2022-23 NHL Midseason Report: Pacific Division

Beware the Second-Year Kraken

It was a disappointing end to the first half of the season by the Los Angeles Kings. They took a three-goal lead into the third period before falling in overtime to Carolina when a regulation win would have given the Kings the lead in the Pacific Division at the break.

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It should be a wild second half with Seattle and Los Angeles tied atop the standings with 63 points and five teams separated by just six points. A key could be how those contending teams fare against Vancouver, San Jose and Anaheim. They are not only three of the worst teams in the NHL, but they are sure to be sellers when it comes time to make trades. The Canucks already started it off by trading Bo Horvat to the New York Islanders.

The Pacific Division does have the two of the top contenders for the Hart Memorial Trophy according to the NHL betting lines as the Edmonton Oilers duo of Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl lead the NHL with 92 and 76 points, respectively. McDavid is not only running away with the scoring title, he is priced at -700 to be named the NHL’s MVP.

Seattle’s Matty Beniers (-200) and Anaheim’s Mason McTavish (+900) lead the way in the odds to win the Calder Trophy. Vegas goalie Logan Thompson isn’t far behind at +1200. San Jose’s Erik Karlsson is priced at +250 in the odds to win the Norris Trophy.

Seattle has been one of the biggest surprises in the NHL and, according to the NHL odds, the Kraken is priced at -130 to go over 101½ points.

This is the perfect time to look at the teams that are overachieving as well as the only falling short of expectations.

Here’s how the eight teams in the division have fared during the first half of the season. The preseason odds are in parenthesis.

1. Kraken (29-15-5)

Odds to win Pacific Division (+3300) to +185
Odds to win Western Conference (+6000) to +1400
Odds to win the Stanley Cup (+12500) to +2800

After Vegas took the NHL by storm in its debut season, the newest NHL franchise looked more like an expansion team last season. It has been a different story in season No. 2. Based on the fact that the Kraken has played four fewer games than Los Angeles, Seattle heads into the break sitting atop the division standings.

waking up at the top of the pacific as we head into the break 😎 pic.twitter.com/rfxpgjZibi

— Seattle Kraken (@SeattleKraken) January 29, 2023

The addition of Andre Burakovsky has been huge for Seattle as he leads the team with 39 points while Beniers is the team leader with 17 goals. The biggest key could be the play of defensemen Vince Dunn and Adam Larsson. Not only have they combined for 13 goals and 46 assists, but Larsson has a +30 defensive rating with Dunn at +25. Goalie Martin Jones is another veteran who is making a huge difference.

Seattle could play a bit better at home. However, the 16 home wins are the most in the Western Conference. The Kraken is one of four teams to cover against the NHL betting lines at least 30 times in the first half.

2. Kings (28-18-7)

Odds to win Pacific Division (+400) to +650
Odds to win Western Conference (+1400) to +1600
Odds to win the Stanley Cup (+3300) to +3300

When the Kings are good, they are very good. However, they have also been prone to difficult stretches.

The goaltending has been a problem other than a stretch when 31-year-old Pheonix Copley was piling up the wins. Jonathan Quick has a 3.41 goals-against average and that is the worst he appeared in just three games in his first NHL season.

Picking up Kevin Fiala in the offseason was a key move and getting a combined 39 goals from Adrian Kempe and Gabe Vilardi has been crucial.

One note for those who bet online: The Kings have 14 wins and nine losses both at home and on the road so there is little drop-off regardless of where they play.

3. Golden Knights (29-18-4)

Odds to win Pacific Division (+375) to +300
Odds to win Western Conference (+700) to +500
Odds to win the Stanley Cup (+2000) to +1200

Perhaps no team is happier to see the All-Star break come along than a Vegas team that has lost its last four games, with two of those losses to teams outside of playoff position.

Vegas does have seven players with more than 10 goals and three others with at least eight goals so offense is not the issue.

However, five combined goals in January from Jack Eichel, Chandler Stephenson, Jonathan Marchessault, Reilly Smith and Mark Stone is not going to get it done.

4. Oilers (28-18-4)

Odds to win Pacific Division (+230) to +250
Odds to win Western Conference (+700) to +800
Odds to win the Stanley Cup (+1500) to +2000

It is business as usual for the duo of McDavid and Draisaitlm with Zach Hyman (20 points over the last 12 games) also putting up points at a fast and furious pace.

The issue for the Oilers has come on the other end of the ice. While Jack Campbell has struggled in goal, Stuart Skinner has had stretches of elite play.

Evander Kane was limited to 18 games in the first half. He recently returned after missing almost two months so that will help the Oilers in their playoff push.

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5. Flames (24-17-9)

Odds to win Pacific Division (+225) to +650
Odds to win Western Conference (+700) to +900
Odds to win the Stanley Cup (+1800) to +2000

Nobody can accuse Calgary of standing pat in the offseason. With Matthew Tkachuk traded to Florida and Johnny Gaudreau also departing, the Flames went from having three returning 40-goal scorers to just one.

It has been a quieter than expected first half for key addition Nazem Kadri while Jonathan Huberdeau, a key piece of the trade for Tkachuk, has been a bit streaky for the Flames.

Seven overtime losses on the road and a 1-3 record in shootouts kept the Flames from moving up in the standings.

6. Canucks (20-26-3)

Quinn Hughes #43 of the Vancouver Canucks skates against the Seattle Kraken – Steph Chambers/Getty Images/afp

Odds to win Pacific Division (+1000) to +50000
Odds to win Western Conference (+2800) to +6600
Odds to win the Stanley Cup (+6000) to +25000

It has been a tumultuous first half for the Canucks. Having word leak out that the Canucks were planning to hire Rick Tocchet as the head coach weeks before firing current coach Bruce Bourdeau was not a good look. Now they got minimal value in return for 31-goal scorer Bo Horvat when he was dealt to the New York Islanders.

Defenseman Quinn Hughes (40 assists, 45 points) and Elias Pettersson (21 goals, 37 assists) are key pieces. What the roster will look like at season’s end is anybody’s guess.

7. Sharks (1 -25-11)

Odds to win Pacific Division (+6600) to N/A
Odds to win Western Conference (+5500) to +50000
Odds to win the Stanley Cup (+1500) to +100000

Erik Karlsson is leading the Sharks with 66 points. However, the fact that he has a -2 plus/minus rating despite the number of points he is producing is an indication of the issues in San Jose.

How much longer will Karlsson and 28-goal scorer Timo Meier be on the San Jose roster is the biggest question that should be answered sooner rather than later.

San Jose has just five wins at home and the seven overtime losses on home ice have been especially painful. The Sharks are 1-5 in shootouts as well.

San Jose leads the NHL with 33 of its games going over the Las Vegas odds total and that is more proof of the defensive deficiencies within the team.