NHL futures: Odds the Sharks will win their first game of the season soon
There are a lot of games left in the current NHL season, although that probably seems like an eternity for a San Jose Sharks team still looking for their first win of the 2023-24 campaign. But is their first victory right around the corner?
Team Teal is 0-8-1 to start the season and they have been hard to bet on since their October schedule has consisted of very steep competition. The task doesn't get much easier as they spend most of November at home in Silicon Valley, starting with a four-game homestand that kicks off Thursday against the Vancouver Canucks.
What are the odds the Sharks get in the win column against one of their upcoming opponents?
According to Canadian sportsbook Sports Interactions, the Sharks are priced at +200 on the moneyline to get their first win of the season on Thursday against the Canucks. There are even better odds they will win within the next week, as they are listed at +150 to win "2-3 games from now."
Of course, getting that first win is just the first step in a very long battle to be competitive in the league — and a good bet at major sportsbooks. DraftKings has the Sharks listed as the longest shot to top the Pacific Division at 500-1 odds. They are also priced at 60-1 to make the playoffs next spring and 500-1 to win the Stanley Cup.
San Jose opened its season at home against division rivals and Stanley Cup champions the Vegas Golden Knights. They then hosted the 2022 champion Colorado Avalanche, followed by bouts against Eastern Conference heavy hitters the Carolina Hurricanes and the Boston Bruins.
The Sharks have also had to contend with some unfortunate injuries to kick off their current campaign. Team captain Logan Couture continues to be sidelined with a lower-body injury, and top-six forward Alexander Barabanov was injured on the recent road trip. Those holes in the lineup have certainly made an impact on the scoreboard, as San Jose has been outscored 35-9 through the first nine games of the season.
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