2024 NHL Stanley Cup Betting Odds and Picks
The Boston Bruins compiled a memorable 2022-23 regular season, as their 65-12-5 record was the best record in NHL history. Unfortunately, their historic run came to a crashing halt after Boston surrendered a 3-1 series lead to the Florida Panthers in the Playoffs.
A lot has changed in Boston since then. The Bruins’ captain, Patrice Bergeron, retired after a 19-year career with the Bruins. Also, longtime Bruin, David Krejci, is heading for retirement.
With the Bruins’ top two centers retiring, there has been a major shake-up in the 2024 NHL Stanley Cup Odds. The latest hockey odds have shifted considerably since they were released at Stanley Cup betting sites after the Vegas Golden Knights won the Cup in June.
Let’s assess the latest 2024 NHL Stanley Cup odds and make our Stanley Cup predictions and picks for the upcoming season.
2024 NHL Stanley Cup Odds
The following 2024 Stanley Cup odds are courtesy of Bovada:
In June, the Bruins and Colorado Avalanche opened as co-favorites to win the 2024 Stanley Cup. At +800, the Bruins and Avalanche had the best odds shortly after the Golden Knights hoisted Lord Stanley’s Cup in Las Vegas.
Today, the Bruins’ 2024 Stanley Cup odds have regressed to +1500. Bergeron and Krejci’s retirement have had a remarkable impact on the odds to win the Stanley Cup in 2024.
2024 Stanley Cup Favorites
Currently, oddsmakers at Bovada have four teams as co-favorites to win the NHL title. The Edmonton Oilers, New Jersey Devils, Carolina Hurricanes, and Avalanche all have +900 odds to win the Cup.
Carolina Hurricanes (+900)
Depending on where you look, there are sports betting sites that have the Hurricanes listed as the standalone favorite. They’ve risen up the board since the 2024 Stanley Cup odds opened months ago.
The Hurricanes are coming off an appearance in the 2023 Eastern Conference Finals and Metropolitan Division title. The surging Florida Panthers were able to knock off the Hurricanes in an unexpected sweep.
It was a disappointing finish to the Hurricanes’ season, but they should be back in the Stanley Cup mix. The Hurricanes were able to accomplish their No. 1 offseason goal of signing center Sebastian Aho to a long-term deal.
In July, Aho signed an eight-year, $78 million contract extension with the Hurricanes. Aho provides the Hurricanes with one of the best two-way forwards in the NHL.
The Hurricanes also return forwards Martin Necas and Andrei Svechnikov to the roster. With Necas and Aho, they possess an incredible 1-2 punch offensive punch on the first and second line.
The Hurricanes beefed up their already deep defense by signing ex-Bruin Dmitry Orlov to a one-year deal. Former Blackhawk Caleb Jones also joined the Hurricanes in the offseason. The Hurricanes’ defensive depth is unmatched in the NHL.
New Jersey Devils (+900)
The Hurricanes are not alone in the Metropolitan Division. Last season, they managed to edge out the surging Devils by a point to win the divisional title.
Carolina grabbed a point due to a loss in overtime to finish at 52-21-9 with 113 points. Conversely, the Devils finished with a regular season record of 52-22-8. In 2021-22, the Devils went 27-46-9, so it was the biggest turnaround in hockey.
The Devils are a young team that should continue to elevate their game as they develop even more this season. At the end of the 2022-23 campaign, the Devils were the fourth-youngest team in the NHL.
While Aho and Necas have an argument for the best offensive duo in the Eastern Conference, Jack Hughes, 22, and Nico Hischier, 24, are not far behind. Hughes and Hischier combined for 179 points, with Hughes burying 43 goals to lead the Devils.
25-year-old left-winger Jesper Bratt had a career campaign in scoring, as well. Bratt netted 32 goals and 41 assists for a total of 73 points.
You have to expect the Devils’ young playmakers to be even more of a threat, and the Tyler Toffoli trade makes the forwards even more dangerous.
The only concern with the Devils is their situation between the pipes. At the moment, the Devils have not named a starting goaltender. Vitek Vanecek and Akira Schmid are listed as the No. 1 and No. 2 netminders on their depth chart.
If the Devils aren’t confident in Vanecek or Schmid, they could look to the Jets’ Connor Hellebuyck, who is reportedly available on the trade market.
In any event, the Devils’ goaltending is not as bleak as many would lead you to believe.
Colorado Avalanche (+900)
The Avalanche went into last season with the best Stanley Cup odds. They were coming off their third Stanley Cup title in franchise history in 2022. There was reason to feel optimistic, but a season-ending knee injury to Gabriel Landeskog dampened that confidence.
Landeskog hoped to return for the playoffs, but remained unable to suit up. After missing the entire season, Landeskog is slated to miss the 2023-24 season. Like last year, the Avalanche are keeping their fingers crossed that he can be healthy enough for the playoffs.
Despite missing Landeskog, the Avalanche won the Central Division with a record of 51-24-7 and 109 points. It didn’t come easy, as the Dallas Stars were only a point behind the Avalanche in the Central.
The Avalanche are well-equipped to win without Landeskog, but his presence would have been nice to have in the postseason. They were ultimately upset by the Seattle Kraken in Game 7 of the first round.
For the 2023-24 season, the Avalanche will have the services of Nathan MacKinnon, Mikko Rantanen, and Cale Makar. As long as these three players remain healthy, the Avalanche are going to be in strong shape this season.
Losing Landeskog hurts, but there is ample talent to go around in Denver. They learned how to win in his absence last season, and we should see a similar story unfold this year. It would be foolish to look past this talent-laded Avs squad.
