Steve Starr
- BetOnline‘s opening 2022 NHL Division Futures heavily favor Vegas (-200) to win the Pacific
- Edmonton (+500) has done a miserable job building around Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl
- Seattle (+800) hopes to replicate the success the Golden Knights had in their first year in the league
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 previewing the Atlantic, Metropolitan, and Central divisions, today we’ll look at the odds to win the Pacific where the Vegas Golden Knights are huge betting favorites. Also, be sure to check out our NHL betting tips page with resources on NHL MVP betting and more.
2022 Pacific Division Odds
 |
|
| Vegas Golden Knights | -200 |
| Edmonton Oilers | +500 |
| Seattle Kraken | +800 |
| Calgary Flames | +1400 |
| Vancouver Canucks | +1800 |
| Los Angeles Kings | +3300 |
| San Jose Sharks | +4000 |
| Anaheim Ducks | +12500 |
Is Vegas a sure bet?
An expansion success story from the very start, the Golden Knights (-200) have made the Conference Final in three of its first four years in the league. Vegas is clearly the class of the division, as only one Pacific team (Edmonton) finished within 10 points of the Knights’ 82-point regular-season total last year. But they’re still missing that elusive No. 1 center and are thinner between the pipes after shipping reigning Vezina winner Marc-Andre Fleury to Chicago for a bag of pucks.
Edmonton (+500) signed gritty left winger Zach Hyman in free agency and added some veteran leadership on defense with former Blackhawk Duncan Keith. In other words, GM Ken Holland has expertly positioned the Oilers to waste yet another prime year from its Hart Trophy-winning centers, Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl.
Vegas' summer will be remembered for only one move 👇https://t.co/1DkWwA5ZY4
— NHL Trade Rumors (@NHLTradeRumors) September 2, 2021
Seattle (+800) has the third-best odds in the division. While the Kraken look positively terrible on paper, oddsmakers have long memories and are no doubt protecting themselves after the Golden Knights surprised everyone with an expansion team Cup run in 2018.
Hockey’s worst division
Calgary (+1400) spent big on forward Blake Coleman and hung on to winger Johnny Gaudreau and center Sean Monahan despite all the trade rumors. The Flames also lost captain Mark Giordano in the expansion draft, so a new leadership group will have to mesh with old-school coach Darryl Sutter.
The Canucks (+1800) are a more intriguing longshot with an exciting young core of centers Elias Pettersson and Bo Horvat, right-winger Brock Boeser and defenseman Quinn Hughes. After acquiring Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Conor Garland from the rebuilding Coyotes, Vancouver is well-positioned to nab a playoff spot in the lowly Pacific.
.@asgrimson looks at both Quinn Hughes and Elias Pettersson as building blocks in Vancouver, but they remain RFAs. #NHLTonight pic.twitter.com/kD6xDpWXB5
— NHL Network (@NHLNetwork) September 9, 2021
While the Sharks (+4000) and Ducks (+12500) are in the early infancy of their rebuilds, the Kings (+3300) are armed and loaded with a bevy of young prospects (Quinton Byfield, Alex Turcotte, Tobias Bjornfot, Arthur Kaliyev) who could be ready to make waves in the NHL.
Having not made the postseason in three straight seasons or advanced past the first round since winning the Stanley Cup in 2014, GM Rob Blake brought in winger Viktor Arvidsson and center Phillip Danault to give their franchise legends (Anze Kopitar, Drew Doughty, and Dustin Brown) a fighting chance at the playoffs.
Los Angeles has little chance to win the division, but a spot in the postseason isn’t out of the question.
See below the top sportsbooks where you can wager online and choose the best one for you:
