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Atlantic Division Pretenders: Habs, Wings Not Ready to Bet Yet
You could make a case that there are eight contenders and no pretenders in the Atlantic Division this season. No doubt, all eight teams will be part of your NHL spread picks and parlays frequently in 2023-24.
The defending Eastern Conference champion Florida Panthers left everything on the ice during their magical playoff run and suffered plenty of injuries that will linger into this season. We think they will have a tough time duplicating 2022-23.
The Ottawa Senators have been improving over the past seasons and will be a factor in the race for a playoff spot – especially if Tampa Bay and Boston take steps back – but likely come up just short.
General manager Steve Yzerman has been building the Detroit Red Wings slowly over the past few seasons and does not seem to have the right mix quite yet. Meanwhile, Montreal is getting better but will need at least another year to see their young players mature.
Over Bettors Will Cash In On Florida Early
The Panthers will begin this season with only two of their six defensemen that started the last game of the Stanley Cup finals.
Radko Gudas and Marc Staal left in free agency while Brandon Montour (torn labrum) and Aaron Ekblad (shoulder surgery) are expected to miss at least the first month.
Florida must rely on veteran goalie Sergei Bobrovsky again. But the Russian could have some help with the return of former first-round pick Spencer Knight, who missed most of last season in the NHLPA Players Assistance Program to deal with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.
The Panthers may have to outscore their issues, but wing Matthew Tkachuk (109 points last season) is healthy after suffering a fractured sternum in the Cup finals. Aleksander Barkov and Carter Verhaeghe also combined for 151 points in 2022-23.
Josh Mahura and Gustav Forsling return on defense while Florida added veterans Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Dmitry Kulikov, but everyone must raise their game defensively until Ekblad and Montour come back.
The #FlaPanthers are starting the season without Aaron Ekblad and Brandon Montour. That puts a lot of responsibility on Gustav Forsling’s shoulders. He’s ready for it.
“He’s been a hell of a defenseman in this league for the last few years.” – Paul Mauricehttps://t.co/3MfEDSk5EA
— Jordan McPherson (@J_McPherson1126) September 27, 2023
We think the Panthers are a better bet at the sportsbook (+185) to miss the postseason.
Odds Not Healthy Either Way With Ottawa
The Senators are a really tough call.
Their top six forwards and top four defensemen are solid. Joonas Korpisalo and a healthy Anton Forsberg may solidify the goaltending. Ottawa has a good mix of youth and experience.
You just wonder, if you bet online, how the Senators can beat Toronto, Tampa Bay, Boston, Buffalo and Florida over a six-month season. Maybe they are one year away as some of their promising young players get a little more development time.
Vladimir Tarasenko was added as a free agent up front to join veteran Claude Giroux and emerging stars Brady Tkachuk and Tim Stutzle. A healthy season for center Josh Norris could help while the Senators hope to create cap space to re-sign center Shane Pinto.
Thomas Chabot, Artem Zub and second-year pro Jake Sanderson join Jacob Chychrun in a strong top-four defense.
Ottawa is just +130 to make the playoffs in the live betting and -160 to miss. The Sens should be part of your NHL moneyline picks plenty this season. We think it won’t be enough for a playoff berth.
Roster Changes Make Wings Better Bet Later
Yzerman continues to turn over his roster to find the perfect combination, but the positive for this season is that Detroit looks as though it added more than it lost.
The Red Wings will have Alex DeBrincat and J.T. Compher for the top six up front and veteran Jeff Petry helps the defense corps. Detroit did not lose anyone significant.
The structure is better and they still have Dylan Larkin, Lucas Raymond and David Perron up front along with talented young defenseman Moritz Seider and solid goalie Ville Husso. But a lot depends on how much the young players contribute.
Like Ottawa, it’s the entirety of the season that may get the Red Wings. They will have their runs, but can they sustain it long enough to beat the top teams?
You can fill a wallet if a bet for Detroit to make the playoffs pays off at +225 in the Las Vegas odds.
Canadiens’ Odds To Make Playoffs Quite Juicy
Most NHL experts picks have Montreal as the caboose on the Atlantic Division train.
That makes sense because the Canadiens did not add much to a roster that finished 12 points below seventh place in 2022-23. This is a building season as Montreal gives their promising young players more time to develop.
Forwards Tanner Pearson and Alex Newhook were added, but all eyes will be on the continued progress of Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield, 2022 first-overall pick Juraj Slafkovsky and Kirby Dach.
Montreal also hopes young defensemen Kaiden Guhle, Jordan Harris, Arber Xhekaj and Justin Barron take steps forward.
Jake Allen and Samuel Montembeault will share the goaltending duties again while the Canadiens continue to search for their netminder of the future with Carey Price’s career likely over.
You can make a bag of cash if a bet on Montreal to make the playoffs hits at +1200 in the Las Vegas hockey odds. But the Habs are at least a year away from contention.
