Dean Etheridge
The fight to win the Pacific Division is shaping up to be one of the most exciting battles in the NHL for years. No fewer than five teams are in with a shout with just six points separating them. Here we look ahead to the remainder of the season and see if we can pick a winner of the division in our free NHL futures betting picks.
- Early season favorites, the Vegas Golden Knights, have been overtaken in both the table and the betting by the Seattle Kraken
- The Kraken and the Edmonton Oilers have both been on red hot runs lately, blowing the division wide open
- Despite the changes in betting to win the division, the Golden Knights are still the shortest team from the Pacific Division in the betting to win the 2023 Stanley Cup
Betting to win the Pacific Division
Following on from their record-breaking run of wins on the road, the Seattle Kraken are now the favorites with the best NHL ice hockey betting sites to win the Pacific Division.
The Kraken are now just +190 to win the division for the first time in their history. Following on from the Kraken is the Edmonton Oilers at +275, who are just ahead of the Vegas Golden Knights at +280.
Up until about a week ago, it was the Golden Knights who led the betting. They were first overhauled by the Kraken, and now also by the Oilers. Behind the Golden Knights comes the Calgary Flames at +650, and then it’s the LA Kings at +750. After the Kings, is the Vancouver Canucks at +50000. I think we can safely forget about them, and there is no one else listed after them.
These odds are brought to you by Bovada, who you can read more about in our Bovada sportsbook review. More betting on the Pacific Division from the best NHL betting sites can be found in our below odds table.
| Betting to Win 2022/23 NHL Pacific Division |  |  |  |
| Seattle Kraken | +190 | +190 | +190 |
| Edmonton Oilers | +275 | +275 | +275 |
| Vegas Golden Knights | +280 | +280 | +280 |
| Calgary Flames | +650 | +650 | +650 |
| LA Kings | +750 | +750 | +750 |
| Vancouver Canucks | +50000 | +50000 | +50000 |
Is history about to repeat itself for the Golden Knights?
The Golden Knights have had a bit of a rough patch of late, losing both top spot in the division, and in the process, top spot in the betting. In their last ten matches their record reads 4-5-1. And it’s this poor form – along with the rise of the Kraken – that has led to them relinquishing the top spot they previously held for most of the season.
This isn’t a crisis though. Bruce Cassidy’s team is still on the same points as the Kraken (although they have played two games more). And to add to the Golden Knights’ defense, the Kraken had to go on an unbelievable run just to get up to speed with Vegas, so a bit of perspective is clearly required here.
But that said, last year the Golden Knights had a poor run at the end of the regular-season and missed the postseason for the first time in their history.
Right down to the wire.
The @GoldenKnights will miss the #StanleyCup Playoffs for the first time in franchise history. pic.twitter.com/p7GZ60FBAG
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) April 28, 2022
They will point to lengthy injuries to the likes of Mark Stone and Max Pacioretty as part of the reason, but plenty others will disagree. A lot would say Vegas simply bottled it!
Whatever the reason behind the Golden Knights’ 2022 failure, they don’t want a repeat of that this year. At the moment, there is no major reason to panic. But with pressure building and memories of last year fresh in the minds, will the Golden Knights crack again?
Seattle Kraken fans have never known times so good
Fans of the Seattle Kraken are simply in heaven at the moment. A new franchise only in its infancy (founded in 2018), the Kraken have been outstanding lately. Not only have they gone top of the division for the first time in history, but they recently set a new NHL record by becoming the first team to sweep a 7-match road trip.
The Kraken look to become the FIRST NHL TEAM to sweep a road trip of 7 or more games. TONIGHT.
Yes, you read that right. #SeaKraken pic.twitter.com/j7dqkZvA3m
— Keeping Up With The Krakens 🐙 (@UpWKrakens) January 14, 2023
In their last ten matches the Kraken are 7-2-1. They have just dropped off the level that saw them win eight in a row on their winning streak, but they couldn’t maintain that form forever.
If they can hold their current form throughout the rest of the regular-season the playoffs will be a certainty. In the betting to win the Western Conference the Kraken are +1200. While in the betting to win the Stanley Cup, Dave Hakstol’s team are +3300.
Whether they win anything or not this year, it has already been a season to remember for the Kraken.
Can the Oilers spoil the Pacific Division party?
One late gatecrasher to the party that is the fight for the Pacific Division is the Edmonton Oilers. Without emulating the Kraken, the Oilers went on a six match winning run themselves that only ended with a 3-2 overtime defeat to the Blue Jackets on Wednesday.
The Edmonton Oilers winning streak ended at six games with a 3-2 overtime loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets Wednesday night at Rogers Place.
— Global Edmonton (@GlobalEdmonton) January 26, 2023
In their last ten matches the Oilers are 7-1-2. This run has taken them to within three points of the Kraken and the Golden Knights.
Our Pick
There’s pros and cons for all five of the sides in the running to win the Pacific Division. Above we’ve looked at the prospects of the Golden Knights and the two in-form sides, the Kraken and the Oilers. But that doesn’t mean we are writing off the Flames or the Kings either. If either side can string a run together, they could be top in two or three weeks.
As the Kraken are too short, and the Golden Knights have the baggage of last season, I’m going for the Oilers as my pick to win the Pacific Division. They look a side bang in form, and if they can retain this form for the next few weeks, I can see them overhauling the top two and probably winning the division.
