Stanley Cup Favorites and Their Odds to Win it All

• A new NHL season is upon us, and a handful of teams have a chance to win it all.
• Everything has returned to normal, and no COVID restrictions exist at any American or Canadian stadiums.
• Let’s take a closer look at who are the best bets, underdogs, and long shots.

We’ve had major highs, supreme lows, and some improbable highlights. Add it all up and you’ve got five solid futures bets at your fingertips. Let’s take a closer look at who stands out and why.

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NHL Championship Winner 2023 Odds

Odds taken from FanDuel Sportsbook 

Colorado Avalanche

Record: 56-19-7

Leading Scorer: Nazem Kadri - 92

The Colorado Avalanche are the obvious choice. They won their third Stanley Cup last season and may have the best roster in the NHL. Colorado has +450 odds to win the Stanley Cup.

The Avalanche had a quiet offseason but made a few solid moves. They lost Andre Burakovsky to the Seattle Kraken and Niko Sturm to the San Jose Sharks. However, they re-signed defenseman Josh Manson to a four-year contract and Darren Helm to a one-year contract. Colorado also re-signed Andrew Cogliano, but their most important move was signing Valeri Nichushkin to a contract extension. Nichushkin missed some time with an injury last season, but he ended with 52 points (25 goals, 27 assists) in 62 games. The Russian winger was vital to Colorado’s success this season.

Valeri Nichushkin was not the only efficient player on the Avalanche last season. Mikko Rantanen, Nathan MacKinnon, Nazem Kadri, Cale Makar, and goaltenders Darcy Kuemper and Pavel Francouz also had excellent seasons for Colorado. All four position players held their own on the ice last season and the goaltenders provided each other with competition all season long. Darcy Kuemper was the main netminder during the regular season, but Pavel Francouz started seven games (and went 6-0) during the Avalanche’s Stanley Cup run.

Since the Avalanche have maintained much of their roster, I am picking them to win back-to-back Stanley Cups.

Toronto Maple Leafs

Record: 54-21-7

Leading Scorer: Austen Matthews - 106

I am a little confused that the Toronto Maple Leafs have +1000 odds. They have an outstanding team but always crumble in the Playoffs.

The Maple Leafs may have the most impactful player in hockey in Austen Matthews. The 2016 1st overall draft pick is a goal-scoring machine and put 60 pucks in the back of the net last season. Matthews also had 46 assists and knows how to get his teammates involved. In addition to Matthews, Toronto has some solid players in Mitchell Marner, John Tavares, and William Nylander. All three of those players had at least 75 points last season, and Marner finished with a +/- of 23.

The Maple Leafs had one big loss this offseason. Goaltender Jack Campbell left Toronto and signed with  Edmonton Oilers. The Maple Leafs tried to replace Campbell by signing Ilya Samsonov, but you and I both know Samsonov is not as strong as Campbell in net. Even though the Maple Leafs could use a better goalie, that is not why they are going to flame out again in the Playoffs. The Maple Leafs will not make a Playoff run, because they have proven they do not have what it takes to win a playoff series. Do not bet on Toronto to make a run this year.

Carolina Hurricanes

Record: 54-20-8

Leading Scorer: Sebastian Aho - 81

The Carolina Hurricanes took the NHL by storm last season and finished with the second-most points in the Eastern Conference and the third-most in the league. They had an excellent chance to win the 2022 Stanley Cup but were knocked out in the second round by the New York Rangers.

The Hurricanes should have better odds than the Maple Leafs to win it all. They made a series of impressive off-season moves and still have many of their best players from last season. Carolina traded away defenseman Tony DeAngelo soon after the season but signed Brent Burns to replace DeAngelo; Burns is a more impressive defenseman than DeAngelo, so this is a huge move for Carolina. The Hurricanes also added Max Pacioretty, a natural goal-scorer. Between Burns and Pacioretty, the Hurricanes have bolstered their roster significantly and may have had the best offseason.

In addition to the Hurricanes offseason moves, they have Sebastian Aho, Andrei Svechnikov, and Teuvo Teravainen. Aho and Svechnikov each had 30 goals or more last season, and Teravainen put on a passing clinic and had 43 assists.

I would be remiss if I did not mention the Hurricanes goaltending duo of Frederik Andersen and Antti Raanta. This is the best duo in the league and both netminders allowed under 2.5 goals a game last season. They can both hold their own in the net and are not to be messed with. The Hurricanes are the best team in the Eastern Conference and have an excellent chance to make a deep playoff run this year.

Florida Panthers

Record: 58-18-6

Leading Scorer: Aleksander Barkov - 88

The Florida Panthers were swept by the Lightning in the Second Round of the playoffs but have another opportunity to make a run this year.

The Panthers had a busy offseason and made waves when they traded Jonathan Huberdeau (and others) for Matthew Tkachuk and a conditional fourth-round pick. This may seem like an odd trade, but Tkachuk is 24 and has already signed an eight-year, $76-million extension with the Panthers.

Tkackuk will be teammates with Aleksander Barkov and Sam Reinhart. Barkov and Reinhart both had over 80 points last season and wrecked havoc on opposing defensemen. The Panthers have a great roster. However, they need to figure out how to win in the playoffs. If they do, they might be hoisting the Stanley Cup at the end of the season.

Tampa Bay Lightning

Record: 51-23-8

Leading Scorer: Steven Stamkos - 106

Is anyone surprised the Tampa Bay Lightning are on this list? The Lightning are becoming the Tom Brady era Patriots of the NHL and have another chance to win the Stanley Cup this year.

Tampa Bay did not make many significant offseason moves but still has Steven Stamkos, Nikita Kucherov, Victor Hedman, and Andrei Vasilevskiy on their roster. These four players are all veterans, but they know to win and make the Stanley Cup. Do not be surprised if the Lighting find their way back to be champions again this year.