Who Will Hoist Lord Stanley’s Cup in 2024? Unveiling the Latest NHL Championship Odds

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With the All-Star game now in the rearview mirror, the push for playoff spots in the NHL is now truly underway. 2024 Stanley Cup Odds: Favorites at the Moment, Underdogs and Long Shots | MyBookie Sportsbook

We are at the stage of the season where teams are about to look at where they are and decide how they want to progress. Some teams will almost certainly be moving players on, while those in the hunt for the Stanley Cup will be looking to add a piece or two as they prepare for what they hope will be a deep postseason run. Between now and the end of the regular season, we are almost certainly going to see the odds to win the Cup change, but we thought it might be fun to take a look at where things stand right now. We will look at the current Stanley Cup odds and drop teams into 3 distinct brackets: favorites, underdogs (dark horses), and longshots, so let’s get to it.

Stanley Cup Favorites

Edmonton Oilers

If you had suggested that the Oilers were the favorites to win the Stanley Cup a month or so ago, you may well have been laughed out of the room. This was a team that was underperforming before going on a run that saw them win 16 straight games. While they have cooled off a little after that unbelievable run, the Oilers have still won 8 of their last 10 games and now look like a team preparing for a strong second half of the season and a deep playoff run. That said, I’m still a little surprised that they are the favorites to win it all.

Boston Bruins

After winning the President’s Trophy last season, the Bruins entered the postseason as a huge favorite, only to fall at the first hurdle against the Florida Panthers. While not as dominating as they were last year, the Bruins are still very good and have the lead in the Atlantic Division. They are 2nd best in the league in goal differential at the moment, but as good as they have looked, there is still some concern about their ability to get the job done in the postseason.

Colorado Avalanche

The Avalanche showed their ability to live up to the hype in 2022 by winning the Stanley Cup, but they followed that up with an opening round exit last season. What team are we going to see once the playoffs roll around this year. Right now, the Avs are 2nd in the Central Division and on a bit of a skid, losing 4 in a row heading into this week. On their day, though, Colorado is tough to beat, as they have arguably the best offense in the NHL, but will that prove to be enough?

NHL Favorites Betting Odds to Win

Dallas Stars

The central Division looks like it is coming down to a 3-horse race, but it is the Dallas Stars who have the slight lead at the moment, just ahead of the Avalanche and Winnipeg Jets. You could easily have the Stars in the favorites segment of this piece, but I am putting them just outside, although that could change over the next couple of weeks. The Stars have taken advantage of the slump by the Avs to take that top spot, but will they be able to maintain their slender lead?

Florida Panthers

We all expected the Panthers to go crashing out of the playoffs in the opening round last year, but they surprised the Bruins in Round 1 and went on a run that took them all the way to the Stanley Cup Final. They look to be in good shape again this season, as they are just 3 points back of the Bruins in the Atlantic Division. If they can maintain this pace, they will have a much better path to the Stanley Cup than they had last season.

Vancouver Canucks

If you are of the belief that the Vancouver Canucks are set for glory this season, now might be the time to put your money where your mouth is, as I don’t expect these odds to get much better as the season progresses. The Canucks have an 8-point lead atop the Pacific Division, as well as the best record in the league at the moment. They also have the best goal differential in the league, so there is certainly a lot to like about this team.

NHL Underdogs Betting Odds to Win

Carolina Hurricanes

I would not be surprised to see the Hurricanes fall below the Rangers on the bookies board in the next couple of weeks, especially if the Blueshirts can continue with their current form. This is not to suggest that the Hurricanes are struggling, though, as they have picked up 7 wins in their last 10 games, but they are having a tough time catching the leaders. If there is a concern with the Hurricanes, it’s that they have been just okay on the road. If they can improve that record between now and the end of the season, they could be a threat.

New York Rangers

While the next batch of teams are off the pace in the eyes of the bookies in terms of the odds to win the Stanley Cup, they still seem like a good bet. The Rangers are rolling at the moment and have the lead in the Metropolitan Division, leading the Hurricanes by 6 points. They are the winners of 5 in a row and have been solid at home and on the road, so they are going to be a very tough out in a 7-game series.

Vegas Golden Knights

It is perhaps a little surprising to see the defending Stanley Cup champions sitting this far down on the bookies board, but that is good news for the bettors who are of the belief that the Knights can repeat as champions this season. Vegas is still in the hunt to win the Pacific Division, although they do have some work to do, as they are 8 points back of the Canucks at the top. They are proven playoff performers, though, so I would be tempted to put a little money on them at these odds, as I have a feeling they will shorten as the season progresses.

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The Vegas Golden Knights trounced the Florida Panthers 9-3 on Tuesday to win the franchise’s first Stanley Cup in just its sixth year of existence and give the City of Las Vegas is first professional title in the four major American pro sports leagues – of course, Vegas didn’t have either the NHL or NHL until fairly recently and MLB is on the way. To repeat as 2024 Stanley Cup champion, Vegas is a +900 second favorite to the Boston Bruins (+800).

Bruins, Not Champion Golden Knights, Favored Win 2024 Stanley Cup

Makes some sense that Boston is the 2024 Cup favorite as the Bruins this past season set NHL records for most points (135) and wins (65) in the regular season but shockingly blew a 3-1 first-round playoff lead to wild-card Florida and lost in 7. The biggest question mark on the B’s is with forward and future Hall of Famer Patrice Bergeron, who might retire at age 37. Fellow forward David Krejci is also 37 and also a free agent.

Bergeron acknowledged that he played in Boston’s first-round series with a herniated disc in his back — which kept him out of the Bruins’ lineup for four games. The five-time Selke Award winner considered retiring after the 2021-22 season but signed a one year-deal.

“It’s definitely not something I’ll use as an excuse,” Bergeron said of the injury in the Florida series. “It is what it is and everyone battles with a lot of things during the playoffs and it’s just unfortunate the way that it happened on a fluke play.”

The Knights won their first Cup eight days shy of the seven-year anniversary of Las Vegas officially receiving an NHL franchise and 2,076 days after their first regular-season game. Vegas lifted hockey’s most sought-after trophy to cap its sixth season in the NHL, joining the Edmonton Oilers (5th season) as the only clubs in the modern era to win a title that quickly.

The Golden Knights became the 34th different franchise to win the Stanley Cup since it first was presented in 1893 – 25 years before the NHL’s inaugural season. Vegas is the 23rd club to win the Stanley Cup since 1927 when the trophy first was competed for only by NHL teams and the 21st active franchise to claim the prized trophy.

Jonathan Marchessault was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy as the most valuable player of the playoffs. Marchessault ended the postseason with 25 points (13 goals, 12 assists). Linemate Jack Eichel finished the playoffs with a league-best 26 points, but voters may have been swayed by Marchessault closing out the postseason on a 10-game scoring streak, totaling eight goals and seven assists, including an assist in Tuesday’s win. The former Panthers winger was one of six members of the Golden Knights’ inaugural roster to lift the Stanley Cup on Tuesday.

