The 2023 Stanley Cup Final is a few days away, so hope is dead for 30 of the NHL’s 32 teams. However, when one door closes, another opens, and that’s the case here as sportsbooks have started to list 2024 Stanley Cup odds for all teams!
There is the usual crop of teams at the top, but the real value is to be found in the long shots. You are able to find teams in the 50/1 to 100/1 range that will be in the thick of things late into the regular season if not the playoffs! The Seattle Kraken and New Jersey Devils were both well over 50/1 last offseason and were two of the final eight teams standing.
Without further adieu, let’s take a look at a few 2024 Stanley Cup longshot bets worth making right now!
Early 2024 Stanley Cup Longshot Bets To Make Right Now
Seattle Kraken (+5000 via FanDuel)
The Kraken were one goal away from reaching the Western Conference Final this year, and they should only get better next season. The NHL’s newest team surprised a lot of people this season with a tremendous run into the playoffs, and they have room for growth.
Seattle already has a good young core with Calder Trophy finalist Matthew Beniers as well as fourth overall pick Shane Wright, who should be in contention for a roster spot next season. They also aren’t losing any real key pieces, with most of their top-six forwards returning for next year. They also picked up Eeli Tolvanen off waivers during the season, and he turned into a real player for the Kraken.
Then there is the cap space that Seattle has to work with this summer. The Kraken have over $20 million to play with to shore up their cracks, and general manager Ron Francis has proven that he has what it takes to build a contender.
Is Seattle going to be a Stanley Cup favorite next year? Probably not, but I’ll happily take a Krak at 50/1.
Buffalo Sabres (+4500 via DraftKings)
The Sabres made a push for the playoffs this season but came up short. However, much like Seattle, Buffalo has a great young core and cap space to work with.
Tage Thompson turned into a superstar last season in Buffalo, and the Sabres also finally saw some production out of Jeff Skinner and his $9 million cap hit. Dylan Cozens is starting to look like a player as well, and he’s just 22 years old. Not to mention Alex Tuch, who is helping lessen the blow of the Jack Eichel trade.
Buffalo’s back end might be its real strength, though, with Rasmus Dahlin, Mattias Samuelsson, and Owen Power all 23 or younger. Hell, even Devon Levi looked like a guy in goal toward the end of the season.
The Sabres were in the mix for some key trade deadline additions but smartly didn’t pull the trigger. As a result, general manager Kevyn Adams now has all offseason to put together a team that can build on this season’s success.
Ottawa Senators (+4500 via DraftKings)
We’re sticking in the Atlantic Division but going up north to our friends in Ottawa. The Senators had a great offseason last year, and they’re primed for another one this summer.
Last year, Ottawa added Claude Giroux, Alex DeBrincat, and Cam Talbot, among others. The Sens also traded for Jakob Chychrun to add another formidable blueliner to join Thomas Chabot and the 20-year-old Jake Sanderson.
Oh yeah, the Senators also have a pretty good young core to go along with those veteran additions. Tim Stutzle is only 21. Captain Brady Tkachuk is 23. The 24-year-old Josh Norris played only eight games last season due to injury — he’s one of Ottawa’s better centers.
There is also $17 million of cap space for the Senators to work with. Although some of that will go to paying restricted free agents like DeBrincat and others, expect Ottawa to be in the mix again next season, and 45/1 is a great price.
