for in a strong defenseman. But beyond his potential defensive offerings, he's also gifted in the offensive end.

In his one college season, Levshunov displayed his offensive prowess on the backend, scoring 9 goals and dishing out 26 assists in 38 games -- good for 35 points. Those points ranked second among freshman defensemen, behind only expected first round pick Zeev Buium. Levshunov also had a +27 plus/minus, ranking 13th among all defensemen in Division I.

One year after picking the forward to lead their team for years to come in Bedard, Chicago certainly has their eyes on Levshunov to be the much-needed Duncan Keith replacement that they've been hunting for. At -350 odds, it may be a shock if the Blackhawks don't take him at this stage of the game.

Ivan Demidov (+210)

Chicago may look elsewhere this offseason for defensive help. If that is the case, then Ivan Demidov will be the man they'd pick to hopefully pair with Bedard on the offensive end of the ice. That would bring the hopes of recapturing the magic that came with their back-to-back years of selecting Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane in the top three in 2006 and 2007.

Demidov is seen by many as the second-best overall prospect in this draft and a player who can match the offensive output of Celebrini. Daily Faceoff has Demidov ranked as the No. 2 prospect in the draft, writing that he "might be the most skilled player in this draft."

From the eye test alone, you can see how gifted the Russian forward is with his movement and stick handles.

As a member of SKA-1946 St. Petersburg in Russia's best junior hockey league, Demidov did nothing but put up numbers this past season.

The 18-year-old played 30 games, potting 23 goals and earning 37 assists as well, good for 60 points and bringing him to a 2.0 points per game average. In the playoffs, he continued to shine by scoring 11 goals and racking up 17 more assists.

At least at the junior level, Demidov shows all the skills to be a special player in the league. But he isn't the safe pick between the two here, and it's why it's likely he will be staying on the board Friday when the Blackhawks make their selection. It's always possible things change, though, as the +210 odds prove it's not out of the question.

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The above author is a FanDuel employee and is not eligible to compete in public daily fantasy contests or place sports betting wagers on FanDuel. The advice provided by the author does not necessarily represent the views of FanDuel. Taking the author's advice will not guarantee a successful outcome. You should use your own judgment when participating in daily fantasy contests or placing sports wagers.