Marchessault’s run came after he got off to a slow start this postseason, though. He had just two assists in five games against the Winnipeg Jets in the Western Conference First Round.

“I wasn’t happy with my first round, but at the end of day, we found a way to win hockey games, and a bunch of guys stepped up at the right time, and I wanted to contribute and help my team win hockey games, and we were still doing it without me producing,” Marchessault said. “That was one of the things that happen in this year’s playoffs in every round, there was always somebody stepping up, and it was great. Honestly, you don’t get here with one or two guys, you get here with a full effort of the organization, and it’s something you can really be proud of.”

The Knights probably will lose goaltender Adin Hill, but he wasn’t supposed to be their starter for most of these playoffs anyways but was forced into action due to injury. Hill stopped 32 of 35 shots in Tuesday’s 9-3 win. The 27-year-old netminder was responsible for 11 of Vegas’ 16 playoffs wins while adding a stellar 2.17 GAA and a .932 save percentage in 16 appearances. He’s set to be an unrestricted free agent this summer.

Florida played Game 5 on Tuesday without superstar Matthew Tkachuk due to a painful fracture near his sternum. Still, a very successful season as the Panthers upset the Bruins, Leafs and Hurricanes to reach the second Stanley Cup Final in franchise history before running into a buzzsaw in the Golden Knights, who finished first in the Western Conference with 111 points. Of their players who played Tuesday, only defenseman Radko Gudas, Marc Staal, Eric Staal and backup goalie Alex Lyon can become unrestricted free agents July 1 so Florida should be very good against next season. It is +1400 to win its first Cup.

Colorado, Edmonton and Toronto are each +1000 to win it all next year. The Avs won the 2022 Cup, while Canada hasn’t had a Cup-winning team since 1993 and the Leafs have the longest drought in the NHL.

The next big item on the NHL calendar is the draft from June 28-29 in Nashville and mega-prospect Connor Bedard will be the No. 1 overall pick by Chicago. The start date of the 2023-24 NHL regular season is TBA but it usually begins in early October. The NHL plans to hold games in Australia for the first time in league history as the Coyotes and Kings are scheduled to play on September 23 and 24 at Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne.

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Early Stanley Cup Odds Before NHL Preseason Starts | 2023 NHL Champions Odds to Win

While it feels like almost yesterday that the Vegas Golden Knights won the first Stanley Cup in league history, the new NHL season is not that far off with preseason games starting in a little over three weeks: The Arizona Coyotes and /sportsbook/nhl/los-angeles-kings/ face off in Australia for the 2023 NHL Global Series in Melbourne on Sept. 23 and 24 to start the preseason. Overall, the 2023 preseason slate features 15 days and 111 total games played across 44 NHL and neutral-site venues in North America and Australia from Sept. 23 to Oct. 7. Let’s take an updated look at the favorites to win the 2024 Stanley Cup.

Carolina Hurricanes

Stanley Cup Odds: +800

Carolina reached the 2023 Eastern Conference Finals and was favored to win it but upset by the wild card Florida Panthers in a shocking sweep, although every game was decided by one goal and two in overtime. Florida only scored 10 total goals in the series but Sergei Bobrovsky had a .966 save percentage after stopping 174 of the 180 shots he faced for Florida. The biggest move the Hurricanes made this offseason was signing center Sebastian Aho to an eight-year, $78 million extension. Aho scored 36 goals in 2022-23, continuing his streak of seven straight seasons with at least 24 goals that began when he made his Hurricanes debut in 2016-17. “As a player, all you can ask, really, from the team [is] you have a chance to win, and we definitely have a chance to be the best team in the League.” Aho said. “I’m really excited for the next year.”

In addition, the team signed Dmitry Orlov, the top defenseman available on the free agent market. He joins Jaccob Slavin, Brent Burns, Brett Pesce and Brady Skjei on what was already an impressive defense. Goalies Frederik Andersen and Antti Raanta were re-signed to inexpensive contracts and Pyotr Kochetkov can step in if one gets hurt. Hard to see any holes here.

New Jersey Devils

Stanley Cup Odds: +900

New Jersey finished one point behind the Carolina Hurricanes in the Metropolitan Division for the league’s third-best point total (112) last and the franchise’s first playoff appearance in five years, then pushed past the rival /sportsbook/nhl/new-york-rangers/ in seven games despite falling behind 0-2 for its first playoff series win since 2012. The Devils then lost in five to Carolina in the East semifinals. New Jersey is loaded offensively but has some goaltending questions. The team traded for Sharks winger Timo Meier ahead of last season’s deadline and re-signed him to an eight-year deal. He had 66 points in 78 contests split between San Jose and New Jersey last season, including a career-high 40 goals. The Devils have their forward core with Meier, Jack Hughes, Jesper Bratt, Nico Hischier and Ondrej Palat all locked up through at least 2026-27.

New Jersey acquired versatile forward Tyler Toffoli from the Calgary Flames on June 27 and defenseman Colin Miller from the Dallas Stars on July 1. Toffoli has one season remaining on a four-year contract. Miller has one remaining on a two-year contract. The Devils also signed free agent forward Tomas Nosek to a one-year contract July 19. Vitek Vanecek and Akira Schmid are expected to battle for the starter’s role in net after Mackenzie Blackwood was traded to the Sharks.

Toronto Maple Leafs

Stanley Cup Odds: +900

The Leafs haven’t won the Cup since 1967, the longest drought in the league, and no Canadian team has won it since Montreal in 1993. The Leafs looked good enough to win it all last year. They finally advanced past the first round of the playoffs by beating Tampa Bay in six games. Toronto advanced in a series for the first time since 2004, winning three times in overtime on the road in that series and ending an 11-game losing streak in elimination games. However, as heavy favorites in Round 2 vs. Florida, the Leafs were beaten in five games. There was some talk it might cost Coach Sheldon Keefe his job, but he just got an extension this week under new general manager Brad Treliving. The Maple Leafs set single-season franchise records for wins (54) and points (115) under Keefe in 2021-22 and have recorded back-to-back 50-win campaigns.

Toronto also ensured that superstar Auston Matthews will be around for many years in signing him to a four-year, $53 million extension. At $13.25 million per season, Matthews becomes the NHL’s highest paid player in terms of annual value. Matthews has 299 goals through 481 career games and has a very good chance at becoming the fastest to 300 among American-born players all-time. Matthews already has positioned himself well among the Leafs’ all-time franchise leaders, tied for fifth in goals scored and second with nine overtime goals. He also leads the NHL in goals scored since 2016-17 and is 11th overall in points. The Maple Leafs feel they have depth in goal with Ilya Samsonov, Joseph Woll and Martin Jones. But there are questions revolving around each of them. Samsonov will be the No. 1 guy but has struggled to stay healthy at times and missed the Maple Leafs’ final two Stanley Cup Playoff games against the Panthers due to injury.

Expert Prediction

Edmonton (+1000) wins the Cup

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Three of the four spots in the Conference Finals are reserved, with the Seattle Kraken and Dallas Stars meeting in game seven on Monday night to determine who takes the last spot in the NHL’s final four. 

We’re looking ahead to the Conference finals and each team’s updated odds to win the Stanley Cup now that they are four wins away from playing for the greatest trophy in sports.

Updated Odds to Win the Stanley Cup Before Conference Finals

Eastern Conference : (M1) Carolina Hurricanes vs. (WC2) Florida Panthers
Western Conference: TBD vs TBD

Carolina Hurricanes (+216)

The Carolina Hurricanes were a preseason betting favorite to win the Stanley Cup and remained near the top of the odds all season long. The Canes were the first team to secure a spot in the conference finals, making good on their preseason favorite status.

The Canes are excellent defensively, with their only real weakness being a powerplay that underachieves compared to some of their competition. Nonetheless, the majority of the game is played five-on-five, and the Canes are excellent on both ends of the ice.

The Hurricanes should be the favorite to win the Stanley Cup and hold the head-to-head season series advantage over the four other teams still alive in the NHL, except for one: the Vegas Golden Knights.

If we have to pick one team to win the Stanley Cup from the teams left in the playoffs, it’s the Canes.

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Florida Panthers (+320)

After winning the President’s Trophy last season and being involved in a blockbuster trade in the offseason, the Florida Panthers struggled throughout the regular season.

Despite being the final Wild Card team in the Eastern Conference and getting the gift of the best regular season team in NHL history as their first-round opponent, the Panthers shocked the work, overcoming a 3-1 deficit to eliminate the Boston Bruins in seven games. The Panthers made quick work of the Toronto Maple Leafs in round two, winning the series 4-1.

Having defeated two of the top-four teams in the league to get to the Eastern Conference finals, the Panthers will have to defeat the Carolina Hurricanes, who finished second to only Boston, to play in their second Stanley Cup.

The Panthers must improve their performances that lead to a 1-2 head-to-head record with the Hurricanes to improve their odds to win the Stanley Cup.

But, honestly, we like their chances at this point.

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Vegas Golden Knights (+230)

The Vegas Golden Knights are the favorite to emerge from the Western Conference to play in the franchise’s second Stanley Cup final. 

Throughout the season, VGK has endured a litany of injuries, especially with goaltenders, but has constantly been near the top of the Pacific Division. More importantly, Adin Hill has been excellent and withstood everything the Edmonton Oilers – the highest-scoring team in the league – and seemed to have the antidote for the McDavid-Draisaitl duo often enough throughout the series. 

While we don’t know who Vegas will face in the Western Conference finals, we like their chances of shutting down either Seattle’s or Dallas’ offenses on the way to the Stanley Cup Final. 

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Dallas Stars (+540) / Seattle Kraken (+1400)

The Dallas Stars might have better odds to win the Stanley Cup compared to the Seattle Kraken, but they’re another sub-par performance from Jake Oettinger away from watching the two newest teams that joined the NHL play for the Western Conference championship.

And we like the Kraken’s chances to pull off the road upset in game seven.

Seattle won games six and seven to eliminate the defending champion Colorado Avalanche in round one. The Kraken won game six at home to force Monday night’s game seven.

The Stars are the better team on paper and have a slight statistical advantage going into game seven.

If we’re pressed to pick a winner for game seven, we’re taking the Kraken to pull off the upset.

But a Dallas-Vegas Western Conference Finals does sound like a lot of fun.

NHL Betting Pick: Kraken to pull off the upset | Bet Stars vs Kraken Today
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We’re a few games into the second round of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs, and with a multitude of upsets so far, most notably the Florida Panthers eliminating the President’s Trophy-winning Boston Bruins in the first round, the odds have shifted dramatically since the end of the regular season. 

Here is an updated look at the odds to win the Stanley Cup, along with a brief analysis on why each team sits where they do. 

Updated Odds to Win the Stanley Cup

Stanley Cup Playoffs
Round 2: May 2‑16, 2023
Stanley Cup Final Starts: June 3, 2023

Edmonton Oilers | +300

The Oilers are tied 1-1 in their series with the Vegas Golden Knights, but their offense has been even more potent than we’ve seen in some time. Leon Draisaitl has 13 goals and 18 points in eight games, Connor McDavid and Evan Bouchard are hot on his tail with 15 and 14 points, respectively, and Stuart Skinner appears to be settling in between the pipes. 

Stanley Cup Pick: Bet Oilers to Win
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Florida Panthers | +380

The only team on this list with a 3-0 lead in their second-round series, the Panthers have surged gone from clinching a playoff spot on the final day of the regular season then being down 3-1 in the series, with Boston to winning six straight and being the favorites in the Eastern Conference. The Matthew Tkachuk trade looks masterful at this point, and if Sergei Bobrovsky keeps playing at the level that won him Vezina Trophies in 2013 and 2017, the Panthers will be a tough out.

Stanley Cup Pick: Bet Panthers to Win
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Carolina Hurricanes | +400

Carolina’s Cup odds have taken a hit following the injuries to Teuvo Teravainen and Andrei Svechnikov, but that they still are in third on this list speaks volumes about their depth. The Canes are 10-2 at home over the last two postseasons and would have the home-ice advantage over any team remaining in the playoff field.

Stanley Cup Pick: Bet Hurricanes to Win
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Vegas Golden Knights | +750

The Golden Knights were the top team in the Western Conference in the regular season despite an abundance of injuries. They may also be the best defensive team remaining in the playoffs. If they can get by the offensive juggernaut that is the Edmonton Oilers, they’ve got a great chance to go all the way.

Stanley Cup Pick: Bet Golden Knights to Win
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New Jersey Devils | +850

New Jersey is a scrappy young team that is built to remain on this list over the next few years. Though they’re allowing a postseason-best 28.3 shots against per game, they’ve also posted the fewest shots per game of any remaining team. The Devils won their first playoff series in more than a decade in the first round, but playing against a more seasoned Hurricanes squad could be their downfall.

Stanley Cup Pick: Bet Devils to Win
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Dallas Stars | +900

Trailing 2-1 in their series following a 7-2 loss to Seattle on Sunday, Dallas is in familiar territory. They also trailed the Minnesota Wild 2-1 in the first round before winning the series in six games. Miro Heiskanen took a puck to the face in the second period and did not return. If he’s out long-term, it may be time to fade the Stars.

