One of the enduringly fun aspects of sports betting is that potential sports betting options and analysis are always available, even when there are no games on the NHL schedule today.
The NHL has reached the All-Star break, which gives us a great moment to pause, reflect on the NHL stats and standings, and look forward to who are the favorites in the Western Conference champion odds.
We’re going to run down the NHL odds favorites to win the Western Conference in 2023 and play for Lord Stanley’s Cup in the Spring.
Colorado Avalanche +300
When checking the NHL standings, you need to scroll further down than expected to find the Colorado Avalanche. The biggest story for the Avs this season has been the NHL injury report, with significant pieces like Nathan MacKinnon, Josh Manson, Bowen Byram, Valeri Nichushkin, and Gabriel Landeskog all spending considerable time on the injury report.
However, the rumors of the Avalanche’s demise have been greatly exaggerated, and oddsmakers and the betting public agree as Colorado remains the favorite in the Western Conference champion odds, despite being ranked fourth in the Central Division with a 27-18-3 record.
The Avalanche are doing their part to maintain favorite status, winning seven of the last eight games before the All-Star break and moving back into the playoff picture.
As the Avs continue to get healthy and likely add a center at the trade deadline, Colorado is positioning for another deep run in the NHL playoffs.
Vegas Golden Knights +500
The Vegas Golden Knights have had their injury issues at the goaltending position and lost one of its best players, Mark Stone, to a back injury. While the Golden Knights started the season strong and have led the Pacific Division for most of the season, Jack Eichel and Vegas have struggled into the All-Star break, losing seven of the last eight games.
This run of losses has dropped the Golden Knights in the standings to third in the Pacific, behind Seattle and Los Angeles, with a 19-18-4 record. The Golden Knights are the team to watch to fade their Western Conference champion odds as the season progresses.
Dallas Stars +650
As the Colorado Avalanche have struggled with injuries, the Dallas Stars have swept in to claim the Central Division lead with a 28-13-10 record.
The Stars have Jake Oettinger, a game-changing goalie, scoring talent up and down the roster, with the likes of Jason Robertson, Miro Heiskanen, and Roope Hintz being the young, bright future. At the same time, the established core featuring Tyler Seguin, Joe Pavelski, and Jamie Benn leads the squad.
This Dallas Stars roster is built and looks ready for playoff success.
The Dallas Stars should strongly be considered for your NHL picks before more money comes in on the Stars and their Western Conference champion odds shift and give you less value when if they do.
Edmonton Oilers +800
When you have the best player potentially ever putting up video game stats and wowing crowds nightly, your team will always be a betting favorite on many sportsbooks and in many NHL matchups. The Oilers are currently fourth in the Pacific Division with a 28-18-4 record, three points behind the Seattle Kraken for the division lead.
The Edmonton Oilers have the ultimate card to play in any game or series, having Connor McDavid in their back pocket as their failsafe. McDavid leads the league in NHL player stats with an astonishing 92 points (41 goals, 51 assists) in 50 games.
The Oilers are the league’s highest-scoring team, averaging 3.74 goals per game. McDavid is joined by Leon Draisaitl, who has 76 points (29 goals, 47 assists), forming the best 1-2 offensive combination in the league. They’re especially potent on the powerplay and have the league’s best unit converting at 32%.
If the Oilers can improve their defense and continue to play the more structured and focused game they’ve shown recently, the Oilers could continue to rise and emerge as the favorite in the Western Conference champion odds by the end of the season.
Calgary Flames +900
The Calgary Flames enter the All-Star break fifth in the Pacific Divison with a 24-17-9 record. If the playoffs started today, the Calgary Flames would not be in the playoffs.
After undergoing major roster reconstruction this past offseason and losing the best line in hockey, the newly acquired Jonathan Huberdeau, MacKenzie Weegar, and Nazem Kadri haven’t replicated Calgary’s success from last year.
Neither has Vezina Trophy finalist Jacob Markström, who has been off his game all season and being outplayed by Dan Vladar in the 2022-23 season. For numerous reasons, Calgary’s very deep defense core last year hasn’t been as good as last season.
The Flames might be high on the Western Conference champion odds, but we have them on fraud alert and question if the Flames will even make the playoffs. But if they get in, the Flames could be a surprise winner of the Western Conference.
Winnipeg Jets +1000
The Winnipeg Jets can’t get any respect. The Jets are ranked second in the Central Division and Western Conference with a 32-19-1 record, trailing only the Dallas Stars. Yet, Winnipeg has lower Western Conference champion odds than Calgary, Edmonton, and Vegas.
Even more disrespectful is the fact that the Jets has built a successful season while enduring a litany of injury issues.
The Jets are one of the best defensive teams in the NHL, with Josh Morrisey having a Norris Trophy-caliber year and former Vezina Trophy winner Connor Hellebuyck playing at an elite level.
They might not hit the over often as teams struggle to score against the Jets in a league where scoring is up across the board, but the old adage “defense wins championships” rings true every year.
The Jets at +1000 will look like a steal if Winnipeg continues to play excellent hockey and emerges as the Western Conference champion in 2023.
Seattle Kraken + 1400
The underdog monster from the Pacific Northwest has arrived in the 2022-23 season. After an injury-plagued inaugural season, the Kraken bolstered their lineup with a few key free-agent acquisitions and have emerged from the turbulent waters as the top-ranked team in the Pacific Division with a 29-15-5 record.
Seattle is one of the highest-scoring teams in the league, ranked fifth overall and averaging 3.61 goals per game. However, Seattle is hiding their most significant issue, outscoring mediocre goaltending.
If Seattle is able to improve their goaltending or continue to outscore their problems, you’ll see the Kraken rise out of the Pacific and up the Western Conference champion odds.
Our Picks?
Of these seven teams that top the Western Conference champion odds, we really see four teams having a real chance at winning the Western Conference: Colorado, Dallas, Winnipeg, and Connor McDavid (also known as the Edmonton). We’re very enticed by the Seattle Kraken at +1400, but we need to see better goaltending before placing our money on the Kraken.
When pressed to make a pick, we’re staying in the Central Division for our Western Conference winner and have it down to two teams: the Colorado Avalanche or Winnipeg Jets.
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