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2023-24 NHL Season Points Totals Predictions with Odds and Expert Picks

by Ryan Cobbett - 8/29/2023

NHL season point totals predictions Auston Matthews Toronto Maple Leafs

We are just a few weeks away from the 2023-24 NHL season, so it’s time to make some predictions for NHL season points totals. Will Vegas repeat? Can Toronto live up to expectations in the playoffs? Is this the year Dallas strikes gold? We have seen some teams make some big moves, while other teams have us wondering what is going on (Nashville and Winnipeg). In this article, I will give my predictions on the team’s season point totals, and in a few weeks, I will take a deeper dive into each team with my 2023-24 team-by-team predictions.

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Eastern Conference

Atlantic:

Boston Bruins – Over 101.5

Dmitry Orlov, Patrice Bergeron, and Tyler Bertuzzi are all gone. The Bruins did extend Swayman one more year meaning another year of goalie hugs, but it will unlikely be as many as we witnessed in their record-breaking season last year. I still believe this veteran team will be highly competitive and could likely add some more pieces at the deadline like last year.

Toronto Maple Leafs – Over 106.5

Toronto is the best team in the Atlantic. They have had a solid offseason, adding names like John Klingberg, Max Domi, Tyler Bertuzzi, and heavy hitter Ryan Reaves. They also locked up their star, Auston Matthews. This team will likely be the best bet to represent the East in The Cup this season.

Tampa Bay Lightning – Over 96.5

They re-signed Tanner Jeannot and also added Conor Sheary and Luke Glendening. Alex Killorn departed to Anaheim, but this team still has a realistic shot at a championship run, especially with one of the best goalies in the league.

Florida Panthers – Under 99.5

I do not believe the Florida hype will carry over to this next season. They will be competitive and could snag another Wild Card, but this team is a tier below the top three in the Atlantic and will likely not get to a triple digit point total.

Buffalo Sabres – Over 92.5

Buffalo can turn themselves into a legitimate playoff team if they can strengthen their netminding. A trade for Flyers’ Carter Hart could do the trick. This team was one of the best scoring teams in the league and will likely repeat their success. They have two under the radar additions in D Erik Johnson and Connor Clifton.

Ottawa Senators – Under 90.5

Ottawa traded away Alex DeBrincat. And though they did receive a good return, it is unlikely to have much of an impact on the upcoming season. This team is still a year or two away from making a playoff push.

Detroit Red Wings – Over 85.5

The Red Wings showed they were going all in to make a playoff push when they added DeBrincat in a trade with the Sens and signing J.T. Compher, who tallied 52 points for the Avs last season. They also added Jeff Petry in a trade with Montreal. I like their chances to fight for a Wild Card this season.

Montreal Canadiens – 70.5

Montreal would need a 12-point improvement to hit the over on their points total. They are young, but far from contention. They need to get a full season from Cole Caulfield and add some more fire power to improve their standing, but it won’t be enough to get over 71 points.

Metro:

Carolina Hurricanes – Over 109.5

The biggest worry for Carolina was losing their netminders, but worry no more as they have re-signed Raanta and Andersen for the upcoming season. Their young skating core has been highly competitive for some time now, and it’s time for them to get over the hump. Expect the Hurricanes to go all in on offense this year and add some key guys to their attack.

New Jersey Devils – Over 107.5

The Devils found their stride last season, as we are finally seeing some of their young talent bud into stars. They locked up Meier and Bratt and will still have a little bit of wiggle room to add some depth making this, perhaps the best team in the Eastern Conference.

New York Rangers – Under 103.5

The Rangers are aging and lost some key pieces on offense to free agency. Their rentals did not do the job last year, and it will likely be the same approach this season. New York will be a playoff team, but I do not think this team will be as good as last year, unless they get faster.

New York Islanders – Over 92.5

This team got hot down the stretch and cracked the playoffs. With the Rangers set to underperform this season, the Isles could be more inclined to make a big splash and enhance their already established core. I am big on this New York team this year.

Pittsburgh Penguins – Over 97.5

The Penguins made that big splash this offseason by going to get Erik Karlsson from San Jose. However, this is an old team. They have a bit more to spend, and I think this team takes some fliers on some of the younger names on the market. I think Pittsburgh makes up for their late season failings as they comfortably crack the playoffs this season.

Washington Capitals – Under 85.5

I expect the Caps to sell this season. It might take a minute before they hit the sell button, but this team is not likely to compete. They did take some fliers on Max Pacioretty and Joel Edmundson, but those two’s best days are behind them. Expect a down year for the Caps.