Stanley Cup Pick: Bet Stars to Win
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Seattle Kraken | +1100

The Kraken have a 2-1 series lead with Game Four in their home barn, so there may be some value here at +1100. Phillip Grubauer is a man on a mission in net and has a .918 playoff save percentage after posting an .895 rate in the regular season. An amazing 19 skaters have recorded a point so far, so while Seattle may not have the same top-end talent, the balanced roster can still cause problems for opponents. 

Stanley Cup Pick: Bet Kraken to Win
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Toronto Maple Leafs | +2500

After 19 seasons, the Maple Leafs FINALLY won a playoff series and advanced to the second round, only to immediately face a 3-0 series deficit, having dropped the first two at home. With a few days off, Toronto will have plenty of time to refocus and regroup to keep their season alive, but it’s hard to see a path to winning the Cup, let alone making it out of the second round. 

Stanley Cup Pick: Bet Maple Leafs to Win
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The shine has yet to wear off Lord Stanley’s hardware, but that hasn’t stopped oddsmakers from setting lines on every NHL team to win the 2023 Stanley Cup. As one might expect, the defending champion Avs are the top choice. Runner up Tampa Bay is among the top three choices.

Check out odds to win the Stanley Cup as well as a way too early odds analysis.

Early Odds to Win the 2023 Stanley Cup Title | NHL Betting Odds and Analysis

2023 Stanley Cup Opening Odds

Does the defending champion Colorado Avalanche offer overlay, underlay, or fair odds?

At first glance, it seems ridiculous to lay money on Colorado to repeat at +400 odds. The Avalanche won their first title since 2001. The 20-year drought implies Colorado might need at least a couple of seasons to win another championship.

Not only that, but the Avs, like every team in the NHL, will lose some players. Ah, but Colorado will also gain some players.

Joe Sakic is proving to be one of the smartest general managers in league history. Sakic put together one of the top teams during the NHL Regular Season and the best team in the playoffs. If you like the Avalanche, don’t let the low odds talk you off them.

Which team is the biggest underlay to win the 2023 Stanley Cup?

Florida is +1000. The Panthers had a fantastic regular season, but failed in the playoffs. Sometimes, that happens to teams because the regular season is different than the postseason.

Leaders must emerge in the postseason to win the Stanley Cup. No leader on Florida’s squad emerged. There’s a good chance the Panthers don’t improve in 2023 from 2022. So if no improvement is expected, why are the Panthers at +1000?

Which team is the top overlay to win the Cup next year?

The New York Rangers should offer odds closer in line with Carolina’s and Vegas’ than +2000. The Rangers beat the Penguins and the Hurricanes before falling to Tampa Bay in the Eastern Conference Finals.

NYR is a talented hockey team. It’s doubtful they lose much. It’s more likely the Rangers gain a few quality players. Don’t sleep on NYR to make a 2023 Stanley Cup appearance.

Name the top underdog to win the 2023 Stanley Cup.

Washington offers much better odds than they should. The Capitals pushed the Florida Panthers to six games.

Alex Ovechkin and Evgeny Kuznetsov shouldn’t go anywhere. So if D.C. adds a quality player or two, the Caps’ odds to win the Stanley Cup could dive from +3500 to around +1400. If you like Washington, consider backing them at the 35-to-1 odds before they end up offering an underlay line.

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With the NHL playoffs almost upon us, it’s time to look at the current favorites and perhaps make some predictions as we go. The Eastern Conference looks a little more clear cut than the Western, where things still remain vey much up in the air in terms of potential seeding. Without know who will play who in the opening round, it is tough to make any sort of valid predictions in terms of wagering. With that in mind, we have decided to come at it from a different angle by looking at the current odds to win the Stanley Cup as well as looking at each team’s chances of winning it as put together by FiveThirtyEight.com. Let’s now break down the favorites and their chances of going all the way so you can plan your bets against the NHL Playoffs Odds.

Stanley Cup Betting Favorites | Playoffs Predictions for the Postseason

Colorado Avalanche (+330)

The Avs came into the season as the favorites to hoist the cup and little has changed since then. They currently have the most points of any team in the league and look like a good bet to win the President’s Trophy. As we have seen in the past, that is zero guarantee of playoff success. There is also recent history to consider, with the Colorado Avalanche continually disappointing in the postseason. FiveThirtyEight has them in with a 27% chance to win the Stanley Cup. Hard to argue that given the Avs form. Right now, they would face the Dallas Stars in the opening round.

Florida Panthers (+460)

We often hear talk of defense winning championships, but if the Panthers are to win it all, it might be because of their ability to outscore everyone. They have already scored 302 goals this season and are also in the hunt for the President’s Trophy. They have the most wins (32) versus conference foes and would face Washington if the season ended today. The Florida Panthers have a 15% chance of winning it all.

Calgary Flames (+680)

In the Western Conference, the performance of the Calgary Flames has been somewhat overshadowed by what the Avalanche are doing. That may actually be something that works in the favor of the Flames, as they are somewhat slipping under the radar at the moment. Their top line has been outstanding all year and may be among the best in the league, but can the rest of the team follow suit once the playoffs begin? They have an 8% chance of winning the Cup and would currently face Nashville in Round 1.

Carolina Hurricanes (+820)

The Hurricanes have a slightly better chance of winning the Stanley Cup than Calgary, which is not how the bookies see it at the moment. They have cooled off a little over the last 10 games and are in danger of being caught by the New York Rangers at the top of the Metropolitan Division. That would dramatically change the opening round matchups and might make for a tougher path through the playoffs.

The Rest of the Pack

The other teams that are in the picture, but who might be considered more of a dark horse at this stage of the proceedings, are the Tampa Bay Lightning (+850) and the Toronto Maple Leafs (+850). I have my doubts about the Lightning repeating, but I also think that if we are looking at dark horses, we should look at the Rangers, who are currently sitting at odds of +1400.

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As we get ready for Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final, which goes on Wednesday night, there are lots of wagers to consider. Besides picking the outcomes of each specific game, we can also wager on the cup winner, how many games they will win the series in, and who will eventually win the MVP. The player who is voted as the best in the playoffs will win the Conn Smythe Trophy, and there are a few players who are already considered to be in the hunt. That can change, though, as one player might well step up and take their game to the next level over the course of the Stanley Cup Final. For now, let’s look at some of the players who are in the hunt to win the Conn Smythe so you can bet against their NHL Awards Odds.

NHL Conn Smythe Winner Odds Analysis | Stanley Cup Betting Picks

Cale Makar (+180)

In many sports, it is offensive players who get all the MVP glory. In the NHL, it is not uncommon to see a goaltender, or a defensive player win the Conn Smythe. The favorite to win it at the moment is a defenseman for the Colorado Avalanche. Cale Makar has been nothing short of brilliant through the 14 games that the Avalanche have played this postseason, picking up 22 points (5G 17A). He has also delivered the goods on the +/- side of things, sitting at +11 through the opening 3 rounds. He has also managed to stay out of the penalty box and did not pick up a single penalty in the Western Conference Final.

