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NHL Futures Odds Update with Expert Predictions for Awards, Stanley Cup Chase

by Ryan Cobbett - 3/22/2024

NHL futures odds update and expert predictions Erik Gustafsson New York Rangers

Back in January, I did a deep dive into the future award winners and their odds of claiming the coveted trophies. Let’s revisit the future as we are within the final month of the season as we now have a much clearer picture. Additionally, we will analyze the team’s future odds as well so that you can take advantage of any value that still exists on the market.

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Hart Trophy

Despite Nikita Kucherov having a five-point lead over Nathan MacKinnon, the latter is the favorite to take home the league’s MVP award at -175. MacKinnon has 117 points (42 G, 75 A) with a +29 +/- rating and ranks second among forwards in time on ice. Kucherov has the second-best odds to win the award at +380 while Connor McDavid sits behind him at +400.

Calder Trophy

This award has been locked up for some time. Connor Bedard has been the heavy favorite for much of the season, as the youngster had an immediate impact on his team.  Even with missing extended time, the rookie still leads his class in points with 54. At -2500, this race has wrapped up. Brock Faber +1200, Luke Hughes +5000, and Marco Rossi +5000 have all turned in nice seasons, but Hughes and Faber’s 38 points are way behind Bedard’s total.

Vezina Trophy

Much like the Calder Trophy, this award race has been led by one goalie. Connor Hellebuyck is the odds-on favorite to take home the award at -1000. He has allowed just 2.30 GA/G and has an elite SV% of .923, both leading the league. Sergei Bobrovsky deserves a lot of credit for how he has placed Florida among the leagues best. However, at +950, he is far from taking home this trophy.

Norris Trophy

The league’s best blueliner is Quinn Hughes. His 79 points leads all defensemen and ranks 12th in the league. Cale Makar (75) and Roman Josi (70) are still within reach of overtaking Hughes as the points leader among blueliners, but Hughes is a part of an extremely dynamic offense, and he will continue to rack up points. At -650, Hughes leads the pack while Makar +350, Noah Dobson +3500, and Roman Josi +4000 follow.

Presidents Trophy

There are only three teams with more than 95 points to this point in the season. Boston’s 97 points leads the league, with the Rangers and Canucks sitting at 96. However, the Rangers, who are coming off a big win over the Bruins, are the favorites at +350 to win the Presidents Trophy. Florida, who trails the league leaders by three points, has the second-best odds at +400, while Vancouver rounds out the top three at +500. The Central Division does not seem to have a champion to send off to claim the award as the Stars, Jets, and Avalanche are tied with 93 points. Colorado at +700 has the best odds out of that group. The current points leader also has +700 odds to win, giving Boston incredible value.

My Pick: Boston Bruins +700

Division Winners

Atlantic Division- Once again, the current league-leading Bruins are getting disrespected by Vegas. Florida has the best odds of winning the division at -165, while Boston trails them at +145. Toronto seems like a long shot as they are 10 points behind the Bruins, and their odds are +2000. It is worth noting that Boston is 6-0 this season against the Panthers and Leafs.

Metro Division- This once hectic division has quickly turned into a two-horse race. Carolina is currently on a five-game winning streak, and now only two points separate them from the Rangers. New York at -190 is still favored to win the division, while Carolina sits at +140. In a tiebreaker scenario, the Rangers are 2-1 against the Hurricanes.

Central Division- This is easily the most exciting division race in the NHL. Dallas, Winnipeg, and Colorado are all tied with 93 points. Dallas has played one more game than the others, and their 31 regulation wins is six games lower than Colorado’s total and eight behind Winnipeg’s. However, to add to the excitement, Colorado is 3-0 against the Stars, the Stars are 3-0 against Winnipeg, and Winnipeg is 2-0 against Colorado. Picturing the spiderman meme? Colorado at +130 has the best odds while Winnipeg sits at +175 and Dallas at +280.

Pacific Division- Vancouver has an eight-point lead in the division, which is the largest lead among division leaders in the NHL. At -420, they seem to have the division in hand. However, we saw Edmonton go on a historic streak earlier in the year, it would take half that to get back into the division title race, but at +300, the Oilers seem too far behind.

Conference Winners

Eastern Conference- Being the conference representative is a much more coveted title than winning one’s division. Florida, who seems like they have the tools to do it, has the best odds of making it to the finals at +310. Surprisingly, the Caroline Hurricanes sit ahead of division leaders Boston and New York at +320. The Rangers are at +490 and the Bruins sit at +600. Again, hard to think you can get this much value with the Bruins, but the Rangers come with great value as well.

My Pick: Boston Bruins +600

Western Conference- Despite having the third best odds within their own division, the Dallas Stars have the third best odds in the conference to make it to the final round. At +470, the Stars trail only the Colorado Avalanche (+340) and the Edmonton Oilers (+420). Vancouver, the conference’s leader in points sits at +800 which, like Boston, is tremendous value. However, I am on the Stars bandwagon this season as their depth is incredible and Jake Oettinger is improving.

My Pick: Dallas Stars +470

Stanley Cup Winner

Florida, with recency bias, leads the pack with +650 odds to hoist the Stanley Cup this summer. Colorado and Carolina round out the top three at +700. Edmonton (+800), Dallas (+950), and Boston (+1100) round out the top six. Florida, Carolina, and Edmonton have all had resurging streaks to get back into contention while Boston, Dallas, and Colorado have been at the top all season long. Again, Dallas has the playoff experience and so much depth upfront, it will be tight, but Dallas is my pick at +950.

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