Steve Starr
- BetOnline‘s opening 2022 NHL Division Futures favor the Hurricanes (+150) to win the hotly-contested Metropolitan
- The Islanders (+425) are returning the same club that fell just short of the Stanley Cup Final last season
- Pittsburgh (+525), Washington (+525) and Philadelphia (+575) are all viewed as longshots to claim the division crown
The NHL is returning to its traditional schedule and divisional alignment for the upcoming 2021-22 season, with the Metropolitan Division and Atlantic Division in the Eastern Conference and the Central Division and Pacific Division in the Western Conference.
After a wild NHL Free Agency period, today we’ll look at the opening odds for the Metropolitan. While short on Stanley Cup contenders, the division looks crowded at the top with a number of teams that could come out on top. Be sure to also check out our NHL betting tips page with resources on NHL MVP betting and more.
2022 Metropolitan Division Odds
 |
|
| Carolina Hurricanes | +375 |
| New York Islanders | +425 |
| New York Rangers | +500 |
| Pittsburgh Penguins | +525 |
| Washington Capitals | +525 |
| Philadelphia Flyers | +575 |
| New Jersey Devils | +1400 |
| Columbus Blue Jackets | +5000 |
Hurricanes and Islanders the favorites
After winning the make-shift Central Division last season, the Hurricanes (+375) are favored in the Metropolitan despite losing No. 1 defenseman Dougie Hamilton in free agency and bizarrely trading away starting goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic. Carolina still boasts impressive depth on the back end and has tons of top-end scoring talent with Sebastian Aho, Teuvo Teravainen and Andrei Svechnikov. 2021 NHL Coach of the Year Rod Brind’Amour will no doubt have them in contention.
The Islanders (+425) fell a game short of the Stanley Cup Final, falling to the eventual champion Lightning 1-0 in Game 7 of the Semi-Finals. New York inked defenseman Adam Pelech to a eight-year contract at a $5.75M average annual value and reportedly have deals in place with Kyle Palmieri and Zach Parise. As always, Barry Trotz’s club will overachieve.
The many faces of the #Canes 😂 pic.twitter.com/LT6wyO3bOL
— Carolina Hurricanes (@Canes) August 20, 2021
The Rangers (+500) have a new coach in Gerard Gallant and will be a tougher team in 2021 after adding center Barclay Goodrow and Ryan Reaves this offseason. The biggest move in the Big Apple could also be still to come with Blueshirts fans buying billboards to urge the Sabres to trade Jack Eichel.
Sid and Ovie open as underdogs
Pittsburgh (+525) and Washington (+525) finished 1-2 in the East Division last year, but oddsmakers don’t expect either club to mount much of a challenge in the Metropolitan this season.
The Penguins lost gritty forward Brandon Tanev to Seattle in the expansion draft and didn’t upgrade this goaltending after Tristan Jarry flamed out in the 2020 postseason. Meanwhile, the Capitals didn’t do much aside from inking Alex Ovechkin to a monster extension as the Russian sniper sets his sights on Wayne Gretzky’s all-time goal record.
Alex Ovechkin is officially staying with the Capitals on a 5-year, $47.5M deal pic.twitter.com/E9qgKEEo1O
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) July 27, 2021
Philadelphia (+575) was by far the busiest team in the Metropolitan this offseason, adding Ryan Ellis, Keith Yandle, Rasmus Ristolainen to their blueline while shipping forward Jakub Voracek to the Blue Jackets for Cam Atkinson. The Flyers hopes of contending in the division, however, will rely on Carter Hart. Despite disappointing with a 9-11-5 record and a 3.67 goals-against average in 27 appearances last season, the 22-year-old netminder signed a new three-year, $11.9 million contract this summer.
The Devils (+1400) made us some money, signing Dougie Hamilton to the richest free agent contract in the NHL this offseason, but neither New Jersey or the rebuilding Columbus Blue Jackets (+5000) will contend for the division crown this season.
See below the top sportsbooks where you can wager online and choose the best one for you:
