NHL futures: Which hot team has the best odds of winning the Cup?
Sure, the 2023-24 NHL season is only about one month old. But everyone is already getting a good look at which teams could be playoff-bound next spring — and which teams could be a surprise even though their betting odds wouldn't suggest it.
Look past the red-hot starts of the Boston Bruins and the Vegas Golden Knights and you'll see that there are two teams currently riding five-game winning streaks: the Florida Panthers and the Pittsburgh Penguins. Both Eastern Conference clubs are on fire and making a case to take control of their divisions.
Do oddsmakers think either of these two can top their divisions and go on a run for the Stanley Cup — and win it?
Here's a look at what DraftKings has to say.
Of these two fierce competitors, the Panthers have the shorter odds at DK of winning the Stanley Cup Final as a 16-1 long shot. That's a nice jump given that they were 23-1 long shots at FOX Sports back in October. At 10-4-1 on the season, head coach Paul Maurice's message is getting through to this team as they continue on an offensive tear that has given them the third-ranked points percentage in the East (.700). Having one of the top goal-scorers in the league in Sam Reinhart doesn't hurt either.
This isn't to say that the Penguins' recent five-game winning streak is less impressive, although DK does have them listed at 35-1 to win the Cup. The longer odds could be because the Penguins haven't made it to the Cup Final as recently as the Panthers. In fact, Pittsburgh hasn't made it past the first round since 2018.
But they could also because the Pens got off to a much rockier start, have a 3-4-0 home record and, up until very recently, weren't scoring goals at the same rate the Panthers are. (Outside of that 10-2 win against the San Jose Sharks a couple of weeks ago.) At least reigning Norris Trophy winner Erik Karlsson is trying to get his new team there, having registered 15 points (five goals, 10 assists) in his first 14 games since being traded from the Sharks over the summer.
Of course, these betting odds for the Panthers and Penguins will change once their winning streaks end. Then we'll just have to watch them play each other to see which team is more worthy of putting your money on.
Florida and Pittsburgh square off three times this season, with the first matchup coming up on Dec. 8. Betting odds for that game have not yet been listed.
More must-reads: