Written by Scott on Monday, September 19th, 2022
Follow @BetNHL
We’re only a couple of short weeks away from the return of the NHL season.
As per usual, we will do futures betting articles covering each division.
Futures in any sports are very risky. If you’re betting these, you’re really only doing it for season long entertainment as you can never factor in potential injuries etc.
However from a betting perspective, we always feel that when we go through these divisional previews prior to the season, it really helps us evaluate the teams etc and helps us going forward.
All the teams in the Division are listed below and also listed are the odds for them to win the division. The odds will change but this is a list of what we find on average – then the best odds for them to win are below..
- Avalanche: 1.57
- Wild: 4.75
- Blues: 6.50
- Stars: 15.00
- Predators: 15.00
- Jets: 21.00
- Blackhawks: 126.00
- Coyotes: 201.00
If you see your team listed above and like the odds for them to win the division you can get them at these sportsbooks depending on where you live.
Division Winners Betting Tips
The Avalanche are my pick to win the Central Divison. Risky play, I know.
They just won a cup and lost some pieces but still have a strong team.
MacKinnon, Landeskog and Rantanen are an amazing line. And they have Newhook, O’Connor, Compher and Lehkonen for depth. They lost Kadri but surely one of their depth pieces can pick up some of the slack.
Makar leads their defense and he will for the forseeable future. He has Toews, Manson and Byram to form a strong top 6.
In goal the lost Kuemper and replaced him with Georgiev which on paper seems like a big loss but with the defense in front of him they can help keep his work load down.
It’s hard to bet against them. Sure they just won a cup but they are a strong team with no major weaknesses. The one thing to note is that with how heavy favourited they are, it practically makes any other bets on teams to win the division +EV.
Best Odds for the Avalanche to win the Central
Ontario: 1.62 Odds at Sports Interaction
Canada: 1.62 Odds at Sports Interaction
USA: -175 Odds at BetOnline..
Everyone Else: 1.57 Odds at Bet365 (Americans: We recommend http://www.bovada.lv.
(Odds correct as of 2022/09/19 7:53:04 PM EST but are subject to change.)
Central Division Betting Analysis
Minnesota Wild
The Wild will have to make due with the team they have.
The lost Fiala, Bjugstad and Talbot and had no money left to sign them or a replacement thanks to the buyouts of Parise and Suter. The still have superstar Kaprizov who is joined by Zuccarello, Hartman, Eriksson-Ek and Boldy who give them some solid offensive pieces. Also Marco Rossi who’s expected to have a huge impact with his playmaking skills.
In defense they still go with a veteran approach. Spurgeon, Brodin, Dumba Middleton and Goligoski are all decent.
They are again going with Fleury as their starter. They lost Talbot and replaced him with Gustavsson as backup. Fleury is still incredible and gives them a chance to win each night he plays.
Best Odds for the Wild to win the Central
Ontario: 5.40 Odds at Casumo
Canada: 5.40 Odds at Casumo
USA: +400 Odds at BetOnline..
Everyone Else: 5.40 Odds at Casumo
(Odds correct as of 2022/09/19 7:53:04 PM EST but are subject to change.)
Blues
The Blues eliminated the Wild in round 1 of last year’s playoffs and took the eventual Champs Avalanche to 6 games.
The have some good offensive players but lack someone who will challenge for league lead in points. Tarasenko, O’Reilly, Kyrou, Saad and Thomas will be the players they turn too for points.
On defense their top 4 is decent with Parayko, Faulk, Leddy and Krug. This veteran group won’t put up crazy numbers but they all know how to do their job.
The lost Husso so the number 1 spot is all Binnington’s who is expected to be ready after a lower body injury he suffered in the playoffs. They brought in Greiss to back him up.
Best Odds for the Blues to win the Central
Ontario: 10.00 Odds at Sports Interaction
Canada: 10.00 Odds at Sports Interaction
USA: +900 Odds at BetOnline..
Everyone Else: 9.71 Odds at Bet365 (Americans: We recommend http://www.bovada.lv
(Odds correct as of 2022/09/19 7:53:04 PM EST but are subject to change.)
Nashville Predators
The Preds are a team that could surprise and make a push for the top spot in the Central.
Duchene had a great year as did Forsberg. Johansen, Granlund and Jeannot give them depth. They brought in Niederreiter as a player that can move up and down the lines.
As it’s been for a long time, the Preds strength is their defense. Josi is a machine. He put up 96 points in 80 games which easily led the team. They brought in veteran Ryan McDonagh who is a smart player. Ekholm, Carrier, Fabro, Lauzon and Borowiecki give them plenty of pieces to work with.
