The 2023-2024 NHL season is in full swing, and the race for the Western Conference championship is wide open. With a solid number of legitimate contenders in this conference, the race to see who will come out on top should be fascinating all year long. Here, we look at the latest odds to win the Western Conference and break down which teams are worth taking a look at in the futures markets on the ice.
Western Conference Futures Betting Odds
Team | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
EDM
|
+375 | +350 | +350 | +350 | +370 |
COL
|
+400 | +350 | +350 | +350 | +380 |
VEG
|
+600 | +550 | +560 | +600 | +700 |
DAL
|
+700 | +500 | +500 | +500 | +460 |
LA
|
+950 | +1300 | +1400 | +1200 | +1200 |
MIN
|
+1000 | +8000 | +15000 | +7500 | +5500 |
CGY
|
+1600 | +8000 | +10000 | +15000 | +6500 |
SEA
|
+2000 | +8000 | +10000 | +15000 | +7500 |
VAN
|
+2000 | +750 | +550 | +600 | +650 |
WPG
|
+2000 | +700 | +600 | +700 | +600 |
NAS
|
+2500 | +3000 | +2500 | +2200 | +6000 |
STL
|
+2500 | +8000 | +15000 | +12000 | +8500 |
ARI
|
+7000 | +50000 | +30000 | +30000 | +13000 |
ANA
|
+8500 | +50000 | +50000 | +50000 | +25000 |
Western Conference Championship Favorites
In the 2022-23 NHL season, the Vegas Golden Knights won the Western Conference championship to represent the West in the Stanley Cup Final. Vegas was the top seed in the Western Conference going into the playoffs, and they lived up to that billing by running through their competition to get to and win the Final. This year, Vegas is one of a handful of favorites to represent this conference in the Stanley Cup Final once again.
The other favorites to win this conference are the Colorado Avalanche, Edmonton Oilers, Vancouver Canucks, Winnipeg Jets, and Dallas Stars. All of these teams have more than enough talent and potential to win the Western Conference at the end of this season. The teams that earn the highest seeds in the Western Conference playoffs will give themselves the edge by claiming home-ice advantage.
Perhaps the most interesting team in the above group of favorites is the Edmonton Oilers. Edmonton got off to a very slow start this season, forcing them to make a coaching change along the way. But they have responded well to that change and they are now in position to make the playoffs, even if they have some climbing to do in the Western Conference standings if they want to host the marquee playoff series late in the postseason.
The Vancouver Canucks should also be on the short list of conference title picks for most bettors. The Canucks have shot to the top of the Pacific Division standings, thanks in large part to one of the most lethal offenses in the entire league. While the Canucks still have some question marks on defense, they have proven that they deserve elite billing.
Western Conference Championship Dark Horses
When it comes to teams with longer odds that could win the Western Conference, bettors may want to consider someone like the Los Angeles Kings. The Kings have cooled off considerably from their great start to the season, a start where they almost could not lose on the road. But if they can get into the playoffs, they have proven that their highest level of play is good enough to contend with even the best teams in the NHL, even if the Kings are not on home ice.
At this stage of the season, there are not too many viable dark horse candidates in the Western Conference, as the elite teams in the conference have separated themselves from the pack. But that could change at any time and bettors will need to stay vigilant to identify teams that could be rounding into form for a playoff push at longer odds.