The 2023 IIHF Hockey World Championship drops first puck on May 12 and runs for two weeks until the finals on May 28. The tournament takes place at both Latvia and in Finland. The defending champion Fins show favorite’s odds at +250 followed by the Canadians, the second choice at +270, and Sweden a solid third choice at +500. Will Finland make it two straight World Championship titles? Will Canada grab gold? See below for IIHF World Championship Odds, analysis, and free picks for the 2023 IIHF World Championship.
2023 IIHF Hockey World Championship Betting Odds and Picks for Gold, Silver, and Bronze Medal
2023 IIHF World Championship
- When: May 12 – May 28
- Where: Finland & Latvia
IIHF World Championship 2023 to Win Odds
- Finland +250
- Canada +270
- Sweden +500
- Czech Republic +650
- USA +750
- Switzerland +1100
- Germany +2800
- Slovakia +3200
- Latvia +5000
- Denmark +7000
- Norway +11000
- Austria +18000
- Kazakhstan +18000
- France +18000
- Slovenia +25000
- Hungary +25000
2022 IIHF World Championship Recap
Finland secured their second world title in three seasons when beating Canada in the championship match. Canada grabbed silver.
Third place went to the Czech Republic and the United States finished fourth. Finland also won in 2019. The Fins finished second to Canada in 2021. The IIHF canceled the 2020 tournament.
- Gold Medal Pick: Canada +270
If you want to know why Canada is one of the favorites to win gold, all we must do is look at the roster. 22 of the 24 players on Canada’s World Championship roster plays in the NHL.
This includes such players as Nick Holden, who plays for the Ottawa Senators. Now 35, Holden doesn’t play as well as he used to. But his experience should help Canada close the gap on favored Finland.
Not only that, but Canada won in 2021 and finished second in 2022, proving the Canadians can hang with the Fins.
- Silver Medal Pick: Finland +250
The Finnish don’t boast as many NHL players as Canada. However, the Fins appear to be a more cohesive group. Finland won the title in 2019 and last year.
The second-place finish to Canada also bodes well for their chances to at least medal. Canada offers slightly better odds, making them the play.
But if you like Finland more, the chalk offers fair odds. So don’t worry that you’re backing an underlay.
- Bronze Medal Pick: United States +750
The U.S boasts enough NHL talent on their IIHF roster to make your head spin. However, we can’t consider a single United States’ player as being elite.
Not only that, but the IIHF World Championship isn’t as important to Team USA as, say, the Olympics. So, the USA won’t be as prepared to win gold as Canada or Finland.
Still, if either one of the chalks stumbles, who knows? Maybe, the Americans get it done. Also, we can’t complain about the odds, which are fair.
- Top Gold Medal Underdog Play: Switzerland +1100
Switzerland won silver in 2018 when finishing second to Sweden. But since then, the Swiss have failed to medal.
The top underdog play has even failed to finish fourth. This year, Switzerland shouldn’t win gold, or any medal, but if you’re looking to put money behind a dog, the Swiss might be your play.
Switzerland boasts enough lower-level NHL talent to pull off a surprise or two during the tournament. Not only that, but the Swiss appear to be a cohesive squad. So, if you’re looking to play an underdog, consider backing Switzerland.
