Nashville Predators
What Are the Odds: Predators Winning the Stanley Cup in 2024
Now that the Vegas Golden Knights are partying as the 2023 Stanley Cup Champs, the oddsmakers in Vegas look ahead to the potential 2024 NHL postseason.
For the first time since the 2013-2014 season, the Nashville Predators did not make the postseason despite an inspiring late push by a youth dominated roster after Nashville's trade deadline sell off. The Preds wrapped up their 2022-2023 play on April 14 and watched as the Western Conference champion Golden Knights kissed the Stanley Cup last night after defeating the Florida Panthers.
Last season is behind Nashville, and there are plenty of changes as the team looks ahead. New head coach Andrew Brunette will bring a fresh perspective behind the bench, young players like Luke Evangelista and perhaps Joakim Kemell will be battling for a roster spot, and Barry Trotz will take over the reins on July 1. Trotz has tried to prepare the fans for a step back to take several steps forward in a franchise "reset".
With all of those changes taken into account, the oddsmakers at Bet MGM have released their predictions for the 2024 Stanley Cup, and the Predators are +5000 to win it all next June.
While the odds are not favorable for a championship parade down Broadway, Bet MGM has Nashville fourth in the Central Division ahead of the Blues, Blackhawks, and Coyotes. The frontrunner to win it all is a Central Division foe Preds fans know all too well - the Colorado Avalanche. The Avs are at +800 followed by the Edmonton Oilers (+1000), Toronto Maple Leafs (+1000), and Boston Bruins (+1100). The Carolina Hurricanes round out the top five favorites with a +1200.
If there is one thing Predators fans have learned this past season, it is that anything can happen over the course of an 82 game regular season - good and bad - to change those numbers. If Filip Forsberg and Matt Duchene stumble upon the magic of their '21-22 seasons, the Predators could surprise the oddsmakers and creep up in the Central Division. If the Predators trade Juuse Saros before the season starts? Well, it would be far more than just the folks at Bet MGM who change expectations for this team.
Right now all the current Predators players can do is take this time to relax, recharge, and refocus on their game. With thirteen picks coming up in the draft Nashville is hosting in just a few weeks, development camp in early July, and training camp in September, there will be plenty of offseason decisions that could change the Predators outlook - in good or bad ways.