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2023-24 NHL Stanley Cup Predictions with Futures Odds

by Matt Zitt - 8/9/2023

NHL Stanley Cup predictions Sidney Crosby Pittsburgh Penguins

The Vegas Golden Knights are enjoying their summer with Lord Stanley, but that is old news, and the 2023-2024 NHL season is right around the corner. It was a relatively quiet free agency in terms of superstar signings, even if there was plenty of movement overall. The Carolina Hurricanes are the current favorite to win the Stanley Cup in a loaded Eastern Conference. The New Jersey Devils have no shortage of young talent, and so do the Toronto Maple Leafs who have won one playoff round in the last 20 years. Out West, it is the usual suspects as the Knights, Oilers, and Avs have the shortest odds to win it all next summer. Do not overlook a repeat as the Penguins and Lightning have successfully defended their titles in recent years. Here is a look at the best bets to win the Stanley Cup.

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Carolina Hurricanes +800

The Hurricanes had a stelar 2022-23 season before getting swept in the Eastern Conference Finals by the Florida Panthers. The front office made some major moves to address an already above average defense by adding Dmitry Orlov and offensive-minded Tony DeAngelo. The Canes then locked in their heart-and-soul, center Sebastian Aho, and will get a much-needed boost from Andrei Svechnikov, back from a knee injury that cost him the final two months of the regular and postseason. The offense can come off as a little bland at times. However, with that defense and stingy goaltending, they are worthy as favorites to hoist the trophy.

Edmonton Oilers +1000

The Oilers are tied with the Avs for best odds to win it all out of the Western Conference at +1000. They finished the 2022-2023 regular season with a 50-23-9 record and 109 points. The team is led by arguably the two best forwards in the entire NHL in Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. The pair led the league in scoring by a landslide. McDavid finished with 64 goals and 89 assists (153 points), while his partner in crime, Draisaitl, registered 52 goals with 76 assists (128 points). Edmonton’s power play might be the most elite in the entire NHL. They had a crazy 46.2% success rate in the playoffs and led the regular season with a 32.4% rate. If McDavid and Draisaitl continue to click, the Oilers should be in contention for a long time.

Vegas Golden Knights +1200

The Knights are looking to repeat as champions, and history suggests it is more than a possibility as the Penguins and Lightning have both accomplished this feat in recent years. The front office re-signed forward Ivan Barbashev and goalie Adin Hill, who had an amazing Stanley Cup run between the posts. This could be the last chance for this core to win another title as Chandler Stephenson, Jonathan Marchessault, and Alec Martinez are set to hit unrestricted free agency after the 2024 season. Bringing back each player will be extremely costly. At 12-1 odds, Vegas is a good bet to repeat.

Dallas Stars +1400

The Stars are another team with a plethora of young talent and made a great run into the Western Conference Finals before getting knocked out by the eventual Stanley Cup champs. If goalie Jake Oettinger had a better series against the Knights, it could have been a different story. He posted a 3.84 GAA and an .877 save percentage in six contests against Vegas. Despite that hiccup, he is the Stars foundation and one of the top goalies in the league. Jason Robertson is one of the best forwards in the NHL and has a great line partner in Roope Hintz. The mixture of a great goaltender, high-end young talent, and seasoned veterans has a good chance to push them over the edge this season.

Pittsburgh Penguins +2800

The Penguins’ 16-year playoff streak ended last year. Pittsburgh shook things up in the front office, adding Kyle Dubas as its president of hockey operations and general manager after Toronto did not offer him a new contract. The core of the team is still intact, with Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Kris Letang, and Jake Guentzel. Mike Sullivan is a top coach throughout the entire NHL. The Pens also just completed a trade for superstar defenseman Erik Karlsson. He won the Norris Trophy as the NHL’s best defenseman for the third time in his career in 2022-23, finishing the season with 25 goals and 76 assists (101 points) in 82 games. Could we have a Vegas Knights situation where the Pens win the Stanley Cup after missing the playoffs the previous season? There is value in taking the Penguins.

To win the Stanley Cup: Hurricanes, Oilers, Knights, Stars, Penguins

Other teams to watch: Devils, Rangers, Avs

2023-2024 Stanley Cup Odds:

Carolina Hurricanes +800

New Jersey Devils +900

Toronto Maple Leafs +900

Edmonton Oilers +1000

Colorado Avalanche +1000

Vegas Golden Knights +1200

New York Rangers +1300

Dallas Stars +1400

Florida Panthers +1600

Boston Bruins +1600

Tampa Bay Lightning +2000

LA Kings +2200

Pittsburgh Penguins +2800

Calgary Flames +3000

Minnesota Wild +3000

Seattle Kraken +3500

Buffalo Sabres +3500

Ottawa Senators +4000

Winnipeg Jets +5000

New York Islanders +5000

Vancouver Canucks +6000

St. Louis Blues +7500

Washington Capitals +7500

Detroit Red Wings +7500

Nashville Predators +7500

Philadelphia Flyers +15000

Columbus Blue Jackets +15000

Chicago Blackhawks +20000

Arizona Coyotes +25000

Anaheim Ducks +25000

Montreal Canadiens +25000

San Jose Sharks +25000 

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