Media by Associated Press – Colorado Avalanche defenseman Samuel Girard (49) in the second period of an NHL hockey game Wednesday, Oct. 19, 2022, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
The NHL season is underway, and while the playoffs are months away, there are still futures bets to be made on the 2022-23 Stanley Cup Champions.
The defending champion Colorado Avalanche are the favorites at +350, followed by Calgary Flames (+700), Toronto Maple Leafs (+900), Florida Panthers (+900), and Carolina Hurricanes (+1000).
Here we will take a look at the top three teams to bet on to win the Cup next summer.
Avalanche +350
Let’s start with the favorites and the defending champions. Nearly every key piece from last year is back except center Nazem Kadri and goalkeeper Dary Kuemper. They will use Alexandar Georgiev and Pavel Francouz in goal this season, the latter going 6-0 in the playoffs last year.
The defense in front of those goaltenders is superb, with Cale Makar and Devon Toews leading the way. Nathan MacKinnon, Mikko Rantanen, and captain Gabriel Landeskog are superstars up top for Colorado and will carry this team through the regular season.
General Manager Joe Sakic has shown he will make the moves when needed to improve the team. Look for him to work with coach Jared Bednar to fill any holes during the season and keep this team in a prime position to make a run through the playoffs. They have the talent and experience to repeat.
You may be able to get better value in a month or two if they start slow, but having a Colorado to win ticket come June will be a good thing.
Panthers +900
Last year it looked like the Florida Panthers were headed to the Stanley Cup Finals showdown with the Avalanche. But they ran into the Tampa Bay Lightning and got swept out of the Eastern Conference Finals.
In the offseason, Florida and Calgary pulled off a blockbuster trade. The Panthers picked up Matthew Tkachuk and sent the team’s all-time leading scorer Jonathan Huberdeau to the Flames. They also changed coaches behind the bench, with veteran Paul Maurice replacing Andrew Brunette.
If Florida learned anything from their sweep to the Lightning, they will be better for it come the 2023 playoffs. They are loaded on offense with Aleksander Barkov, Sam Bennett, and Anthony Duclair, among others, to go with Tkachuk.
Maurice’s system will benefit them in the long run, too, and the Panthers should be the favorite in the East and a good bet to win the Cup.
Oilers +1800
Most look at the Flames as the best option behind the Avalanche in the West, but why not the Edmonton Oilers? Evander Kane was great in the playoffs last year before the Oilers were swept by Colorado. Now he gets a full season with the Oilers, adding to their offensive weapons of Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl.
The Oilers also shored up a shaky goaltender situation by signing Jack Campbell this summer. With Toronto last season, Campbell posted a .914 save percentage with 31 wins and five shutouts.
The West could indeed be wild this year, with the Avalanche, Flames, and Oilers at the top and the Blues, Golden Knights, and Wild lurking right behind. Edmonton will aim for a top-three finish to avoid the defending champs until the Western Conference Finals and then take their shot at revenge.
Make sure to stay tuned for more NHL betting picks and previews!