Nathan MacKinnon (+190)

We have another Colorado Avalanche player sitting just behind Makar on the bookies board, and you have to say that this one is not a surprise. Nathan MacKinnon is widely regarded as one of the best players currently plying his trade in the NHL and he has actually upped his game a little during this postseason. Through the 14 playoff games that the Avs have played, MacKinnon has registered 18 points and has been particularly dangerous on the Power Play, scoring 5 on his 11 goals with the man advantage. He has seen his shooting percentage go from 10.7% in the regular season to 13.4% in the playoffs.

Andrei Vasilevskiy (+350)

In order to be great in the NHL, teams need a reliable goaltender to bail them out. The Tampa Bay Lightning have that, which is why they are on pace to win their 3^rd straight Stanley Cup. Vasilevskiy has played a major role in the success of his team, with the proof of that coming in the fact that he won the Conn Smythe Trophy last year. He did not look stellar in the opening round, but since then, he has basically shut the door and has a GAA of 2.27 and a save percentage of .928, as well as a single shutout. If the Lightning win their 3^rd in a row, I’d be on Vasilevskiy to win the Conn Smythe.

Nikita Kucherov (+350)

This is the man that the Avalanche are going to need to be very aware of at all times, bur especially on the Power Play. Kucherov has amassed 23 points through the 17 playoff games the Lightning have played this postseason. Of the 7 goals that he has scored, 5 have come on the PP, so he is especially dangerous with the man advantage. He is also at a +4 and has not shied away from the physical side of things, picking up 14 penalty minutes.

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First round series in the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs kicked off last week. Check out updated Stanley Cup odds, an update of each first round series, and the biggest takeaway so far in this year’s NHL Playoffs!

NHL Playoff Games: Highlights, Favorites, Underdogs

2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs

Round 1 NHL Playoff Series Updates

Tampa Bay Lightning vs Columbus Blue Jackets

Tampa outlasted the Jackets in a 6-hour Game 1 thriller 3-2. It makes sense that Columbus would get their revenge in Game 2. But the Lightning head into their Monday matchup with a 2-1 series lead.

Colorado Avalanche vs Arizona Coyotes

The Coyotes picked it up in Game 3. After the Avalanche outscored Arizona 6-2 in the first couple of battles, AZ dominated the Avs 4-2 in the third. Monday’s key game four could determine what happens in the rest of this suddenly competitive series.

Boston Bruins vs Carolina Hurricanes

Although favored Boston has a 2-1 series lead heading into Monday, it feels like there’s a lot left to play in this one. Carolina won Game 2 by a 3-2 score. The Hurricanes aren’t out of it just yet.

St. Louis Blues vs Vancouver Canucks

The Canucks had St. Louis on the ropes. The defending champs got back into the series with a spirited 3-2 victory on Saturday. Can St. Louis tie it up on Monday? We shall see!

Philadelphia Flyers vs Montreal Canadiens

By no means are the Flyers a lock in this series. Underdog Montreal blasted Philadelphia 5-0 in Game 2. Philadelphia beat the Canadiens 1-0 in Game 3. They barely skated by Montreal 2-1 in Game 1.

Calgary Flames vs Dallas Stars

Dallas and Calgary are knotted up 2-2. The Stars have won a couple of games by changing their philosophy. The Flames beat Dallas 3-2 and 2-0. The Stars beat Calgary 5-4 in both their wins.

Washington Capitals vs New York Islanders

The Caps entered the NHL Playoffs a less than +2000 choice to win the Cup. Now? They’re at +5000 while the team they were favored to knock out in Round 1, the New York Islanders, are at +650. That’s what happens when you go down 0-3 to a team you were supposed to sweep.

Chicago Blackhawks vs Vegas Golden Knights

The Blackhawks prevented the sweep after an impeccable 3-1 Game 4 victory. Vegas’ odds have fallen to +320 to win the Stanley Cup. The Golden Knights look strong. If Chicago can pull off a second straight upset, those odds will drift, though.

Biggest NHL Stanley Cup Playoff takeaway . . . so far

Only one team is on the verge of sweeping their first round opponent. The Islanders over the Caps 4-0 makes sense after we realize that Washington went 1-2 in their 3 round-robin games.

That means the biggest takeaway so far is that the National Hockey League hasn’t lost the parity that’s made it the most competitive major sports league in existence. 

Who can forget how the Hurricanes knocked out the +250 to win the Cup Tampa Bay Lightning in last year’s hockey postseason?

Parity exists in the NHL in 2020, meaning that although this is a unique Stanley Cup Playoffs, it’s not overly unique to where the favorites have dominated. 

2022 Stanley Cup Odds Update Feb. 2nd Edition | NHL Betting

The Stanley Cup playoffs are slated to begin on May 2nd, with a new champion named by June 30th. Early on in the season, the Colorado Avalanche were the favorites to hoist the cup, and little has changed in that regard, but who else has made in-roads at positioning themselves in strong contention for the cup? Read on to find out more on our NHL Betting analysis so can keep making your bets against the Stanley Cup Odds.

2022 Stanley Cup Odds Update Feb. 2nd Edition | NHL Betting

The Favorites

As mentioned, the early season favorites were the Colorado Avalanche, and that still stands. With the best record in the league through 53 games, the Avalanche have balance, defense, and depth. They are second in goals scored per game and in the top-12 in the fewest goals allowed per game.

They have two skaters in the top ten in points scored (Kadri and Rantanen), a goalie tied for third in wins (Kuemper), and they recently got their star MacKinnon back from injury. MyBookie odds as of 3/1: +390

MyBookie had other top contenders listed as the Tampa Bay Lightning (+650), the Carolina Hurricanes (+660), the Florida Panthers (+680), and the Toronto Maple Leafs (+830).

Out of this group, the Hurricanes have the second-best record in the NHL, followed by the Lightning, Panthers, and Maple Leafs.

The Underdogs

A team that may be flying under the radar a little bit is the Calgary Flames. The Flames currently have the ninth-best record in the NHL at 32-14-6, which puts them in first place in the Pacific division. Their goalie Jacob Markstrom is having a career year with eight shutouts in 42 starts.

He has a .927 SV% and a 2.10 GAA to go along with 25 wins. The Flames are eighth in goals scored per game, second in fewest goals allowed per game, have a top-ten PP% and a top-five PK%. Calgary is 9-1-0 in their last ten, 15-5-0 in their last 20, and have won their last two games. MyBookie odds as of 3/1: +1125

Other underdogs to keep an eye on include the Pittsburgh Penguins (+1375) and N.Y. Rangers (+1700). Pittsburgh is 33-14-8 with 74 points. They are winners of six of their last ten. N.Y. Rangers are just behind Pittsburgh in the standings at 71 points (33-15-5).

