The first Saturday of the NHL season is here and we have a dozen games on the schedule! Player props are becoming one of the hottest growing things in hockey over the past few seasons and I have definitely taken notice as it adds yet another layer to a great game experience. Throughout this season you will find picks offered on the Underdog site that I find the most appealing as there are many to choose from so that's why I'm here to help you sift through the options. With 12 games come a ton of options for player props and a number of different ways we can go. I have selected two of my favorites from two of the most exciting players in the league. 

 

NHL Underdog Fantasy Top Picks October 14

Connor Bedard, Chicago Blackhawks - HIGHER than 4.5 Shots

Connor Bedard may only be two games into his NHL career, but he has quickly shown he is the real deal. He logged an assist in the opening night victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins and saw his first career goal in a tough loss to the Boston Bruins. Connor skates on the top line and power play unit and has logged an impressive 21 minutes of ice time in both games this season. He's only 18 but is not afraid to shoot, posting five or more shots on goal in each game to start the season. Bedard will be without line-mate Taylor Hall in this game, giving him even more reason to bombard the net with shots. Last season Montreal allowed 33.5 shots per game, good for fifth most in the league, so Bedard should have no trouble going over.

Matthew Tkachuk, Florida Panthers - HIGHER than 4.5 shots

Matthew Tkachuk has been an amazing hockey player, coming off back-to-back seasons with over 100 points. He's had 40 or more goals in two straight seasons and had the eighth most shots on goal last year with 322. Following Florida's deep playoff run last year and a tough loss in the Stanley Cup Final, the roster is in rough shape due to mounting injuries. The Panthers may need to lean on him a little more to cover their roster deficits, as evidenced by the 10 shots on net he recorded in their season opener. Tkachuk averaged 4.07 shots per game last season and I expect him to light up the net against Winnipeg to try and help put Florida's first win in the books.