As the 105th season of the National Hockey League (NHL) is approaching, hockey fans are already making predictions about how the competition will turn up and what team will grab the Stanley Cup. The new season is all set to start this month with an 82 games long regular season that will continue till April. The opening night of the upcoming NHL season is scheduled for October 12. This season, the league plans to return with a few changes including its expansion to 32 teams with the addition of the Seattle Kraken.
The league is all set to return with a few changes including addition of a Seattle-based team, realignment of East and West conferences, and some coaching and arena changes. As the preseason has already started, it might be a perfect time to make predictions about the upcoming season. The preseason has arrived with a surge in hockey betting with all major sportsbooks reporting odds for the Stanley Cup 2022.
By taking a closer look at all the moves made by NHL teams over the summer, average odds for each time can be determined. According to the recent odds determined by recent performance by offseason business, here are some Stanley Cup favorites for the 2020 season of the National Hockey League (NHL):
Colorado Avalance
A member of the Central Division in the Western Conference, the Colorado Avalance was the favorite to grab the Stanley Cup before they lost to Vegas Golden Knights in a 7-game playoff. The winning odds of the Colorado Avalance decreased significantly after their last playoffs. They currently have +550 odds and are deemed as a strong contender for the upcoming season.
Tampa Bay Lightning
A member of the Atlantic Division in the Eastern Conference, Tampa Bay Lightning has emerged as a favorite for NHL 2020. The Florida-based team has been the Stanley Cup winner for the past two years. With an ambition to maintain the title, Tampa Bay Lighting has +626 odds of winning and remains a strong contender for the new season.
Vegas Golden Knights
A member of the Pacific Division in the Western Conference, Vegas Golden Knights has really good odds of winning. Though they have never won the Stanley Cup before, they have emerged as one of the top favorites for the 2020 season of the NHL. The offseason performance of the team has considerably increased its odds of winning. According to various NHL odds trackers, the team currently has +750 odds of winning.
Toronto Maple Leafs
A member of the Atlantic Division in the Eastern Conference, Toronto Maple Leafs has been a strong contender in almost all seasons of the league. They have grabbed 13 Stanley Cups and have a great chance of winning this year. The average odds of the team currently sit at +1200.
Boston Bruins
A member of Atlantic Division in the Eastern Conference, Boston Bruins is among the top contenders for the 2022 season with its odds sitting at +1400. The team has won 6 Stanley Cups and their summer performance suggests that they might be getting another one.