Fading But Not Out of It

The Vegas Golden Knights are beginning to fade with 29 games to go. They have the sixth-best odds, according to MyBookie, but have had a poor stretch in their last ten games (4-5-1, losers of two consecutive). They are now down to 29-20-4 with 62 points.

Part of their struggles may be due in part to some injury concerns, particularly to RW Mark Stone, a terrific defensive forward and Selke finalist in 2021. The Golden Knights are 12th in goals scored per game and 16th in fewest goals allowed per game. Since the calendar turned to 2022, the Golden Knights are just 7-8-4. MyBookie odds as of 3/1: +890

Another team that has really started to fall off as of late is the Minnesota Wild. The Wild (+1625) have 65 points and a 31-17-3 record, but they have also gone on a four-game slide and are just 3-7-0 in their last ten games. Don’t count them out just yet, though; immediately prior to this most recent stretch, they had won six in a row and nine of ten.

The Best of the Rest

Other teams to keep an eye on as the playoffs approach include the St. Louis Blues (8th best record in the NHL; 2nd in the Western Conference; winners of four straight) at +1750, the Boston Bruins (10th best record; winners of five consecutive games; currently 7th in the Eastern Conference) at +1750, and the L.A. Kings (12th best record; winners of seven of their last ten; 5th in the Western Conference) at +3700.

Current Stanley Cup Odds and Favorites

Other teams to keep an eye on as the playoffs approach include the St. Louis Blues (8th best record in the NHL; 2nd in the Western Conference; winners of four straight) at +1750, the Boston Bruins (10th best record; winners of five consecutive games; currently 7th in the Eastern Conference) at +1750, and the L.A. Kings (12th best record; winners of seven of their last ten; 5th in the Western Conference) at +3700.

Colorado Avalanche +471

After a slow start to the season, the Colorado Avalanche are starting to run away with the Central Division. The Avalanche could not finish the job last season but are the current favorites to win it all this year for the Stanley Cup. With a record of 34-9-4, the Avalanche hold the best record in the Western Conference and they lead by nine points. You may be surprised to hear that Nathan MacKinnon does not lead the team in points or goals.

Nazem Kadri leads the Avalanche in points with 62. Mikko Rantanen leads the team in goals with 24. The Avalanche have five players with 40 or more points.

Darcy Kuemper has been phenomenal this season with a record of 23-5-2. He holds a save percentage of .918 and a goals-against average of 2.45. At +471 odds, the Colorado Avalanche would be a great team to pick as the Stanley Cup Champions.

Tampa Bay Lightning +750

The back-to-back Stanley Cup Champions currently have the second-best odds to win the Stanley Cup. They have a long way to go if they want to chase down the record for the most Stanley Cups in a row by one team, but they have a great chance of doing that. Currently tied for the most points in the Eastern Conference, the Tampa Bay Lightning are looking for three in a row. They won the Stanley Cup in the bubble due to the Coronavirus, and they won last year over the Montreal Canadiens.

Due to the new divisions and COVID shortened season, two Eastern Conference teams faced off in the Stanley Cup. This year has been great for one team that was in the Stanley Cup last year, that being the Lightning.

Steven Stamkos leads Tampa Bay in points and assists so far this season. Stamkos has scored 23 goals to go along with 55 points. Three in a row would be very impressive, and it may not hurt to put money on the two-time defending Stanley Cup Champions at +750.

The next few favorites are as listed:

Vegas Golden Knights +800
Toronto Maple Leafs +800
Florida Panthers +800
Carolina Hurricanes +1200

One team to look out for and it would not hurt to put money on is the St. Louis Blues are +2500. The Blues have to figure out the goalie issues they face, but that offense is just as good as any in the league. They have experience of winning a Stanley Cup before, along with plenty of good, young talent coming up.

The Blues are third in their division, but also happen to be third in the Western Conference. That speaks volumes for how tough the Central Division is this season. Do not be surprised to see St. Louis make a run this postseason.

Updated Stanley Cup Odds Jan. 25th Edition | NHL Betting

The NHL All-Star Game is almost upon us, which is a clear sign that we have reached the midway point of the season. That said, there are plenty of teams who still have games to make up before they can reach the true halfway point of the season. That makes things a little trickier when trying to figure out the Stanley Cup favorites versus the pretenders. As the league gets those make-up games played, we are going to see the odds to win it all change, probably rather dramatically, but it’s still fun to look at the Stanley Cup Betting favorites as they currently stand, so let’s get into that now.

Colorado Avalanche (+460)

Yes, it’s still just the middle of the season, but the Colorado Avalanche are rounding into the type of form that you expect to see from a team that is the favorite in the eyes of the bookies. The Avalanche have, at the time of writing, won 7 in a row and are 9-0-1 through their last 10 games. That has helped them open up a 6-point lead in the Central Division, while still having a pair of games in hand to their closest challenger, the St. Louis Blues. Their goal differential of +49 is the best in the league at this time, so certainly a lot to like with this team.

Tampa Bay Lightning (+690)

You can argue all you want about the strongest division in hockey, but right now, it’s tough to make an argument against the Atlantic Division holding that label. There are 2 teams listed in the top 4 favorites to win the Stanley Cup, and 3 in the top 5. The Tampa Bay Lightning, who just happen to be the defending champions, are in that group. They have amassed 61 points through 43 games, the same point total as the Panthers, albeit with a game more played than their rivals. The Lightning have a +26 goal differential.

Florida Panthers (+710)

Despite being slightly ahead of the Lightning in the standings, the bookies have the Panthers in at slightly poorer odds than the defending champs. This is a very dangerous hockey team, particularly on the offensive end, where they have managed to score 170 goals in 42 games. Where their odds might change is if they can land the #1 seed in the Eastern Conference, as that would mean home ice advantage through the playoffs. The Panthers are a brilliant 21-3-0 in their own building this season, but they would like to be a little better on the road.

Vegas Golden Knights (+730)

The Golden Knights have been a real success story since joining the league a few years back and have been a consistent member of the NHL playoff club. They look to be heading towards another postseason appearance, as they have the lead in the Pacific Division, taking 52 points from 42 games. They will, though, have their eye on the Calgary Flames, who have a ton of games to make up and who could be their biggest challenger for the division title coming down the stretch. Still, the Golden Knights look good and have a goal differential of +26.

Updated Stanley Cup Odds Jan. 19th Edition | NHL Betting

We are at about the midway point of the NHL season, although given the number of postponed games that need to be made up, the standings are perhaps not a true representation of where we are in terms of Super Bowl favorites. Once everyone has caught up and the schedule is back in line, things might well look very different than they do now. That might be something to keep in mind as we look at the current odds to win the Stanley Cup. These Stanley Cup odds are going to change as the season progresses, but for now, let’s take a look at who the bookies like to win the Stanley Cup in 2022.

