Mark Lammey
Show Bio
For many NHL fans, it feels like the 2023 Stanley Cup Final was over just as soon as it started. It was nearly a Cinderella story for the Florida Panthers, but they didn’t get the fairytale ending they were hoping for. The Vegas Golden Knights won their first Stanley Cup after being a franchise for just 6 seasons. So, what next? Well, it’s never too early to take a look at the 2023-24 season. Opening lines and odds have already been released for the upcoming season, and we’re here to help you make the most of them before they shift significantly after offseason moves.
All of today’s biggest games are available to bet with BetMGM, the premier destination for online sports betting. New customers can earn themselves a $1,000 deposit bonus by signing up right now! Click here to lock in this great sign-up offer.
NHL Stanley Cup Final 2023/24 betting lines and odds
Odds available at FanDuel Sportsbook at time of publishing:
- Colorado Avalanche: +800
- Toronto Maple Leafs: +1100
- Edmonton Oilers: +1100
- New Jersey Devils: +1300
- Boston Bruins: +1300
- Vegas Golden Knights: +1300
- Carolina Hurricanes: +1300
- Tampa Bay Lightning: +1300
- New York Rangers: +1500
- Dallas Stars: +1700
- Florida Panthers: +2000
- Los Angeles Kings: +2000
- Minnesota Wild: +3200
- Calgary Flames: +3200
- Pittsburgh Penguins: +3500
As you can see, the board is packed with teams in the +1100 to +1700 range. In other words, the parity in the league seems to be at an all-time high. The Colorado Avalanche have been leading the way for a few seasons now, but we’ve still only seen them hoist the Stanley Cup once.
It’s difficult to have faith in the Leafs right now, as despite their immense talent, their franchise as a whole still needs to stabilize. As for the Oilers, we know they have the best skating duo in the world with Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, but can they figure out the defensive end of the ice? Until we see that, and other questions answered, our experts’ best bet for the 2023-24 NHL season is focused on a different squad.
Looking for a great sign-up bonus? With FanDuel Sportsbook’s amazing new offer, you can get yourself a $2,500 No Sweat First Bet! Simply click this link to claim their can’t-miss new-customer promo.
Best Early Bet for the NHL Stanley Cup 2023-24: New Jersey Devils (+1300)
The New Jersey Devils were no doubt the surprise story of the 2022-23 NHL season. It can be difficult to forget given the Panthers’ amazing run to the Stanley Cup Final, but Jack Hughes and company were truly remarkable.
After finishing with the third-fewest wins in the Eastern Conference in 2022, the Devils began this season leading the Metro Division for quite some time and finished just a point behind the Carolina Hurricanes for that top spot by season’s end. Their 112 points were more than the likes of the Leafs and Tampa Bay Lightning, and if there’s one word to describe the Devils, it’s balance. While Toronto and Edmonton have incredible offense, and Carolina and Dallas have incredible defense, New Jersey is a great mix of both.
Led by Hughes, they finished as the fourth-highest scoring team in the league while also allowing the eighth-fewest goals per game. It truly felt as though it was their youth and lack of Stanley Cup Playoff experience that held them back from an even deeper run. We’re going to want to monitor the situation with Timo Meier after the Devils traded for him midseason, but even if he doesn’t ultimately end up with the team, Hughes looks to be a future Hart Trophy winner and they still have a veteran presence with the likes of Dougie Hamilton and Ondrej Palat.
It was the Hurricanes’ defense that ultimately slowed them down this year, but if they can crank up their physicality come next postseason, the Devils will be a serious Stanley Cup threat.
DraftKings Sportsbook is currently giving new customers $200 in bonus bets when they bet $5. That’s all there is to it! Grab this amazing sign-up offer by clicking this link.
Pickswise is the home of free NHL Picks and NHL Predictions. Check back for our daily NHL Best Bets, including our favorite NHL Prop Bets.
