NHL Betting Picks: 2022-23 National Hockey League Preview

This season, the NHL gets underway far from North America, with the San Jose Sharks taking on the Nashville Predators in the Global Series: Czech Republic. 

Taking place in Prague at the O2 Arena, the two-game series over October 7 and 8 is followed by the New York Rangers facing the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Los Angeles Kings taking on the Vegas Golden Knights on October 12 to kick-start the NHL on home ice.

NHL Season Preview Best Odds:

• Global Series: NSH wins both games +147 (Parlay)

• Stanley Cup Favourites: COL +400

• Western Conference Contenders: CGY +1300, EDM +1300

• Eastern Conference Contenders: TOR +850, FLA +900

• Ones to Watch: CAR +900, NSH +3500

As always, the year will be loaded with twists and turns. Here’s an NHL season preview of the leading contenders and sport betting odds, with these being the highlights:

The Sharks have made a lot of changes this offseason, with head coach David Quinn coming in for Bob Boughner and former Shark winger Mike Grier taking the GM job. 

On the ice, San Jose will feel the loss of fan-favourite defenseman Brent Burns. The Sharks do still pack a punch when fit, with Erik Karlsson having the potential to finally bounce back to the form that earned him a massive $11.5 million deal in 2019. 

Joining the Swede, Logan Couture is still producing, Timo Meier has emerged as a top-class star and will almost certainly go big again in this, his contract year, and Tomáš Hertl continues to have an eye for goal. 

Facing the deep-sea-dwelling Sharks will be Predators with a point to prove. Certainly one of the most underrated teams in the NHL at +3500 to win the Stanley Cup, this Nashville roster is a menacing unit, indeed.

The defence – already boasting Roman Josi, Mattias Ekholm, and classy talent Dante Fabbro – has been reinforced by back-to-back Cup winner Ryan McDonagh. 

Nashville’s top-six looks particularly creative and potent with Matt Duchene, Filip Forsberg, Ryan Johansen, Mikael Granlund, and now Nino Niederreiter.

Most excitingly for the Preds is the batch of high-ceiling talents like Philip Tomasino, Eeeli Tolvanen, and perhaps Cody Glass, who could bolster the scoring further.

For the Global Series, when you also factor in Juuse Saros for the Predators, it’s tough to see an outcome beyond Nashville winning 2-0.

They’re at +147 in a parlay to win both games at -175 on the money line. That said, the -1.5 puck line at +138 for Nashville will certainly have its suitors.

GLOBAL SERIES STARTS THIS WEEK❗️

Don't miss the @PredsNHL vs. @scbern_news in Switzerland TODAY and the @SanJoseSharks vs. @Eisbaeren_B in Germany TOMORROW!

Then, the Predators and Sharks will go head-to-head in Prague later this week! 🌏

(via IG/nhleurope) pic.twitter.com/KGEADRNdcW

— NHL (@NHL) October 3, 2022

Having made some good moves to cover the relatively minimal offseason losses, the Avs return as a very similar side to that which won the Cup.

Headlining the close contenders to the crown are two Eastern Conference sides: the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Florida Panthers. 

The big issue for the Buds is that they haven’t gone past the first round of the playoffs in any of the last six seasons.

Now, the +850 Cup contenders enter the 2022/23 NHL season hoping that Matt Murray or Ilya Samsonov can emerge as a starter, or that they can at least forge an effective tandem.

• Early Stanley Cup Odds Favour the Avs

In Florida, the front office thought it best to send away their franchise leader for games and points, Jonathan Huberdeau.

The biggest trade of the offseason did bring in Matthew Tkachuk, arguably making the top-six stronger for a playoff run, but it did also cost the Panthers impactful blueliner MacKenzie Weegar. 

At +900 to win the Stanley Cup after a Presidents’ Trophy-winning season, the Panthers certainly deserve to be in the mix. Still, a lot will depend on how quickly Tkachuk can gel and put up points as Huberdeau did.

However, there’s an interesting All-Canada rumble for the top of the Pacific. The Edmonton Oilers will hope that the addition of Jack Campbell will provide the goaltending consistency needed to support their absurdly high-powered skater corps. 

Meanwhile, Calgary weighs-in as almost an unknown quantity. Out went Johnny Gaudreau, Sean Monahan, and Tkachuk, and in came Huberdeau, Weegar, and Nazem Kadri.

The Flames amassed 111 points last season, so it makes sense that they’re at +1300 to win the Cup, as are the Oilers. 

In the Central Division, of the Minnesota Wild, St. Louis Blues, Dallas Stars, and Predators – who all made it to the playoffs last season – it’s Nashville that’s looked to have improved the most and has the highest ceiling. 

So, there may be a switch around from the Predators landing fifth in the division to third or second.

Roman
🗣🗣🗣 JOSI 🗣🗣🗣 pic.twitter.com/QsIiyKfPoL

— Nashville Predators (@PredsNHL) October 4, 2022

Behind them and the Buds, the Carolina Hurricanes and New York Rangers pose interesting prospects. 

The Hurricanes enjoyed a strong offseason, adding high-calibre veterans in Brent Burns, Max Pacioretty, Paul Stastny, and Calvin de Haan.

Carolina looks ready to battle for the top of the Metropolitan Division again and challenge deep into the postseason, sitting at +900 to go all the way. 

Carolina’s main competitor looks to be the New York Rangers, who managed to lure dominant duellist Vincent Trocheck away from the Canes.

The Rangers boast superb depth defensively and offensively, but a lot will depend on Igor Shesterkin putting in another Vezina-contending campaign. 

BRENT BURNS IS A CAROLINA HURRICANE!! pic.twitter.com/HcQbiWu6a5

— Carolina Hurricanes (@Canes) July 13, 2022

The NHL finally returns this weekend, and as it stands, these are the sides that look to compete for the crown.

*Credit for all images in this article belongs to AP Photo*

FIRST PUBLISHED: 24th October 2022