The Stanley Cup is the oldest professional sports trophy in North America and the Finals are one of the year’s biggest sporting events. Following a look at how to bet on this highlight that ends the NHL season, we can see some of the teams currently considered favorites.
How to Bet on the Stanley Cup
Betting on the outcome of the NHL season is easy to do. You just need to begin by looking online for the latest Stanley Cup odds on a reliable betting site where you can quickly join and add funds by different payment methods. If you’re betting in advance, you’ll see the Stanley Cup odds along with other future bets such as who will win each division and who the season MVP will be.
Take a look at the current favorites to lift this trophy no matter how long is left in the regular season or the playoffs. Their odds consider all the latest news concerning injuries, trades, and everything else that affects their chances of a winning season. Entering the bet slip and putting the amount you want to bet beside a team’s name will let you see exactly how much you would win.
Naturally, the odds vary during the year, so it’s up to you when you place your bet. This element is almost as crucial as who you choose, as you’ll ideally want to bet on your chosen team at the best possible odds. Get in nice and early if you want great odds on a franchise that’s not yet attracted a lot of attention but that you feel is on the way up.
You could even place more than one bet on the outright winner during the season as the circumstances change. Canadians tend to look for the likes of Interac and e-wallets when choosing their payment methods on sportsbooks and casinos, as they’re reliable and you can use them numerous times during a season if you want to. As for the 2023-24 NHL season, it’s wide open at the time of writing, so who are the teams you might be interested in looking into this season?
Can the Las Vegas Golden Knights Win Again?
Only founded in 2017 as the first major sports franchise to take root in Las Vegas, the Golden Knights had already reached the playoffs in earlier seasons before collecting their first Stanley Cup last year. At the time of writing, they’ve started the Pacific Division with a good 25–14–5 record.
We can see how wide open the season is by the fact that Las Vegas is bunched up with several other franchises at the top of the odds list. They recently got back to winning ways against the Nashville Predators, with Mark Stone getting his first career hat trick and Brendan Brisson making his NHL debut.
Will the Colorado Avalanche Live Up to Expectations?
Many people’s favorites to lift the famous trophy this season, the Colorado Avalanche are currently riding high in the Stanley Cup odds. They’re sitting on a 28–13–3 record as they look for their fourth Stanley Cup. The last time they won it was in 2022 and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Colorado reaching the playoffs again this time around.
However, they’ve been rocked by the news that Valeri Nichushkin is taking an indefinite leave from the team to join the NHL/NHLPA Player’s Assistance Program. This came after he abruptly stepped away from the action in last year’s playoffs following an off-field incident. The forward has been red-hot this season, with 22 goals and 20 assists coming in just 40 games, so his absence for any length of time could be a major problem for the Avalanche.
Can the Vancouver Canucks Finally Lift This Trophy?
Despite joining the NHL in 1970, the Vancouver Canucks have never won the Stanley Cup. The 2011 playoffs stood for their most recent shot at glory. This run came following a spectacular regular season where they set franchise records for wins and points. They eventually got to their first Stanley Cup Finals since 1994 but lost to the Boston Bruins four games to three.
This season the Canucks have started strongly with a 29–11–4 record putting them top of the Pacific Division and among the best odds to win the cup. Their haul of five wins from a recent run of seven games played on an East Coast Road trip has given fans hope that this season will finally be the year they get their firsthand the Stanley Cup. Their place in the playoffs is almost guaranteed already.
Other Ways of Betting on the NHL
Choosing who you think will win the Stanley Cup isn’t the only way to bet using your knowledge of the NHL. You could decide to simply look at the upcoming games and bet on who wins them. As well as the moneyline bet on the winner of a game, you can find wagers on over/under goals, parlays on multiple games, and the puck line bet which is like the points spread in other sports.