NHL Pick: Vegas Golden Knights to Win Pacific Division (+240) at BetOnline (visit our BetOnline Review)
The Pacific Division is the standout division in the NHL this season when it comes to contrast. We have some top-heavy teams such as the reigning Stanley Cup champions, the Vegas Golden Knights, and strong contenders the Edmonton Oilers.
In contrast, it also has two of the worst teams in the NHL, the Anaheim Ducks and San Jose Sharks, both of which have the second and third-highest odds to lift the Stanley Cup this season in the entire league.
Vegas Golden Knights (+240)
Why do we believe the Golden Knights can remain top dogs in the Pacific Division? Surely they will suffer from Stanley Cup fatigue? Well, yes, they may well do so, but we still believe they have the deepest roaster in the division and their style of play/tactics is one step beyond 7 of 8 teams within this division.
Essentially, it’s a two-horse race to finish top of the division between themselves and the favorites, the Edmonton Oilers. Give us the Stanley Cup champions as underdogs at +240 to win the Pacific Division. The Golden Knights have finished above the Oilers in 3 of the previous 4 seasons within the division.
Taking a look at the roster, there’s very little to discuss, as the Golden Knights only lost Reilly Smith and the rest of the Stanley Cup-winning team remains intact. Overall, this team has the ability to make another deep run in the Stanley Cup, and they’re almost guaranteed to make the playoffs. Take a chance on the Knights to top the Pacific Division over the Oilers.
2022/23 Points Total: 111
2023/24 Points Prediction: 107
Edmonton Oilers (+180)
The biggest issue with this team (you have heard this story a million times before) is their defense and goaltending. They have Connor McDavid (the best player in the NHL), Leon Draisaitl and many more quality forwards, but is it enough when you’re so weak beyond the blue line?
This has been the story of the Connor McDavid era at Edmonton, they’re almost guaranteed to make the playoffs as their forwards can carry the team over 82 games, but when things tighten up in the playoffs and defense/goaltending is relied upon more often, that’s where the Oilers fall short.
The Oilers might top the Pacific Division this season but there’s better value to be had elsewhere, and believe us, we would love to bet this team to win the division, but we can’t at the current odds.
As you can tell from out points prediction, we are only separating the Knights and Oilers by three points.
2022/23 Points Total: 109
2023/24 Points Prediction: 104
Seattle Kraken (+1100)
It might be a shock to see us predict the Seattle Kraken in 3rd position, but then again it might not if you’re high on this team following up on their success from last season.
The Kraken managed to finish 4th last season and were only 9 points behind Edmonton who finished second. On top of that, the Kraken led the division for a short period of time early on last season. Seattle also made a cup run in the playoffs, where they knocked out the then defending Stanley Cup Champions the Colorado Avalanche.
In our opinion, this team has improved during the offseason, bringing in players such as Brian Dumoulin and former Edmonton Oilers forward Kailer Yamamoto. Shane Wright is the team’s big prospect but he could be subject to playing in a ton of different leagues this season just like last (long story).
Just like the Golden Knights, this new franchise is a tough out, they have a fighting spirit and that goes a long way in the NHL. Although they likely won’t win the division, their odds at +1100 look very tempting and we do like their chances of making the playoffs at -120 NHL betting odds.
2022/23 Points Total: 100
2023/24 Points Prediction: 98
Los Angeles Kings (+380)
Let’s be honest here, would you rather bet the Seattle Kraken at +1100 or the LA Kings at +380? For us, it’s a no-brainer, hence the reason why we have the Kraken finishing ahead of the Kings in the Pacific Division this season.
The Kings do have a better roster than the Kraken on paper and the signing of Pierre-Luc Dubois is a big one, but they are essentially putting all their eggs in the Dubois basket as they traded away some key assets in order to bring Dubois to LA.
The Kings’ possession-based hockey and attacking style can lead to some wild scores and exciting games, hence the reason their biggest concern ahead of this season is their goaltending as neither Pheonix Copley or Cam Talbot are up to scratch, Talbot just came off the back of one of his worst seasons.
This team should have no issues making the playoffs, and they might finish ahead of Seattle in 3rd, but +380 to win the division seems a little low in our estimate.
2022/23 Points Total: 104
2023/24 Points Prediction: 95
Calgary Flames (+800)
The Flames are +800 and favorites ahead of the Seattle Kraken for only one obvious reason, and that’s the fact they have a better roster.
Other than that fact, there’s no reason we believe the Flames will challenge Seattle. Of course, a strong roster is always a good thing, but they do lack a little depth and their goaltending is not up to scratch, maybe it’s time someone else got a shot in the crease other than Jacob Markstrom and Dan Vladar.
This team has been underperforming for a long time, it’s almost like a mentality issue. It’s hard to describe, but just watching Seattle and Calgary play, you would think the Kraken had the better roster.
The Flames have one of the best center depth in the NHL and can most definitely this division with Nazem Kadri, Elias Lindholm and Mikael Backlund, which is another boost for them but overall this team is likely going to underwhelm again this season. Best case scenario, this team finishes 4th within the division.
2022/23 Points Total: 93
2023/24 Points Prediction: 89
Vancouver Canucks (+1400)
The Vancouver Canucks have slightly improved this season, but we are still predicting them to have fewer points than last time around. With the division having somewhat improved in quality, they might struggle to win a few extra games.
The Canucks had to shore up their defense this offseason as it was the main area of concern looking back on last season, but overall the Canucks will do well to get a wild card spot this season.
There are some elements of quality within the team such as Elias Pettersson and Conor Garland, but there isn’t enough quality or experience all around to pull this team into a contender spot. It’s going to be a long season for Canucks fans.
If the Canucks fans think it’s going to be a long season, someone say a prayer for our next two teams in California.
2022/23 Points Total: 83
2023/24 Points Prediction: 81
Anaheim Ducks (+17200)
The Anaheim Ducks and San Jose Sharks are miles behind the rest of this division, imagine the 6th favorites are highest at +1100 to win the division and then we get the next best Anaheim at +17200, and San Jose at +20000.
Although we do believe the Anaheim Ducks will pick up more points this season than last, they will do extremely well to finish beyond 7th within this division. They might steal a 6th place finish IF the Flames or Canucks are even worse than we expect.
The Ducks have had one of the worst defenses for quite some time now, despite making improvements during the off-season, the Ducks will likely be fighting it out with their California neighbors for 2nd last spot.
2022/23 Points Total: 58
2023/24 Points Prediction: 66
San Jose Sharks (+20000)
Overall the San Jose Sharks are not going to be fun to watch this season, we truly do feel sorry for their fans. Additions including Anthony Duclair and Filip Zadina who are not needle movers by any means, more of a prop-up at best.
They might have the worst defense in the entire league and they are, in our opinion, a candidate to finish bottom of the entire regular season.
The Sharks are rebuilding from some bad business in the previous decade and there’s a lot of work to do. First on the agenda will be getting a few good draft picks. It will be quite some time before we see this team challenging in the Pacific Division again, 2-3 years at the earliest.
2022/23 Points Total: 60
2023/24 Points Prediction: 55
*The line and/or odds on picks in this article might have moved since the content was commissioned. For updated line movements, visit BMR’s free betting odds product.
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