The current NHL season is rapidly heading towards its latter stages and there are now just a small group of teams that can be realistically backed for Stanley Cup glory. Each year after 82 regular season games, and a lengthy playoff period, just one team tastes the ultimate success in the Stanley Cup. Who are the frontrunners to write their name into history this year?
Edmonton Oilers
The Edmonton Oilers have turned around their dismal early season form to become arguably the NHL’s leading team. The Oilers won just three of the first 13 fixtures this season and that resulted in head coach Jay Woodcroft being sacked in November.
Credit to Kris Knoblauch 👏 pic.twitter.com/DUqK6adxgJ
— JayOnSC (@JayOnSC) January 30, 2024
Kris Knoblauch replaced Woodcroft and he has led a remarkable resurrection since, as the team won 29 of the first 32 games under him. The team’s turnaround included a 16-game winning streak which according to sports betting news has made the Oilers the outright favourites to win the Stanley Cup.
Some sportsbooks have offers for Edmonton as the 7/1 market leader, with the historically successful duo of Boston Bruins and Colorado Avalanche lagging slightly behind. The Oilers’ unprecedented run has seen them become slight Stanley Cup favourites, although they will have a number of strong teams to contend with.
Boston Bruins
The Bruins have been amongst the highest scorers this season thanks to the deadly forward duo of all-star David Pastrnak and Brad Marchand on the wings. The Bruins won 31 of the first 50 fixtures, in which they scored 173 times and defensively they have impressed too having conceded 128 times in that period.
They have a quality centre who contributes on both ends of the ice in Charlie Coyle and a formidable defensive pairing of Hampus Lindholm and Charlie McAvoy. With consistent form and seemingly no weaknesses in the starting roster, the Bruins are seen as top Stanley Cup contenders, offered as short as 9/1 at one bookmaker.
The Oilers’ franchise record levels of winning momentum may be tough to bring to an end, but the Bruins are one of the teams best suited to halt them.
Colorado Avalanche
The Avalanche franchise won the Stanley Cup in 2022 and this season their form has hinted that star man Nathan MacKinnon could lead them to glory again. The team were the NHL’s leading scorers after the first 49 games with 190 goals – MacKinnon contributed to 84 of them.
An average of just under four goals per game certainly indicates championship potential and the oddsmakers have reflected that in their markets. The Avalanche are offered alongside the Bruins at 9/1 in the Stanley Cup odds as their frontrunning chances of winning the championship have been recognised ahead of the latter end of the regular season.
A team with a freescoring nature like the Avalanche is hard to ignore, although their goals conceded figure of 153 in the same 49-game period represents a significant flaw for a team with NHL-champion aspirations. Cale Makar will have to be at his absolute best in the playoffs if the Avalanche are to go all the way. The all-star defender is undoubtedly elite, although he is not afforded a partner at a similar level in the team’s setup.
Beauties and a beat. #NHLAllStar pic.twitter.com/odeVQfYmBw
— Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) February 3, 2024
Ultimately, the Oilers should be backed to win the Stanley Cup if their fairytale turnaround is prolonged until the end of the regular season. However, the quality of the Bruins and the Avalanche should be favoured if Knoblauch’s honeymoon period comes to an end