theScore Bet NHL draft specials: Will Canadian turnout be strong in top 10?

The 2022 NHL Entry Draft is so close you can almost taste it.

This week, we've already explored the markets with regards to who will be chosen atop the draft and shared some of our favorite overs and unders.

Now, we're going to dive into some theScore Bet exclusives.

theScore Bet special: 1+ goalies to be drafted in Round 1 (+1200)

Now more than ever, there's hesitancy in the NHL to invest premium assets - and big money - into the goaltending position.

There's just so much variance on a night-to-night, month-to-month, and year-to-year basis that it's tough to commit to unless you're absolutely sold on the player you're drafting.

Even still, at least one goaltender has been selected in the first round in six of the last 10 drafts - including four of the last five.

Jake Oettinger is the headliner of that group, considering he has already established himself as a very good NHL starter; however, the likes of Jesper Wallstedt, Yaroslav Askarov, Sebastian Cossa, and Spencer Knight undoubtedly have their teams excited about what the future may bring.

That will probably help put some GMs at ease if they're seriously considering using a first-round draft pick on a goaltender.

The problem is there's no perceived A-list netminder in this class. Tyler Brennan is widely considered to be the top goaltending prospect, and he's coming off a year in which he posted an .899 save percentage in the WHL. Granted, it was playing for a bad Prince George Cougars team.

His ideal NHL size (6-4) and playoff performance - he posted a .954 save percentage while winning zero of four games - might pull a team into taking a chance.

If anybody is going to do it, teams like the Canadiens and the Coyotes, who own a combined five of the 32 picks in Round 1, are probably the most logical options.

theScore Bet special: 3+ Canadians to be drafted in top 10 (+110)

There are generally a lot of Canadians selected at or near the top of the draft, especially over the last few years.

In 2021, each of the top three picks was Canadian. Rewind another year, and three of the top six picks were Canadian. In 2019? Three of the top seven. The only draft class over the last five years that didn't feature at least three Canadians in the top 10 was 2018 (there were two).

Relatively speaking, this year has the potential to be another lean one for Canadians at the top of the draft.

Despite all the noise, Shane Wright is likely to be selected first overall by the Canadiens. If not No. 1, he won't last long. He's a can't-miss prospect.

The same can't be said about any others. Matthew Savoie has the skill and production to warrant a top-10 selection, but his size (5-9) could prevent him from being picked that high.

The other hopes are Kevin Korchinski and Conor Geekie. The former is a mobile 6-2 blue-liner who has risen up the charts leading up to the draft. Geekie is a 6-4 pivot who has a high motor and averaged well over a point per game in the WHL. Those players will be attractive.

At least one of the three is likely chosen in the top 10. For Canada to have three prospects in the top 10, two of those players will need to be selected - which means prospects like Joakim Kemell or Jonathan Lekkerimaki would need to slip below where they are projected.

Canada will surely have two in the top 10, but it will be tight whether or not a third Canadian goes that early.

Todd Cordell is a sports betting writer at theScore. Be sure to follow him on Twitter @ToddCordell.

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