The NHL offseason is hot, but that doesn’t mean bettors should just sit back and wait for the leaves to start changing color before building their portfolios for the 2024-25 season.
In fact, it’s best practice among professional bettors to bet money early in the offseason to ensure you get the best numbers, because as training camp approaches, the money will start to flow in and many of the odds you see now will disappear.
With that in mind, here are some futures bets that are worth playing early, as these numbers will likely be cut by the time pucks drop in October.
Boston Bruins to win the Atlantic Division (+500, BetMGM)
After another impressive season, it’s a bit puzzling to see the Bruins listed as the fourth-best favorite to win the Atlantic Division by some sportsbooks.
Boston has scored at least 107 points in each of the past three seasons, answering the predictions of skeptics who thought the Bruins would regress after losing players like Zdeno Chara, Tuukka Rask, Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci over the past few seasons.
The Bruins lost another key player, Jake DeBrusk, to the team this summer, but they were proactive again, signing Nikita Zadorov and Elias Lindholm to ensure they continue to have one of the deepest lineups in the NHL.
With a talented goaltender in Jeremy Swayman, a star-studded roster and a winning culture, the Bruins are too good to be true as the No. 4 favorite to win a crowded Atlantic Division.
John Cooper wins the Jack Adams Trophy (15/1, Caesars)
It’s hard to believe that Jon Cooper, the NHL’s longest-tenured head coach, has never won the Jack Adams Trophy.
He has won two Stanley Cups, four Eastern Conference pennants and a Presidents Trophy, but somehow he has never been named Coach of the Year.
That could change this spring if the Lightning can live up to the elevated expectations following a few rough seasons and a busy summer that saw the departure of Steven Stamkos and the addition of Jake Guenzel.
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Like most awards, the Jack Adams Award is voted for by humans (broadcasters, in this case) and having the best storyline is just as important as a team’s results.
It’s hard to find a coach with a more realistic chance of having his team compete for a championship than Cooper, who is a surefire Hall of Famer but has yet to claim the honor.
Don’t be surprised if Cooper becomes one of the favorites in this market as Opening Day approaches.
Noah Hanifin to win the Norris Trophy (500/1, FanDuel)
As these odds suggest, it’s highly unlikely that Noah Hanifin will win the Norris Trophy. The former No. 5 overall pick is a top-pairing defenseman in the NHL but has never put up the offensive numbers voters value in that category.
That being said, Hanifin does have some upside that makes him attractive at this incredible price.
First, he should be the No. 1 defenseman on a great Vegas Golden Knights team, and with Alex Pietrangelo past his prime, it’s a safe bet that coach Bruce Cassidy will make Hanifin the go-to guy for this defensive line.
Second, Hanifin will have every opportunity to run a top power play in Las Vegas that will also feature Jack Eichel, Tomas Hertl and Mark Stone, which should greatly increase his production.
Hanifin has 13 goals in 80 games with Calgary and Vegas in 2023-24. What if he can increase that to 20 and get an extended run with a Stanley Cup contender? Well, that would get very interesting for ticket holders.