Philadelphia Flyers – Under 76.5

Much like Washington, expect the Flyers to sell this season. Carter Hart and Tony DeAngelo are likely on their way out as well. This might be the worst team in the Eastern Conference this season.

Colombus Blue Jackets – Over 72.5

This is an easy over. The Blue Jackets have already added some big additions to their roster in Damon Severson and Ivan Provorov. This team would need to make up 14 more points to cover the over. However, with the offseason far from over, this Colombus team will get a lot better.

Western Conference

Pacific:

Vegas Golden Knights – Over 103.5

Vegas will look the same on the ice heading into next season. And what’s not to like about this team’s chances to hoist the cup again? If Vegas can get a full season out of Mark Stone and Jack Eichel, this team will be unstoppable.

Edmonton Oilers – Over 106.5

Vegas and Edmonton are going to be an exciting race to watch next season. Their goalie situation is a little shaky. However, after dominating on the PP last season, Edmonton is going to be in the thick of things as they push for a deep playoff run.

Los Angeles Kings – Over 100.5

The Kings will be in the shadow of the Pacific’s (and West’s) two titans, but they have quietly gotten better this offseason, and have some young talent ready to make an impact this upcoming season. The team addressed their goalie need by signing Cam Talbot, who saw success under coach Todd McLellan when they paired in Edmonton, giving LA a great tandem in the net. This is a solid team that could dismantle Vegas or Edmonton in the playoffs.

Seattle Kraken – Under 94.5

Last year, half of the Pacific Division finished with triple-digit points, and I can them doing that again. However, I don’t think it will be rounded out with Seattle. The Kraken can score, no doubt, but I believe this team will return to Earth this season and find that they are not quite as good as their 2023 playoff run showed. Plus, they play in the toughest division in the league.

Calgary Flames – Over 95.5

That fourth team to reach triple digits will be the Flames. Their goalie performance was an incredible outlier, and it is expected that Jacob Markstrom will be much better this season. There is little cap space to work with. However, with a new coach and better netminding, the Flames will shock some people this season.

Vancouver Canucks – Under 88.5

The bottom three teams in the Pacific will be beaten up by the top dogs. Vancouver can score, but their goalie situation is terrible and there is little cap room to make moves to improve this team. There are some young guys to build around, but Vancouver is stuck in the bottom half of the toughest division and likely will be for a few more years.

San Jose Sharks – Under 66.5

After totaling just 60 points last season, the Sharks shipped off their best player to Pittsburgh and will likely take a big step back. The Sharks will be the worst team in the league this season.

Anaheim Ducks – Under 67.5

Anaheim will leapfrog the Sharks in the standings, but that will be their biggest accomplishment this season. They will be beaten up by the top five in their division, but they made a big move in signing Alex Killorn. However, it is unlikely this team will improve by 10 points to get the over this season.

Central:

Colorado Avalanche – Over 106.5

The Avs will look to top the Central again and have the tools to do so. Losing Landeskog will create more cap space for the Avs to sharpen the edges and add some depth, making them a very dangerous team heading into the upcoming campaign.

Dallas Stars – Over 105.5

Dallas returns most of their crew from last season. Though they looked overmatched in the WCF against Vegas, this is going to be one of the best teams in the league next year. They have added F Matt Duchene and welcomed back budding star Ty Dellandrea.

Minnesota Wild – Under 95.5

The Wild lost a lot of their vets ahead of this season. And with little wiggle room in their salary cap, it will be hard to think this team can match their 2022-23 performance. Though this could still be a playoff team, the Wild will take a step back.

Winnipeg Jets – Under 92.5

Look out Jets fans, you are in for an ugly season. With all the locker room issues between Bowness and some of the players, this Jets team will fall into shambles. Could this be a time to rebuild or perhaps a coaching change? I doubt the latter, so we may see the Jets lose some star power this season.

Nashville Predators – Over 86.5

Is this a rebuild or a retool? New GM Barry Trotz is making it seem like his Preds will be pushing for the playoffs this season. This is going to be a young and exciting team, led by All-Star G Juuse Saros and top-notch vets like Roman Josi, Filip Forsberg, and new addition Ryan O’Reilly.

Saint Louis Blues – Under 86.5

The Blues have a huge hole in the goalie position. Though they can score, I expect this team to under perform like last season, finishing under 86 team points.

Arizona Coyotes – Under 73.5

The Coyotes are in an ugly position right now. No permanent place to call home and their star player Clayton Keller likely on the move this season, this team is a long way from competing.

Chicago Blackhawks – 71.5

They won the draft with Conner Bedard, but this team is nowhere near ready to compete this year. Though Bedard is an easy piece to build around, and even attract established talent in the league, the Blackhawks are still a few years away.

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