Stanley Cup favorite entering season? Depends who you ask

The race for the Stanley Cup begins in earnest Tuesday night, and oddsmakers are mixed on who the favorite is as the puck gets set to drop on the 2023-24 season. Colorado, which opened as the favorite over the summer, has maintained that status at BetRivers. The Avalanche are +800 at the book, followed by Edmonton at +900 and Carolina at +950.

The Panthers’ lone title came back in 2006, but they are the most popular choice at the book. Carolina leads all teams with 13.6 percent of the money backing it to claim the Cup, while Las Vegas leads the way with 15.9 percent of the total bets at +1300.

Carolina is the co-favorite with Colorado at +900 at BetMGM, but it’s the Avalanche who have been the more popular choice there. The Avs lead all teams with 12.6 percent of the total Cup-winning bets and 12.7 percent of the money. Edmonton is a distant second with 8.6 percent of the bets while the New York Rangers have drawn 12.6 percent of the money as +2000 longshots.

At DraftKings, it’s the Hurricanes leading the way at +800 ahead of the New Jersey Devils and Toronto Maple Leafs at +900. Colorado and Edmonton are fourth at +1000. The Avalanche also lead at DraftKings with 14 percent of the Cup-winning bets and 16 percent of the handle.

Not among the favorites at any of the three books are the Florida Panthers, who made a dramatic run to the finals last season as an eighth seed. They have just the 11th-shortest odds at +1900 at BetRivers, the 11th-shortest at +2000 at BetMGM and the ninth-shortest at +1600 at DraftKings.

One thing oddsmakers overwhelmingly agree on — Oilers star Connor McDavid is the heavy favorite to claim a fourth Hart Trophy. He leads the way with 60.2 percent of the money wagered at BetMGM and 77 percent at DraftKings.

NHL AWARDS (BetMGM):

Hart Memorial Highest Ticket%: Connor McDavid 22.3% Highest Handle%: Connor McDavid 60.2% Biggest Liabilities: Connor McDavid Odds Leader: Connor McDavid +100

Vezina Highest Ticket%: Jake Oettinger 25.7% Highest Handle%: Igor Shesterkin 37.1% Biggest Liabilities: Jake Oettinger Odds Leader: Ilya Sorokin +500

James Norris Highest Ticket%: Cale Makar 28.9% Highest Handle%: Cale Makar 43.0% Biggest Liabilities: Evan Bouchard Odds Leader: Cale Makar +225

Maurice “Rocket” Richard Highest Ticket%: Leon Draisaitl 21.6% Highest Handle%: Auston Matthews 34.9% Biggest Liabilities: Alex Ovechkin Odds Leader: Connor McDavid +225

Jack Adams Highest Ticket%: Andre Tourigny 37.7% Highest Handle%: Andre Tourigny 34.1% Biggest Liabilities: Andre Tourigny Odds Leader: Rod Brind’Amour +600

–Field Level Media