New Year’s Day has no shortage of hockey, with eight games on the schedule across the league. Today’s NHL player props will focus on Aliaksei Protas, Lane Hutson, and Mikko Rantanen.
Read more in my NHL picks for Thursday, January 1.
Best NHL player prop bets today
| Player |  |
|---|---|
 Aliaksei Protas Over 0.5 points |
+110 |
 Lane Hutson Over 0.5 assists |
-155 |
 Mikko Rantanen Over 1.5 points |
+125 |
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Our best NHL player props for Thursday, January 1
Take a look at our best bets and expert analysis below.
Prop #1: Aliaksei Protas Over 0.5 points
Aliaksei Protas is having another solid campaign for the Washington Capitals. The 24-year-old has netted 15 goals and tallied 15 assists so far.
Protas is on quite the roll right now as well. He just posted 14 points in December, and I’m eyeing him to carry that brilliance into the New Year.
The Belarus native has cashed the Over in points in six of his last seven appearances. In fact, he’s finished with two points or more in three of those games.
Protas is doing his part offensively, and he’s collected 14 points in 19 road contests. The Caps visit the Ottawa Senators this afternoon.
While he failed to secure a point earlier this season against the Sens, I’ll ride Protas’s hot hand to get in on the action in one way or another.
- Time: 1:00 p.m. ET
- Where to watch: RDS, TSN5
Prop #2: Lane Hutson Over 0.5 assists
He’s the reigning Calder Trophy winner for a reason, right?
Lane Hutson continues to prove why he’s already one of the best defensemen in the NHL, and the youngster is just 21. He’s already tallied 33 helpers in 2025-26, which is on track to surpass his 60 assists from last season.
Hutson is playmaking at a high level lately. He’s hit the Over in helpers in three straight games, but he also has six assists during that span. On Tuesday, he set up a pair of goals in a win over the Florida Panthers, and last week, Hutson collected three helpers against the Boston Bruins.
The American has 18 assists in 19 road games, and the Montreal Canadiens are in Raleigh visiting the Carolina Hurricanes tonight.
- Time: 7:00 p.m. ET
- Where to watch: RDS, TSN2
Prop #3: Mikko Rantanen Over 1.5 points
Trading for Mikko Rantanen was a phenomenal decision by the Dallas Stars. He’s turned into one of their best players, and although they’ve yet to make a Stanley Cup run, Rantanen is certainly doing his part in helping this team succeed.
The Finnish superstar has 15 goals and 39 assists already in just 39 games. He’s collected 12 points across his last seven appearances, and Rantanen has cashed the Over in points in five of his previous seven outings.
Rantanen was pointless on Wednesday against the Buffalo Sabres, but he posted three points last weekend in a loss to the Chicago Blackhawks. That’s exactly who the Stars will face again this evening.
- Time: 8:30 p.m. ET
- Where to watch: SN1
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
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