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2022 NHL Stanley Cup Predictions with Futures Odds

by Josh Weil - 1/19/2022

NHL Stanley Cup hockey predictions Kirill Kaprizov Minnesota Wild

The Quest for Lord Stanley’s Cup has been arduous to this point for just about every team this season. From COVID cases, to threats of Canada closing their borders to the American teams again, and wild streaks of play from these teams, it has been a fun season to me personally, but I am confident that it has been stressful for many of the players and other team personnel. With the season going through to April, we have a decent ways to go before the postseason. However, let’s see who the early candidates to be champions are!

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The Favorites: Colorado Avalanche (+550), Tampa Bay Lightning (+750), Toronto Maple Leafs (+800), Vegas Golden Knights (+800), Florida Panthers (+900), Carolina Hurricanes (+1200)

The Colorado Avalanche have had these expectations for a couple of years. And while they are young and extremely talented, they have yet to execute when it matters most. The talent level    is definitely there, but it seems like when the bright lights are on, they haven’t been able to get it done. Can they come together and win the cup?

The Tampa Bay Lightning are two-time defending champs, and for good reason as they play an electric (no pun intended) brand of hockey that has other teams spinning in circles trying to keep up. They have lost a few role players from last year. So now the question is if they can stay healthy enough to try and do it again.

As for the rest of the teams on this list, they have shown that they have the talent to beat anyone on any given night, but it is really about consistency at this point. My personal sleeper from before the year is the Carolina Hurricanes, who still have a reasonable price at +1200. They have the chemistry and the skill, but they got Frederik Anderson, who may be just enough of an upgrade to push them over the edge.

The Contenders: Pittsburgh Penguins (+1600), Boston Bruins (+1800), Washington Capitals (+1800), Minnesota Wild (+2000), New York Rangers (+2200), Calgary Flames (+2500), Nashville Predators (+2500), St. Louis Blues (+2500)

These teams are a fun mix of veteran-led squads and youthful teams that just lack the experience to show any consistency over a long stretch in the regular season. The most interesting teams on this list to me are the Boston Bruins and the Minnesota Wild.

The Bruins seem to always put themselves in a position to succeed, and with Rask back from COVID, he has plenty of time to round back into form. They have a front that could compete with in the league, and they have been together as long as any other team as well. The Wild are fun to watch, and Kirill Kaprizov is a true superstar in this league. If you don’t know his name, you will once the playoffs get under way because he is the leader of a Minnesota team that may be putting it all together in time to make a run.

The Rest: Edmonton Oilers (+3500), Anaheim Ducks (+5000), Dallas Stars (+5000), Los Angeles Kings (+5000), Winnipeg Jets (+5000), New York Islanders (+6600), San Jose Sharks (+10000), Vancouver Canucks (+10000), Detroit Red Wings (+15000), Philadelphia Flyers (+15000), Columbus Blue Jackets (+20000), New Jersey Devils (+20000), Chicago Blackhawks (+30000), Buffalo Sabres (+50000), Montreal Canadiens (+50000), Ottawa Senators (+50000), Seattle Kraken (+50000), Arizona Coyotes (+100000)

If you are someone who likes to bet long shots, the Stars and Islanders are the only teams on here worth even a slight look. The New York Islanders got pounded by COVID and are still getting their feet under them to this point in the season. The Stars are just so solid through and through that I can see them going on a run to close out the season and carrying it over into the playoffs. If you do bet either, don’t go crazy. And remember what Vegas’ odds were to make the playoffs their first season, let alone make the Finals. Anything is possible. The biggest disappointment here is the Oilers for sure. They have two of the top-five players in the league, and they just cannot get the pieces around them to get any sort of traction to be a threat for a whole series. Look for them to fortify their defense in a big way next season and be a deep sleeper.

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