We have been taking a deep dive into the NHL awards. But today we will focus on the Selke. This is awarded to the best two-way forward. This means the forward must play big minutes, in an important defensive role while also racking up points. This was Alex Barkov’s award to lose, but now that he will miss the season the award is WIDE OPEN. Let’s look at four NHL futures bets for the Selke Trophy.
With puck drop just around the corner it is time to lock in some NHL future bets to give you something to root for all season. And don’t forget, Betting News will be dropping sharp NHL player props, game scripts and bets to keep your bankroll rolling for the entire NHL season. But first, let’s dissect the upcoming 2025-2026 NHL season, and see how much of the script we can get right.
Be sure to keep you eyes out for more NHL future bets pieces here at Betting News. In the next couple weeks we will highlight everything from NHL awards, team point totals and player props in the Betting News NHL future bet series.
Betting Odds
Odds via BetOnline, an industry leader in the sports betting world.
1. Nico Hischier (New Jersey) +260 on BetOnline:
The captain Hischier will look to push his Devils further than they have been in years
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Selke résumé is real: Hischier finished 4th in last season’s voting (after a previous runner-up), establishing bona fides with PHWA voters. He’s been in the running for multiple seasons and a big season by the New Jersey Devils could really help his odds. He has Jack Hughes on a separate line to take the top defenders attention, which allows him to exploit matches.
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Defensive workload: Consistently heavy PK usage and 55–56% faceoff wins in 2024-25 underline the archetype voters like. He will defend against the McDavid’s and MacKinnon’s of the world, while still pointing up points. Hischier is still relatively young and is now entering the prime years of his career.
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Roster/role stability: Projected to center a hard-matching line with Timo Meier and Dawson Mercer, giving him prime defensive assignments while still producing enough offense to stay on ballots. Could this be Hischier’s year, making him an NHL futures best bet.
Pros
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Two-way reputation already cemented with voters.
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Elite FO% and PK time = classic Selke signal.
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Top-six minutes + PP keep counting stats healthy (helps visibility).
Cons
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Devils must bounce back at 5-on-5; team results influence voting narratives.
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Shorter post-Barkov prices reduce the payout edge.
Get 50% up to $750 Deposit on BetOnline for this pick
2. Jack Eichel (Utah) +900 on BetOnline:
Jack Eichel has not had difficulty shutting down top players in the league
Why he’s live:
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Offensive help has arrived: Eichel finished 5th in Selke voting last year—his first true breakthrough with the PHWA as a two-way force. However, he has never had elite wingers. Sure he helped make stars out of Marchessault and has played with an aging Mark Stone. But now with Mitch Marner playing on his line, he has a true elite difference maker at wing for the first time in Vegas. His offensive numbers could sky rocket. It’s easy to see why this is a great NHL futures bet.
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Usage proof, not just vibes: Under Bruce Cassidy, Eichel led Vegas forwards in shorthanded minutes and carried heavy defensive-zone responsibilities—usage that travels well to voter ballots. He will have to slow down some of the top teams in the league, facing Colorado, Edmonton and Dallas regularly.
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Team context: A deep center spine (Eichel–Hertl–Karlsson) lets Cassidy hard-match Eichel more situationally without nuking his offense—ideal for Selke optics.
Pros
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Real, documented PK/defensive role + 90-point offense = classic “best defensive forward, not just a checker” profile.
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Vegas wins a lot; win totals correlate with hardware.
Cons
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Faceoffs sit mid-40s%—not fatal, but a talking point vs. Hischier/Kopitar. This must improve.
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Eichel has been injury prone before. He will need to stay healthy to put up a complete season.
3. Nick Suzuki (Montreal) +350 on BetOnline:
Nick Suzuki had a career year and should now be fighting for an award
Why he’s live:
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Production + discipline: Career-best 89 points last season and just 8 penalty minutes—voters love the “plays hard, never cheats” narrative. And last season was just the start. It felt like every NHL commentator was raving about Suzuki by the end of the season. The hype is real and this year the Canadiens could be even better. This is a long shot, but the value makes it one of the NHL futures best bets.
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Two-way impact: Media and analytic write-ups highlighted how Montreal tilted the ice with Suzuki on; he cracked Selke ballots (13th) and drew season-long buzz as “ready to jump.” If Suzuki takes another step forward this season, he may begin to be considered one of the NHL’s premier two-way players.
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Roster tailwinds: A deeper forward group and improving special teams raise his on-ice share of tough minutes without crushing offense. (Habs PK sat ~81% last year; additions and internal growth help.) The Canadiens also added top defenseman Noah Dobson, who should not only help move the puck up the ice but should also help Montreal keep pucks out of net which can only bode well for Suzuki.
Pros
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Price! He’s in the conversation yet priced like a long shot.
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Faceoffs trending ~51–52% and heavy usage in all situations.
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Voter narrative momentum from last season’s step forward.
Cons
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Less Selke “brand equity” than Hischier/Kopitar; needs a hot start to climb the board.
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Montreal must stay competitive; standings still sway ballots.
Get 50% up to $750 Deposit on BetOnline for this pick