Colorado Avalanche (+470)

After a bit of a sluggish start, the Colorado Avalanche are beginning to get hot at the midway point of the season. They have 53 points from 36 games and have the lead in the Central Division. While that lead is currently sitting at 2 points, the Avs have games in hand to the teams that are closest to them in the division. This is a team that is fun to watch, as they have amassed 156 goals through their 36 games, which puts them near the top in scoring. They also have the best goal differential in the league at +45, so there are a lot of things to like about this team.

Florida Panthers (+670)

The Panthers have picked up 57 points from 39 games to this point in the season, which has them in 2^nd in the Atlantic Division, although they do have a couple of games in hand to the Tampa Bay Lightning. They are actually very similar to the Avalanche in terms of scoring and goal differential, amassing 159 goals and putting together a differential of +43. They are also on a great run of form at the moment, going 8-1-1 in their last 10 games. A very balanced team that is exciting to watch.

Tampa Bay Lightning (+710)

You are going to quickly get an idea of just how strong the Atlantic Division is by looking at the teams that the bookies have as the current Stanley Cup favorites. The Lightning are the second team from that division on this list, but they are also not the last. The defending champions have carried over their momentum from last season and are currently on 59 points from 41 games. They are not as offensively strong as the other two mentioned here, but they have still put up an impressive 141 goals and a +24 goal differential.

Toronto Maple Leafs (+740)

The third and final team out of the Atlantic Division to be considered one of the favorites is the Toronto Maple Leafs. Canadian teams have had it worse than most during this current COVID situation, so while the Leafs are 8 points adrift of first in the division with 51 points, they also still have 5 games in hand to the Lightning. The Leafs have 123 goals from 36 games, and they have also only surrendered 93 to this point in the season. They are not a team to ignore right now, even though the playoffs have been an issue for them.

NHL Betting Update – 2021 Stanley Cup Odds

With the 2020-21 NHL regular season almost complete and the 2021 playoffs set to get underway in just over a week on Tuesday, May 11, it’s time to take a look at the latest NHL Odds to win it all.  To that end, I’ve identified a dozen teams that I believe could hoist this year’s Stanley Cup trophy.With a whopping 114-game slate of action going down on Monday night, let’s get to it so you can keep planning your bets against their Stanley Cup odds.

Odds to Win 2021 NHL Stanley Cup Championship

The Favorites

Colorado Avalanche +380
Vegas Golden Knights +470
Tampa Bay Lightning +650
Carolina Hurricanes +600
Toronto Maple Leafs +600

Analysis: Colorado (33-12-4) is still the prohibitive favorite, but the Avalanche are now in second place behind an incendiary Golden Knights (36-12-2) team that has won nine of 10 and heads into Monday night with a league-high 36 victories. The Avs are the same +380 pick to win they were a week ago while Vegas has gone from +500 to +470. Colorado is first in scoring (3.5 GPG) and sixth in goals allowed (2.4 GPG). Vegas is fifth in scoring (3.3 GPG) and second in goals allowed (2.2 GPG).

Defending Stanley Cup champion Tampa Bay (35-14-3) has gone from +700 to +650 over the last week. The Lightning have gone 7-2-1 over their last 10 and rank sixth in scoring (3.3 GPG) and seventh in goals allowed (2.5 GPG). Central Division-leading Carolina (34-10-7) doesn’t have a household name superstar leading them, but the Hurricanes rank a stellar fourth in goals allowed (2.4 GPG) and a respectable 11th in scoring (3.2 GPG). Goaltenders Petr Mrazek and Alex Nedeljkovic have both been lights out for the Canes this season. Carolina is now a +600 pick after opening last week at +700

Toronto (33-13-5) is in first place in the North Division standings and have two of the game’s best players in NHL goal scoring leader Auston Matthews (38) and Mitch Marner (46 assists, 4th). As always, the Maple Leafs have a powerful offense that ranks fifth in scoring (3.3 GPG) and a defense that now ranks 10th in goals allowed (2.6 GPG). Toronto is now a +600 pick, down from +750 a week ago.

The Top Contenders

Washington Capitals +1100
Pittsburgh Penguins +1100

Analysis: Pittsburgh has gone 7-2-1 over its last 10 games to move into first place in the East Division. The Penguins rank a stellar third in scoring (3.4 GPG) and decent 14th in goals allowed (2.8 GPG). Sidney Crosby has a team-high 36 assists and 20 goals while Jake Guentzel has a team-high 22 goals and 31 assists. Washington has gone 6-3-1 over its last 10 games and is three points behind Pittsburgh in the East standings. The Capitals rank a stupendous second in scoring (3.4 GPG), but an uninspiring 20th in goals allowed (2.9 GPG). Pittsburgh is the same +1100 pick they were a week ago while Washington has gone from +1000 to +1100.

It Could Happen

NY Islanders +1600
Florida Panthers +1700
Boston Bruins +1200

Analysis: The Islanders (31-15-5) have won three straight and six of nine and sit in third place in the East standings, four points behind Pittsburgh. New York has gone 5-4-1 over its last 10 games and ranks a stellar third in goals allowed (2.32GPG), but an uninspiring 20th in scoring (2.7 GPG).

Florida (34-14-5) is in tied with Tampa Bay for second place in the Central Division just two points behind division-leading Carolina. The Panthers rank seventh in scoring (3.3 GPG) and 14th in goals allowed (2.7 GPG).

Boston is in fourth place in the East standings, five points behind Pittsburgh. The Bruins rank a modest 14th in scoring (2.8 GPG) but encouraging fifth in goals allowed (2.4 GPG). Boston has gone a blistering 8-2 over its last 10 games. New York is a +1400 pick after opening last week at +1600. Florida is the same +1700 pick they were a week ago and Boston is still a +1200 pick.

NHL Betting | Longshots to win the 2021 Stanley Cup

Sports fans will argue until they are blue in the face abut the toughest championship to win and which sport has the best playoffs. Given the grind and physicality of the NHL, not to mention the upturn in speed and intensity once the postseason arrives, you have to say that they certainly have a right to think of themselves as the best playoff game out there. We still have a lot of hockey to be played before we get to the Stanley Cup playoffs, but we have seen enough to have a decent idea of the teams that are likely to compete for the iconic trophy. While there are some definite favorites, there are also some longshots who might emerge and take a run. I am picking one from each of the 4 divisions, so let’s take a closer look at those teams to find out which team offers the best betting value against their Stanley Cup odds.