Edmonton Oilers (+900)
In 2022-23, the Oilers did not fulfill the goals they set out to achieve. They failed to win the Pacific Division and then were eliminated by the Golden Knights in the postseason.
Nevertheless, any hockey club with the most dynamic player in the world has to be considered a favorite at NHL Betting sites. 26-year-old Connor McDavid easily led the league in points, as he tallied 153 last season.
Additionally, McDavid won the Rocket Richard Trophy for the most goals accumulated in the regular season. McDavid scored 64 goals for a three-goal advantage on the Bruins’ David Pastrnak.
Along with McDavid, the Oilers have center Leon Draisaitl and left wing Ryan Nugent-Hopkins in their stable. The talented trio led the Oilers with total of 385 points between them.
Adding Evander Kane to the roster was a gamble, though he was a major contributor at left wing. He is expected to be on the first line with McDavid and Connor Brown.
If the Oilers hold up defensively, they are a clear contender to appear in their first Stanley Cup Final since 2006. That includes their questionable goaltending situation with Stuart Skinner and Jack Campbell.
Best NHL Stanley Cup Value Bet: Dallas Stars (+1400)
The Dallas Stars did not get much attention in the NHL media a season ago. The same could be said for this season. Dallas is quietly going under the radar despite a pretty solid campaign in 2023-24.
The Stars finished with a regular season record of 47-21-14 and 108 points. That was just one point behind the Avalanche. They went on an 8-2 run to end the season, and a six-game winning streak to nearly steal the Central Division title.
After ousting the upset-minded Kraken in seven games, the Stars reached the 2023 Western Conference Finals against the Golden Knights. The series lasted six games, with the Golden Knights advancing and winning the Stanley Cup.
For a team just two wins away from going to the Final, the Stars’ 2024 Stanley Cup odds are being severely undervalued. The Stars’ main core remains intact heading into the 2023-24 season.
This roster features experienced veterans like Joe Pavelski, Jamie Benn, and Tyler Seguin, but there’s also a youth movement underway in Dallas.
Jason Robertson is only 24 and led the team with 46 goals, 63 assists, and 109 points. Robertson is joined by Roope Hintz, Wyatt Johnson, and Miro Heiskanen as one of the most talented young cores in the NHL.
The Stars’ Stanley Cup chances will hinge on Jake Oettinger’s effort in the crease. After a rock-solid regular season, he did not have the best playoffs. However, if he gets hot this time around in the postseason, the Stars are in business.
Best NHL Stanley Cup Longshot Bet: Seattle Kraken (+2800)
In only their second season as a franchise, the Seattle Kraken made the Stanley Cup Playoffs. While they didn’t reach the postseason as quickly as the Golden Knights, they hope to win their first Stanley Cup earlier than the Golden Knights did.
The Kraken won a thrilling seven-game series over the Avalanche. While the Kraken were unable to defeat the Stars, they gave it their all in another Game 7. The Stars’ defensive pressure was too much for the Kraken in a 2-1 final.
Expect the Kraken to use that experience as a valuable learning lesson for the 2023-24 campaign. Also, watching a recent expansion team win the Cup had to give the Kraken some motivation for the upcoming season.
The Kraken improved by 40 points from their inaugural season in the NHL. They got to that point by having one of the most dangerous offenses in the NHL. Having averaged 3.52 goals per game, the Kraken were tied for the fourth-best scoring offense with the Devils.
Despite not having a true offensive superstar, the Kraken utilized a deep roster and balanced approach. Led by Jared McCann’s 40 goals and 70 points, eight Kraken players recorded a minimum of 40 points.
Veterans Pierre-Edouard Bellemare and Brian Dumoulin signing with the Kraken provide the locker room with an experienced presence in the locker room and depth. They aren’t expected to be significant contributors, but should be important cogs come the spring.
The Kraken’s Stanley Cup odds will improve by 2024. Now is the time to back the Kraken at +2800 to win the Stanley Cup.
2024 NHL Stanley Cup Prediction: New Jersey Devils (+900)
The Devils are most likely going to be the least bet squad among the Stanley Cup favorites. A segment of hockey fans want the Devils to show that last season wasn’t a fluke before giving them respect.
By that time, though, there will be no value on the Devils’ 2024 Stanley Cup odds. At +900 odds, the Devils should be part of your NHL betting strategy to win the Stanley Cup. Additionally, the Devils have value to win the Metropolitan Division.
As we approach the regular season, casual fans have not been affording the Devils the most attention. However, sharp bettors certainly have been. In June, the Devils were +1300 to win the Stanley Cup. Four months later, the Devils are +900.
As Hughes and Hischier continue to develop this season, the Devils will score goals in bunches. However, this isn’t just about their youth as Timo Meier, Ondrej Palat, Erik Haula, and Toffoli are key pieces to a Stanley Cup run.
On the surface, the Devils’ goaltending doesn’t evoke as much confidence as other teams. That said, Vanecek has shown improvement in each of his three seasons in the NHL.
In his rookie season with the Washington Capitals, Vanecek posted a 2.69 GAA and 0.908 save percentage. In his first season with the Devils, his numbers improved to a 2.45 GAA and 0.911 save percentage.
23-year-old Akira Schmid was in good form when he was called on. After six appearances in 2021-22, Schmid received 14 starts last season. Schmid finished with a 2.13 GAA and 0.922 save percentage.
Remember that the Golden Knights won a Stanley Cup with Adin Hill. It’s more about catching fire at the right time in the playoffs than having a Vezina favorite.
With terrific goal support expected from this Devils’ offense, the goaltending may not have to be perfect. Consider betting on the Devils before they lose too much value during the season.
