- The Vegas Golden Knights hoisted the Stanley Cup after pummeling the Florida Panthers for a 9-3 win in Las Vegas on Tuesday night.
- Oddsmakers have released opening odds for the 2023-24 season. The Boston Bruins and Colorado Avalanche share the same odds to win the Stanley Cup in 2024.
- The Golden Knights have the seventh-best odds to win the Stanley Cup next season.
Five years after losing in the Stanley Cup Final, the Vegas Golden Knights are Stanley Cup champs. After going into the playoffs as +1000 to win the championship, the Golden Knights won the Stanley Cup for the first time in franchise history.
However, the Boston Bruins and Colorado Avalanche are favored to win the Cup next year with +800 odds at BetUS.
The Golden Knights set a Stanley Cup Final record with nine goals in Game 5. It was a dominating performance for the Golden Knights, as they easily won as -200 favorites. Entering the series, the Golden Knights had -120 odds to win the Stanley Cup.
The Stanley Cup odds for the Golden Knights were significantly longer going into the season. They were overlooked as contenders going into the regular season with +1800 odds.
Jonathan Marchessault was named the winner of the Conn Smythe Trophy. Marchessault’s four goals and four assists were enough for MVP on Tuesday night. He had +700 odds to win the Conn Smythe Trophy before the puck dropped on the finals.
Shortly after Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final, it was revealed that the Panthers’ Aaron Ekblad was playing with a broken foot, two shoulder dislocations, and oblique tears. Radko Gudas was also battling injuries.
However, Matthew Tkachuk’s broken sternum was the most impactful injury in the series. Tkachuk played with a broken sternum in Game 4. With 11 goals and 13 assists in the playoffs, the Panthers weren’t coming back without a healthy Tkachuk in the lineup.
THE ONLY PAIN WE WANT IS CHAMPAGNE 🍾 pic.twitter.com/XWyfMrAj0D
— z – Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) June 14, 2023
Bruins and Avalanche Favored To Win Cup After Shocking Upsets
The Bruins were the most popular pick to win the 2022-23 Stanley Cup at +200 odds. Boston broke an NHL record for wins and points, but didn’t make it out of the first round. After getting out to a 3-1 series lead, the Panthers fought back to win in seven games.
It was a tough way to end what was an otherwise historic season for the Bruins. They had the DNA of a team that had everything working in their favor, but were unable to close out the pesky Panthers.
Despite getting upset, oddsmakers believe that the Bruins are going to be a major contender next season. According to the 2024 Stanley Cup odds at BetUS, there is no clear contender to win next season. Regardless, the Bruins have the best Stanley Cup odds alongside the Avalanche at +800.
The Bruins might have to do it without Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci. Bergeron and Krejci, who won the Stanley Cup with the Bruins in 2011, are contemplating retiring from the NHL. David Pastrnak will be back in Boston, but losing two veterans like Bergeron and Krejci would hurt.
Is this the last game for Patrice Bergeron? #NHLBruins pic.twitter.com/LFZXUn8yAs
— SiriusXM NHL Network Radio (@SiriusXMNHL) May 1, 2023
As the Bruins faltered in the Eastern Conference, the Avalanche had difficulties of their own against a confident Seattle Kraken squad. In only their second season in the league, the Kraken upset the Avalanche in seven games.
In 2022, the Avalanche won the Stanley Cup as one of the betting favorites. Going into the 2022-23 season, they were favored at +425 to repeat as champs. Only the Bruins had better odds after the regular season was completed.
A late season injury to Gabriel Landeskog prevented the talented star from playing in the Playoffs and hurt the Avalanche’s chances to advance.
Oddsmakers Do Not Expect The Golden Knights To Repeat
Are the Golden Knights being disrespected? Currently, the Golden Knights are tied with the Panthers to win the 2024 Stanley Cup at +1400 odds.
The Golden Knights have the seventh-best odds to repeat as Stanley Cup champions. At BetUS, the Toronto Maple Leafs, Edmonton Oilers, and New York Rangers have better odds than Las Vegas.
⚔️ Undrafted out of junior
⚔️ Expansion draft selection
⚔️ Conn Smythe Trophy winner
⚔️ Stanley Cup ChampionWhat a journey for Jonathan Marchessault (@JMarchessault18). #StanleyCup pic.twitter.com/HzIPxaOIAI
— NHL (@NHL) June 14, 2023
The Golden Knights are in good shape for next season. Marchessault is back in Las Vegas for at least another year. Additionally, Jack Eichel will also be returning to the Golden Knights. He is on contract in Las Vegas until 2026.
William Karlsson and Mark Stone are in Las Vegas for the foreseeable future as well. With a solid foundation, and what should be decent depth again, the Golden Knights should be competitive.
No Clear Favorites In 2023-24
Yes, the Bruins and Avalanche are favored, but +800 odds aren’t very convincing. There are a host of teams right on their heels according to BetUS.
The Edmonton Oilers are behind the Bruins and Avalanche with the third-best odds at +900 to win the Cup in 2024. Despite a promising year, the Oilers were upset against the Golden Knights in the second round of the Western Conference Playoffs.
After a first-round win over the Los Angeles Kings, the Oilers were -182 to beat the Golden Knights in the next round. Entering the second round, they had the second-best odds to win the Stanley Cup at +410.
The Toronto Maple Leafs were favored to win their first Stanley Cup since 1967 at this stage of the postseason. In another upset, the Panthers dispatched the Maple Leafs to shake up the Stanley Cup odds again.
For the 2024 Stanley Cup, the Maple Leafs have +1200 odds at BetUS, and as high as +900 at Bovada. The Golden Knights and Panthers both have worse odds than the Maple Leafs.
