The 2022-23 NHL season is officially past its midway point, with the All-Star break looming just weeks away. Throughout the first half of the season, we’ve seen some surprise performances from teams emerging as contenders and some disappointing showings from squads that seemingly took a step backward. With that in mind, we’ll look at the 2022-23 NHL Stanley Cup Futures picks, highlighting the best value at the midway point.
Before we dive into the 2022-23 NHL Stanley Cup Championship picks, make sure to check out our top hockey betting sites, as well as the Vegas odds for the NHL in the 2022-23 season.
| To Win Stanley Cup |  |
|---|---|
| Boston Bruins | +425 |
| Colorado Avalanche | +700 |
| Carolina Hurricanes | +750 |
| Toronto Maple Leafs | +950 |
| Vegas Golden Knights | +1000 |
| New Jersey Devils | +1100 |
| Dallas Stars | +1400 |
| Tampa Bay Lightning | +1400 |
| Edmonton Oilers | +1500 |
| New York Rangers | +1600 |
| Seattle Kraken | +1600 |
| Winnipeg Jets | +1800 |
| Minnesota Wild | +2000 |
| Calgary Flames | +2200 |
Thus far into the 2022-23 NHL season, the Boston Bruins (+425) are considered favorites to hoist Lord Stanley’s Cup. The Colorado Avalanche (+700), despite their early struggles, boast the second-best odds of winning the championship, slightly ahead of the Carolina Hurricanes (+750), Toronto Maple Leafs (+950), and Vegas Golden Knights (+1000).
There are certainly some eye-opening selections with very intriguing odds, and we’re going to dive into a few of my favorite picks to win the Stanley Cup this season.
We’ll start with the current favorites.
The Boston Bruins are scalding hot right now and arguably the complete team in hockey. When David Pastrnak has to make the All-Star Game via the fan vote, you know the team is loaded on all fronts. Linas Ullmark is arguably the best goalie in hockey, and he’s kept the Bruins’ defensive record pristine.
Thus far into the year, the Bruins have the best record in the NHL, and it’s not close. Through 45 games, Boston boasts a jaw-dropping record of 36-5-4, good for 76 points. No other team has more than 66 points (Carolina Hurricanes), indicating how colossal the Bruins’ run has been. Currently, it’s hard to argue against the Bruins being the Stanley Cup betting favorites, and at (+425), the odds have some great value.
With the offense consisting of superstars such as David Pastrnak, Brad Marchand, Patrice Bergeron, and former MVP Taylor Hall, among others, the Bruins boast plenty of veteran leadership, toughness, experience, and of course star power. Pastrnak has 35 goals this season, ranks second in hockey, and leads the team with 63 points. If not for the season Connor McDavid was having, he’d be a full-fledged Hart Trophy candidate.
With him leading the charge offensively and the elite tandem of Charlie McAvoy and Hampus Lindholm playing at high levels, it’s no wonder the Bruins have the best goal differential in hockey, scoring 173 goals (2nd most in NHL) and conceding 96 (best in the NHL).
Last year’s Stanley Cup champs got off to a disappointing start to the year in 2022-23. Injuries have played a role in that several key players, including Gabriel Landeskog, Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar, Evan Rodrigues, Valeri Nichushkin, and plenty more, have all missed extended time. Despite the injury woes, the Avs are still floating in the Western Conference, sitting in fourth place in the Central Division.
The Avs’ 25-17-3 start isn’t what fans were hoping for, but it’s a solid record considering the many injuries the team has been crippled by. Approaching full strength now, though still awaiting the return of Landeskog, their captain, the Avalanche will be a major threat once again when they get reinforcements back.
The team has superstars across all levels, including MacKinnon, Mikko Rantanen, and Cale Makar. After a dominant showing in the 2021-22 Stanley Cup Playoffs, the Avs will look to get hot in the second half. The odds expect a turnaround from Colorado, who, when fully healthy, will be just as dangerous as any other team in the league.
The Carolina Hurricanes are one of the most dangerous teams in the league. They play a physical hockey brand, making them a difficult opponent to go up against. This team will run up the score quickly and punish opposing offensive players for even looking at the goal.
The Hurricanes are led offensively by Andrei Svechnikov, Sebastian Aho, and offseason acquisition Marty Necas, who has been sensational in his first season with the team. Defensively, there’s hardly a deeper team in the league than what Carolina brings to the table, including the likes of Brent Burns, Jaccob Slavin, Brett Pesce, and Brady Skjei.
Carolina sits atop the Metropolitan Division with 66 points, scoring 151 goals while conceding 124. This team can never be counted out, capable of playing up to the level of any other team in the league. While teams like the Bruins, Avalanche, Golden Knights, and Maple Leafs generate headlines with flashy play, the Canes epitomize grit and pick-up wins with a more toughness-based mentality.
The Canes are a real threat to win the Cup this year, and at (+750), they could potentially have the best value of any team in the top 10.
Before diving into the NHL Futures betting action and making your Stanley Cup trophy picks, check out our top sportsbook reviews, which have plenty of information to help you find the best betting site for your needs.
