NHL Futures: What are they and What Can You Wager on Now

In terms of wagering NHL Futures, many of us tend to take the season in the same way that players always say they do, which is to take things one day at a time.

If players were honest, though, I’m sure that some would admit that they look ahead to upcoming games and the playoffs.

NHL Futures Analysis

There are some bettors who think the same way, which helps explain why futures bets are as popular as they are. Rather than thinking about the games coming that night, the focus turns to how things might play out in the grans scheme of things.

With futures bets, you can place wagers months in advance, which is a whole different skill in wagering. With daily bets, you can look at current trends, injuries, and a bunch of other factors that might potentially dictate how the game plays out, all of which helps you make an informed bet.

Also, you have to think of the big picture and try to figure out which teams will excel over the long haul. It’s definitely a riskier way to bet, but the rewards can be great, especially if you get your wagers placed early.

With all of that said, let’s take a look at some NHL Futures that you can play right now:

NHL Futures: Division Odds

There are 4 divisions in the NHL, and you have the opportunity to wager on the outcome of each of them. Obviously, with half of the season now in the books, the odds for the current leaders are likely not as good as they were at the start of the year.

That said, the team you like to win each division may have seen their odds lengthen, making them a good bet if you still think they can pull it out. Let’s look at the current odds in each of the 4 divisions:

Atlantic Division

Metropolitan Division

Central Division

Pacific Division

If you want an even tougher challenge, as well as a way to improve your odds, you could parlay 2 or more teams together on a parlay ticket.

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Conference Winners

Besides the individual divisions, the NHL is also split into two different conferences, each of which has 2 divisions. While winning the division is the easiest way into the playoffs, it does not guarantee the top seed.

The conferences are like two massive divisions where the teams are ranked by points, so a team can win their division and still be a #3 or #4 seed.

The conference winner gets the #1 seed and home ice advantage through to the Stanley Cup Final, with the team that has the best record of the two remaining teams getting home ice advantage in the final. Let’s take a current look at the top 5 teams on the bookies board in either conference.

Eastern Conference

Carolina Hurricanes +380
Florida Panthers +390
New Jersey Devils +480
Toronto Maple Leafs +560
Tampa Bay Lightning +820

Western Conference

Edmonton Oilers +290
Dallas Stars +440
Vegas Golden Knights +600
Colorado Avalanche +610
Winnipeg Jets +820

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NHL Futures provided by MyBookie

NHL Stanley Cup Champions

Once the regular season is over, the top 8 teams in each conference head to the playoffs. You have the top 3 teams in each division getting in, as well as a pair of Wild Card teams in each conference, all of whom are seeded 1 through 8.

The division winners get the top seeds, while the rest are based on total points picked up during the season. The winner of each conference then goes to the Stanley Cup Final. The team with the best record gets home ice advantage in the best of 7 series.

At this point, the road to the Stanley Cup is arguably the toughest in professional sports, so picking the overall winner is not as easy as it might seem.

We have seen teams end the season with the best record overall, only to fall at the first hurdle in then playoffs, with the Toronto Maple Leafs at the top of the list in terms of postseason futility.

This is something to keep in mind when placing a wager on a team to win the Stanley Cup. Here are the current odds to win it all this season:

Edmonton Oilers +800
Florida Panthers +850
Carolina Hurricanes +900
Toronto Maple Leafs +900
Colorado Avalanche +1000

Individual Player Futures and Other Wagers

We have basically covered most of the bases in terms of team wagers, although you may want to consider wagering in the team that wins the President’s Trophy, which goes to the team that ends the regular season with the best record.

At the end of the day, it is a reward that means very little in the grand scheme of things, but it is still a fun one to wager on.

There are a host of different individual player awards, too, all of which are fun to bet on. The Hart Memorial Trophy goes to the regular season MVP, with Leon Draisaitl (+265) in as the current favorite.

The Lady Byng goes to the player that is deemed to have the best sportsmanship, while the Vezina Trophy goes to the best goaltender. The Calder Trophy is awarded to the best rookie of the season, while the Art Ross goes to the player with the most regular season points.

In the playoffs, you can wager on the MVP of the postseason, with that player winning the Conn Smythe Trophy. As you can see, there are a ton of team and individual player wagers available, so plenty of chances to make some extra money and build your bankroll.