Dean Etheridge
With the Colorado Avalanche finally waking from their slumber, the Western Conference has really come to life in recent weeks. So, with the Avalanche back in form, it’s time to look at the latest betting to win the Western Conference in the NHL futures markets, and while we’re at it, also name our latest NHL betting picks.
- The Colorado Avalanche are the defending Stanley Cup champions after winning the title in 2022
- After a poor start to the season, the Avalanche has gotten going in recent weeks and are now on a winning streak of six.
- BetOnline and Bovada make the Avalanche their favorites to represent the Western Conference in the 2023 Stanley Cup final.
Despite their up and down form earlier in the season, the Colorado Avalanche have remained at the top end of the betting to win the Western Conference with the best NHL betting sites.
It was always expected that when Jared Bednar got some of his star players back from injury the Avalanche would come good towards the second half of the season. And this seems to have held them in their position as the favorites.
Who is favorites to win the Stanley Cup?
At the start of the season the Colorado Avalanche were the favorites to win the Stanley Cup. But such has been the form of the Avalanche – and more significantly the Boston Bruins in the Eastern Conference – they’ve now been replaced as favorites in the betting to win the 2023 Stanley Cup (although not in the betting to win the Western Conference).
The Bruins at +500 are now the favorites to lift the Stanley Cup in 2023, with the Toronto Maple Leafs (also of the Eastern Conference) next at +600. The Avalanche are down to third in the betting at +775. This is just ahead of the Carolina Panthers at +800.
It’s a bit of a fall from grace for the current champions who started the season as short as +400 with some of the top sportsbooks to retain the trophy they won in such convincing style in 2022. These odds are taken from BetOnline. You can read more about them in our BetOnline sportsbook review.
THE @Avalanche ARE THE 2021-22 #StanleyCup CHAMPIONS!!! 🏔🏆 pic.twitter.com/YWmGwWuRA5
— NHL (@NHL) June 27, 2022
Betting to win the 2022/23 NHL Western Conference
As our below odds table shows, the Avalanche are the +325 favorites to win the conference.
| Betting to Win 2022/23 NHL Western Conference |  |  |  |
| Colorado Avalanche | +325 | +325 | +325 |
| Vegas Golden Knights | +450 | +400 | +450 |
| Dallas Stars | +550 | +550 | +500 |
| Edmonton Oilers | +850 | +850 | +850 |
| Calgary Flames | +900 | +900 | +900 |
| Minnesota Wild | +1000 | +1000 | +1000 |
| Winnipeg Jets | +1000 | +1000 | +1000 |
| Seattle Kraken | +1200 | +1200 | +1200 |
| LA Kings | +1600 | +1600 | +1600 |
Their closest rivals in the betting are the Vegas Golden Knights at +450, and the Dallas Stars at +550. After that there is a bit of a gap in the betting before we get to the Edmonton Oilers at +850 and Calgary Flames at +900.
It may or may not be significant, but neither of the two betting favorites to win the conference are the favorites in their own respective divisions.
Is it too late for Colorado to steal the Central Division?
The Avalanche are third in the betting to win the Central Division at +375. This puts them behind the Dallas Stars (+100) and the Winnipeg Jets (+290). The Minnesota Wild are +650 in what is classed as a four-horse race by the top sportsbooks,
The Avalanche’s run of form may have come slightly too late to win the Central Division. But if they were to win their games in hand, they would be only one point behind the Jets, and three points behind the Stars.
Can the Golden Knights hold on to win the Pacific Division?
As for the Vegas Golden Knights, they aren’t the favorites to win the Pacific Division, but there is not much difference in the odds between the three franchises at the top of the table. The Kraken at +210 are the favorites, with the Oilers and the Golden Knights both at +275.
In what is a very competitive division, the Calgary Flames are next at +650, with the LA Kings at +700.
The recent good form of the Kraken has seen them overtake the Golden Knights at the top of the table.
The @SeattleKraken still lead the NHL’s Pacific Division and are now just a fraction away from the top winning percentage in the entire Western Conference. pic.twitter.com/CGNlo0yNqq
— Chris Daniels (@ChrisDaniels_TV) January 26, 2023
And the Oilers could also overtake Vegas if they win their games in hand. But interestingly, neither side has overtaken the Golden Knights in either the betting to win the conference, or the Stanley Cup. Make of that what you will.
Our NHL pick to win the Western Conference
Even though the Avalanche have hit a decent run of form of late, it still hasn’t convinced the top sportsbooks they are the best side in the NHL. They were favorites for a large part of the early season, and this despite not showing the form to justify it. Now they are in better form, the best NHL hockey betting sites have them third in the betting.
This says that both punters and sportsbooks aren’t totally convinced by this renaissance.
The Avalanche are 7-3-0 in their last ten, and are also on a winning streak of six. The Golden Knights are 4-5-1 and on a losing streak of two. The Dallas Stars – next in the betting – have been indifferent recently. They have a 5-3-2 record in their last ten.
In 2022, the Golden Knights fell away badly at the end of the regular season and didn’t make the postseason. The Stars fell at the first hurdle, losing 4-3 to Calgary, in what was a thrilling series that needed overtime to decide the final game.
I don’t expect the Golden Knights to fall short again, but can they be truely trusted? And I think the Stars will be better for their experience last year. But if they continue on this trajectory and grow in confidence, there is a good chance the Colorado Avalanche will be representing the west in the 2023 Stanley Cup.