Saros is their starter and he’s good and gives them confidence each night. They brought in Lankinen as a backup and have rookie Askarov who is waiting and playing in the AHL.
Best Odds for the Predators to win the Central
Ontario: 15.00 Odds at Bet365 (Americans: We recommend http://www.bovada.lv
Canada: 15.00 Odds at Bet365 (Americans: We recommend http://www.bovada.lv
USA: +1150 Odds at MyBookie.
Everyone Else: 15.00 Odds at Bet365 (Americans: We recommend http://www.bovada.lv
(Odds correct as of 2022/09/19 7:53:04 PM EST but are subject to change.)
Dallas Stars
The Stars, to me, seem like a team in desperate need of a rebuild. Or at least a remake.
Seguin and Benns best days are behind them. The have Hintz, Robertson and the ageless Pavelski as their main offensive guys. Mason Marchment was brought in and that was a good pick up as he’s really underrated.
In defense they have some decent young players who would go along way in speeding up a rebuild. Heiskanen and Lindall are good. But Suter is getting older and he’s no longer the player he once was.
In goal Oettinger is good and he’s only 23.
With Oettinger, Heiskanen, Robertson and others, now would be the time to add some pieces and take advantage of the talent they have.
Best Odds for the Stars to win the Central
Ontario: 15.87 Odds at Sports Interaction
Canada: 15.87 Odds at Sports Interaction
USA: +1275 Odds at MyBookie.
Everyone Else: 15.00 Odds at Bet365 (Americans: We recommend http://www.bovada.lv
(Odds correct as of 2022/09/19 7:53:04 PM EST but are subject to change.)
Winnipeg Jets
The Jets were considered to be a team to watch last season but that didn’t work out. Paul Maurice left and interim coach Dave Lowry couldn’t get anything going for them.
The didn’t add anyone in the off-season and instead will ride with what they have. They still have a good team on paper with Scheifele, Wheeler and Connor on the top line. They have Ehlers, Pefetti and Dubois as secondary scorers.
On defense they are pretty thin. Morrissey, puonk and Schmidt are their top 3 and that’s not exactly going to win you much of anything.
Hellebuyck is solid and has been for a while. But there is only so much he can do.
If the Jets start out slow, and with Dubois telling the team that he intends to enter free agency, so they go into rebuild mode early?
Best Odds for the Jets to win the Central
Ontario: 26.22 Odds at Sports Interaction
Canada: 26.22 Odds at Sports Interaction
USA: +2100 Odds at MyBookie.
Everyone Else: 23.00 Odds at Casumo
(Odds correct as of 2022/09/19 7:53:04 PM EST but are subject to change.)
Chicago Blackhawks
The Hawks have a weird way of rebuilding. They move DeBrincat, Strome, Dach and Kubalik and brought in Domi, Athanasiou. If they were embracing a rebuild why not move Kane, Toews and Jones as they would fetch you something in return.
Their defense isn’t any better with Jones the only one worth mentioning.
In goal they brought in two new goalies in Mrazek and Stalock so not sure what the point of that was.
So many questions surrounding the Hawks. I will hate to see Kane and Toews leave but if they are to rebuild we have to move our two best assets and plan for the future.
Best Odds for the Hawks to win the Central
Ontario: 292.00 Odds at Sports Interaction
Canada: 292.00 Odds at Sports Interaction
USA: +24000 Odds at MyBookie.
Everyone Else: 200.00 Odds at BetOnline.
(Odds correct as of 2022/09/19 7:53:04 PM EST but are subject to change.)
Arizona Coyotes
Another team where I’m not sure what they’re doing.
They have some good young players with Keller, Schmaltz, Crouse and Chychrun but did nothing to help them out. Unless you count bringing in the offensive force that is Zack Kassian who will probably be playing 2nd line minutes.
The have Chychrun and Gostisbehere as trade bait but added 3 more defensemen.
Vejmelka is their starting goalie. He went 13-32-3 with 3.68 GAA and a .898 save percentage.
They have some good prospects in their system but they will have a hard time drawing any interest from players when their new arena has just 5000 seats.
Best Odds for the Coyotes to win the Central
Ontario: 337.00 Odds at Sports Interaction
Canada: 337.00 Odds at Sports Interaction
USA: +28000 Odds at MyBookie.
Everyone Else: 250.00 Odds at BetOnline.
(Odds correct as of 2022/09/19 7:53:04 PM EST but are subject to change.)
Great analysis! Must be tough to write that as a Hawks fan.