The 2024 Stanley Cup playoffs are finally here, and the Winnipeg Jets are aiming to be the first Canadian squad in over three decades to hoist Lord Stanley's Cup. Winnipeg ended the regular season on an eight-game winning streak thanks to the scoring prowess of players like Mark Scheifele and Josh Morrissey and the Vezina Trophy-worthy work that Connor Hellebuyck put in between the pipes. The Jets now set their sights on the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs where they will face the Colorado Avalanche, a team they defeated three times this season. Does this encourage you to back the Jets at +900 to win the Western Conference and +2000 to win the Stanley Cup?
Elsewhere in the 2024 NHL futures, the Carolina Hurricanes are +300 favorites to win the East and make it to the Stanley Cup Final after ending the regular season with a +63 goal differential. They are followed by the Florida Panthers (+350), Rangers (+400), Boston Bruins (+550) and Toronto Maple Leafs (+700) in the Eastern Conference championship odds. Before making any hockey picks or 2024 NHL futures bets, be sure to see the latest NHL predictions from SportsLine basketball expert Bruce Marshall.
An in-demand guest on numerous sports talk radio and TV shows across the country, Marshall's vast array of editorial work has been featured in the Las Vegas Review-Journal, the New York Post and many other outlets. He has won various handicapping titles and also is working on several book projects. Marshall is SportsLine's top NHL expert, entering the NHL playoffs on a 59-42 (+1930) run on NHL picks. Anybody following is way up.
Now, he has revealed his top 2024 NHL futures bets. You can head to SportsLine to see them.
Top 2024 NHL futures bets
One of Marshall's top 2024 NHL futures picks: He likes the Nashville Predators at +1800 to win the Western Conference. Nashville may be a wild card team heading into the NHL's second season, but the Predators were very impressive down the stretch, going 20-5-3 since Feb. 15. Filip Forsberg and captain Roman Josi led the way, combining for 179 points (71 goals, 108 assists) as each player was in the lineup for all 82 regular-season games.
Marshall notes that the Preds also had solid goaltending to back up the "fast-break" style of hockey they began to play under head coach Andrew Brunette. Juuse Saros ended the season with a .906 save percentage while backup Kevin Lankinen was effective at .908 in 24 starts.
"One thing is certain...Nashville wasn't playing like the longest shot on the West playoff board the last two months of the campaign," Marshall told SportsLine. See the rest of Marshall's NHL futures bets at SportsLine.
How to place 2024 NHL futures bets
Marshall has revealed five other NHL futures picks. They include a series upset pick and multiple other longshot plays. You can see all of Marshall's top 2024 NHL futures picks here.
Which 2024 NHL futures odds should you target, and which longshot plays could lead to a massive payday? Visit SportsLine now to see the 2024 NHL futures bets, all from the expert who is entering the NHL playoffs on a 59-42 (+1930) run on NHL picks, and find out.
2024 NHL futures odds to win Stanley Cup
Hurricanes (+650)
Panthers (+700)
Avalanche (+700)
Oilers (+700)
Rangers (+800)
Stars (+850)
Bruins (+1100)
Golden Knights (+1300)
Maple Leafs (+1400)
Canucks (+1600)
Jets (+2000)
Lightning (+2500)
Kings (+3000)
Predators (+4000)
Islanders (+5000)
Capitals (15000)
