Oct 3-
- Carolina Hurricanes are +200 to win in the Metropolitan Division odds
- Patrik Laine’s goal total is set at 33.5 goals
- See below for a full Metropolitan betting preview, along with the best bet for the division, and one player prop
The Metropolitan Division has been dominated by the same couple of franchises for the last 5-10 seasons, and while I do believe the veteran experience will turn to be the key difference, some of the young up and coming teams may cause a shakeup in this division. With so much uncertainty, we run through the Metropolitan Division odds as we get into our betting preview before the start of the 2023 NHL season.
The Carolina Hurricanes, last season’s Metro Champions, have only gotten stronger, while teams such as the New York Rangers, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Washington Capitals have kept their cores intact ready for another push.
The Columbus Blue Jackets, New York Islanders, and New Jersey Devils all expect to be much improved, so I expect this middle of the pack to be heavily contested this year. Let’s take a look at the Metropolitan Division odds as we break down our best bet.
Metropolitan Division Odds
| Team | Point Total | Win Division | Win Conference | To Make Playoffs | Stanley Cup Odds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carolina Hurricanes | 103.5 | +200 | +500 | -600 | +1000 |
| Pittsburgh Penguins | 101.5 | +280 | +900 | -430 | +1900 |
| New York Rangers | 99.5 | +350 | +900 | -260 | +1800 |
| Washington Capitals | 94.5 | +850 | +2000 | -172 | +4000 |
| New York Islanders | 92.5 | +750 | +1600 | -112 | +3300 |
| New Jersey Devils | 89.5 | +2000 | +3000 | +180 | +6500 |
| Columbus Blue Jackets | 80.5 | +5000 | +4000 | +480 | +7500 |
| Philadelphia Flyers | 74.5 | +7500 | +4000 | +810 | +8500 |
Odds as of October 3
New York sports betting markets have the Rangers as the third betting favorite, while the Islanders are outside right behind them at +750.
The Columbus Blue Jackets are valued at +5000. With Ohio online sports betting markets launching on January 1st, 2023, will Buckeye State bettors be cheering for a potential playoff run?
Best Metropolitan Division NHL Betting Pick
The favorite for this division is the Carolina Hurricanes, and who can blame the books? Currently sitting at +200 in the Metropolitan Division odds, they are the previous champions who just acquired veterans Brent Burns and Max Pacioretty to an already loaded roster. The scariest part of this team is their incredible youth up front.
Forwards Sebastian Aho, Andrei Svechnikov, Seth Jarvis, Teuvo Teravainen, and Martin Necas are all under the age of 25 and only going to get better as they continue to grow this season.
Carolina Hurricanes season preview
with @seangentille and @hayyyshayyyAt full health, the Hurricanes are a top five team – but do they have enough ✨ oomph ✨ to go the distance?https://t.co/JrNvSeOf4N pic.twitter.com/p9A4vJFCRD
— dom (@domluszczyszyn) October 1, 2022
A part of my positivity for the Hurricanes is the rest of the division. The Metro is filled with veteran teams such as the Pittsburgh Penguins and Washington Capitals, who have some question marks around how long their veterans will stay competitive. I wont ever count out Sidney Crosby or Alexander Ovechkin, but I do think they need to slow down eventually.
The other contender in this division is the New York Rangers. Quite frankly, I believe that their success is unsustainable with how they were winning games last year. They won more games being outshot by 15+ shots than any team has done before in the NHL. Igor Shesterkin is going to continue to be elite, but I don’t think its possible for him to lead a team the way he did last year.
My best bet is the Carolina Hurricanes to win at +200 as my Metropolitan Division betting pick. They are the most complete team, the deepest team, and loaded with talent up and down the roster. I really can’t see another team taking them to the top of this division.
Pick: Carolina Hurricanes (+200)
Top Player Prop Pick
Patrik Laine, who is only 24, is going into the 2022-2023 season is currently being listed for a total of 31.5 goals for the NHL season (-130). With new superstar acquisition and elite playmaker Johnny Gaudreau on the Columbus Blue Jackets, I can’t see Laine staying under this total, especially if he stays healthy.
Laine is one of the best snipers in the NHL, and he proved it last season. Laine scored at a 39-goal pace last season over the course of 82 games and is only a few years removed from a 44-goal season that he had with the Winnipeg Jets.
A big reason behind this is the acquisition of Johnny Gaudreau. Gaudreau is coming off an NHL season in which he had 75 assists, and while I don’t believe that to be replicated I do think he can add 50-60 assists for the Blue Jackets this season.
Gaudreau is a gift to a sniper like Patrik Laine, and I really do expect him to break out this season with a near 40-goal season, proving to everyone just how good of a shooter he is. All that said, Laine’s over his goal total in the Metropolitan Division odds is my favorite player prop for these eight teams.
Pick: Patrik Laine Over 33.5 Goals (-130)