Boston Bruins (+1800)

The Boston Bruins won the President’s Trophy, which goes to the team with the best regular season record, last year, but were bounced in the playoffs by the eventual champions. The Bruins lost a couple of key players in the offseason and didn’t do much to fill those holes, but this is still a very good team. As it stands right now, they are in 4th place in the East Division, 6 points out of the top spot, but they also have 3 games in hand to the leaders. Yes, there has been a little backward step by the Bruins this season, but they are still a team that no one wants to face in the postseason.

Florida Panthers (+1700)

It was a frustrating season for the Panthers last year, as they were bounced in the play-in series. They added some scoring to their offense in the offseason, but there were still some concerns on the defensive side of things. They have tightened up in their own end this year and are currently sitting just 2 points off the pace in the Central Division. They have been particularly good on the road this season, which also bodes well for when the playoffs roll around. This is going to be a tough division to get out of, but that road record gives them real hope.

Edmonton Oilers (+2200)

The Toronto Maple Leafs look like the team to beat in the North Division, plus they are also the favorites to win it all this year. I still think that the Calgary Flames, who just made a coaching change, could come good as a dark horse, but for now, I am taking the Edmonton Oilers to spring the upset in the North and make a deep run. The big concern with this team is their play on defense, but they are an offensive juggernaut that has found a way to win high-scoring games more often than not. Whether that holds up in the playoffs remains to be seen.

St. Louis Blues (+2000)

You could certainly make an argument that the West Division is the weakest of the 4 this season, but it is a tight race for the 4 available playoff spots right now. It’s easy to forget that the Blues won the Stanley Cup a couple of seasons ago and still have the core of that cup-winning team. The knock on them this season has been their play at home, but they have made up for that by being great on the road. If they can get their act together on home ice, this could well be a team to look out for.

Updated 2019 Stanley Cup Odds to Win – October 1st Edition

The 2018 MLB season may be steamrolling towards its annual postseason period while the NFL slowly inches closer toward its midway point. The 2018-19 NBA season isn’t far off and LeBron James is nabbing headlines because of his move to join the Los Angeles Lakers.

While the NHL isn’t getting nearly as much attention as the aforementioned trio of major North American sports, it should be, particularly seeing as how the 2017-18 season was undoubtedly one of the most memorable seasons in NHL history.

Not only did the expansion Vegas Golden Knights nearly make history by becoming the first expansion franchise in all four major North American sports to win its league championship, but widely respected veteran Alex Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals won the first Stanley Cup Trophy in franchise history.

Now, with the start of the 2018-19 NHL season set to get underway on Wednesday, October 3, let’s take a look at the current odds to win the 2019 Stanley Cup while I offer up some thoughts on some of the teams that could end up hosting this coming season’s Stanley Cup hardware.

Tampa Bay

Last season, Tampa Bay (54-23-5) ranked first in scoring (3.5 gpg) and 13th in goals allowed (2.9 gpg) and finished with the most wins and points (113) in the Eastern Conference. Unfortunately, the Lightning came up short in the conference finals for the third time in the last four seasons while getting shut out by Ovechkin and the Capitals in Games 6 and 7.

Still, I’m expecting Tampa Bay to be right back in the mix to win it all next season because they’ve still got a loaded roster with about six all-star caliber performers including Nikita Kucherov, Brayden Point, Ryan McDonagh, and Anton Stralman.

Winnipeg

I’m just going to come out and say it. I’m expecting Winnipeg to reach the Western Conference Finals at the very least this coming season.

Last season, the Jets (52-20-10) ranked a phenomenal second in scoring (3.3 gpg) and fifth in goals allowed (2.6 gpg). Winnipeg has one of the game’s very best young scorers in 20-year-old Patrik Laine, plus center Blake Wheeler and goalie Connor Hellebuyck are now, elite stars in their own rights.

Toronto

The Maple Leafs (49-26-7) ranked third in scoring (3.3 gpg) and a respectable 12th in goals allowed (2.8 gpg) to finish third in the Atlantic division behind Tampa Bay and Boston. Toronto has a legitimate superstar in young center Auston Matthews another near star in right winger Mitchell Marner plus they added veteran center John Tavares this offseason.

Pittsburgh

The Penguins (47-29-6) struggled out of the gate last season, but then they caught fire for a long stretch late to finish behind Washington in the Metropolitan division. Unfortunately, the Pens had their dreams of winning four straight Stanley Cups come to an abrupt halt by losing to Washington in the playoffs.

Still, while Pittsburgh clearly missed the contributions of veteran goalie Marc-Andre Fleury, they’re going to contend again this coming season because they still have a pair of superstars in Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, whom they both signed to long-term deals. Pittsburgh finished third in scoring last season (3.3 gpg) and became the first team since the 2003-04 Tampa Bay Lightning to have three players finish among the top 10 in scoring (Malkin, Phil Kessel, and Crosby).

San Jose

The Sharks are one of the top favorites to win it all in 2018-19, but I’m not buying it right now. San Jose went 45-27-10 last season to finish third in the Pacific Division behind Anaheim and Vegas. San Jose will also have a sense of urgency heading into the new season, but they didn’t improve their roster very much in the offseason after missing out on John Tavares and Ilya Kovalchuk.

Vegas

The Knights were undoubtedly the biggest and best story in all sports a year ago as they took the NHL by storm despite being an expansion franchise that was expected to play like one.

Vegas (51-24-7) added veteran Paul Stastny on a three-year deal and I can only believe that joining stars like all-star goalie Marc-Andre Fleury, center William Karlsson, left winger Jonathan Marchessault and right-winger Reilly Smith is going to make Vegas even more dangerous this coming season. At +1400, they’re almost a must-bet for the value they’re offering.

Washington

Even after winning it all, Alexander Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals just can’t get the love they deserve. That’s okay though, the +1400 return should Washington be able to repeat, is stupendous. Alex Ovechkin is still just 33-years-old and playing at a high level.

The Caps have another elite scorer in 26-year-old center Evgeny Kuznetsov, an excellent goalie in Braden Holtby and another veteran center that leads the NHL in assists since 2012-13 (324) in 30-year-old Nicklas Backstrom.

Boston

The Bruins are one of middle-of-the-pack ‘sleepers’ seeing as how they’re just a 16/1 pick to win the Stanley Cup despite going 50-20-12 to finish with the fifth-most points in all of hockey and just one point behind Toronto in the Eastern Conference. Boston was outstanding at both ends of the ice in ranking sixth in scoring (3.3 gpg) and fourth in goals allowed (2.6 gpg).

The Bruins have a young star in 22-year-old right winger David Pastrnak that provides scoring as well as veteran right-winger Brad Marchand who had 85 points last season to equal his career high. Veteran goalie Tuukka Rask was nothing short of amazing in going 31-6-3 with a 2.19 GAA, .923 save percentage and three shutouts from Nov. 29 until the end of the regular season. Despite their modest odds, I think it’s quite possible Boston could win the East.