The Best NHL Pacific Division Predictions for Beginners Looking to Score Big

NHL Pacific Division Odds – Recommended Bets

• Oilers Over 103.5 points, -112 at BetRivers
• Jacob Markstrom to win the Vezina Trophy, +2000 at FanDuel
• Vancouver Canucks to make playoffs, -112 at BetRivers
• Vegas Golden Knights Under 98.5 points, -112 at BetRivers
• Los Angeles Kings Over 100 points, +172 at FanDuel
• Mason McTavish to win Calder Trophy, +750 at BetRivers
• San Jose Sharks lowest point total in NHL, +800 at BetMGM
• Seattle Kraken Under 79.5 points, -115 at BetMGM

NHL Pacific Division Predictions

The Battle of Alberta is expected to take on new significance during the upcoming NHL season, which is set to open with the Calgary Flames and Edmonton Oilers engaged in a fierce battle for the top of the odds to win the Pacific Division. The Los Angeles Kings and Vancouver Canucks face high expectations as the new campaign gets underway, while the cap-strapped Vegas Golden Knights must contend with serious personnel concerns as they vie for their third divisional crown in six seasons.

NHL Pacific Division Standings: 21/22 Season

Here’s a look at the NHL Pacific Division predictions as the countdown to puck drop on the NHL season continues.

NHL Pacific Division Predictions: The Betting Favorites

Flames and Oilers Expected to Battle for Top Spot

The Calgary Flames and Edmonton Oilers both enjoyed breakthroughs of sorts in the last year. After enduring a miserable campaign during the Covid-shortened 2020-2021 season, which ended with a fifth-place finish, the Calgary Flames rocketed to the top of the Pacific Division standings while matching the second-highest win total in franchise history with 50 victories.

The Flames faced considerable uncertainty entering the offseason, and their worst fears were realized when star forward Johnny Gaudreau opted to leave town for Columbus as a free agent. Things went from bad to worse when it became clear that Matthew Tkachuk had no interest in re-signing with the club.

However, Calgary general manager Brad Treliving deserves plenty of credit for handling the situation. In addition to filling the void left by Gaudreau by signing free agent Nazem Kadri, Treliving received maximum value when he dealt Tkachuk to Florida in exchange for Jonathan Huberdeau, Mackenzie Weegar, Cole Schwindt, and a first-round pick.

A Hart Trophy candidate last season, Huberdeau will slot into the top line alongside veterans Elias Lindholm and Tyler Toffoli to form arguably one of the most dangerous trios in the league. Considering Huberdeau’s bitterness at how the trade was handled by Florida management and the caliber of his linemates, his Pacific Division odds offer great value as a -114 bet with FanDuel to reach 90 points for the third time in five seasons. 

The Flames should also benefit from another steady performance from Jacob Markstrom. The Finnish goaltender set career highs with 37 wins and nine shutouts last season, and his well-established ability to steal games gives Calgary a clear edge over the archrival Oilers and puts him in the frame as a Vezina Trophy winner. 

Listed as Pacific Division odds favorites to win the division at both BetMGM and Caesars, the Oilers return to action with their superstar core largely intact. However, concerns linger. Can the duo of Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl carry the Oilers’ offense once again, and who is waiting in the wings to step up should either of the dynamic duo suffer a lengthy injury?

The return of Evander Kane gives this team’s attack a big lift. However, depth remains an issue, with McDavid and Draisaitl accounting for well over a third of all the team’s goals last season. The jury also remains out on whether recently signed goaltender Jack Campbell will be an improvement over last year’s tandem of Mikko Koskinen and Mike Smith, who combined to record a shaky 3.06 goals against average. Campbell was limited by injury to just 49 appearances with Toronto last season, marking just the second time in his career that he has appeared in over 30 games. Saying that, one of our Pacific Division predictions is that they still have enough to surpass 103.5 points for the season.

NHL Pacific Division Predictions: Recommended Bets 

• Oilers Over 103.5 points (-112) at BetRivers
• Jacob Markstrom to win the Vezina Trophy, +2000 at FanDuel

NHL Pacific Division Predictions: The Dark Horses and Longshots

Canucks, Kings on the Rise?

It has been a frustrating few years for hockey fans in British Columbia. Despite sporting some of the best young talents in the NHL, the Vancouver Canucks have been a consistent disappointment, missing the playoffs in six of the past seven seasons. However, after reaching the 40-win mark last season on the strength of a steady 8-4 finish and finishing just five points out of a playoff spot, the Canucks look poised to take the next step.

The Canucks return with their youthful core a year older and wiser, led by JT Miller, Brock Boeser, Bo Horvat, and Elias Pettersson. The recent acquisitions of former Toronto Maple Leafs Travis Dermott and Ilya Mikheyev add much-needed depth on the blue line and upfront. And in net, Thatcher Demko gets set to enter the prime of his career after winning a career-high 33 games last season.

The big challenge for the Canucks will be surviving a daunting early schedule. Vancouver kicks off their campaign with a five-game road trip and will only play eight of their first 22 games on home ice. A successful run through that stretch of schedule will add value to their already attractive -112 Pacific Division odds to make the playoffs at BetRivers, a Pacific Division prediction we have confidence in.

Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Kings have a tough act to follow after making a massive 50-point leap last season. The Kings ran hot and cold to start last season, alternating between lengthy winning and losing streaks before finally finding their groove in the second half of the schedule. 

The Kings lineup once again features an eclectic assortment of veterans, strengthened by the offseason acquisition of sniper Kevin Fiala. The 26-year-old is coming off a career-best 86-point campaign, but it is not certain whether Fiala’s arrivals will spark a Kings offense that ranked just 20th in the NHL last season. Nevertheless, an outside bet for them to pass 100 points this season has value.

While the Kings and Canucks aim to build on last season’s steady performances, the Vegas Golden Knights look to atone for missing the playoffs for the first time in their brief history. Ravaged by injuries, the Golden Knights struggled badly down the stretch and fell out of playoff contention with losses in five of their final seven games.

An offseason fire sale resulted in the departure of Max Pacioretty, Evgenii Dadonov, and Matthias. However, the biggest concern is who will play net after starter Robin Lehner’s hip surgery that will sideline him for the entire season. All signs are they’ll struggle, so the under looks like a good Pacific Division prediction here.

NHL Pacific Division Predictions: Recommended Bets 

• Vancouver Canucks to make playoffs (-112) at BetRivers
• Vegas Golden Knights Under 98.5 points (-112) at BetRivers
• Los Angeles Kings Over 100 points, +172 at FanDuel

Rebuilds Continue in Anaheim, San Jose, and Seattle

Winners of just four of their final 24 games last season, the Anaheim Ducks have nowhere to go but up this season. The Ducks made a pair of key veteran acquisitions during the offseason by adding center Ryan Strome and rearguard John Klingberg. Another year of experience will also benefit talented youngsters like Trevor Zegras, Max Comtois, and rookie Mason McTavish (who is worth a bet to win the Calder Trophy). While the playoffs remain a long-term objective, the continued development of the team’s youth and the performance of netminder John Gibson will play big roles in how big a step this team takes. 

Indeed, a slow start could buy Gibson a ticket out of town and place the Ducks squarely in the thick of the race to the bottom of the NHL standings, alongside both Seattle and San Jose, and a shot at coveted teenager Connor Bedard in the next year’s NHL Draft.

NHL Pacific Division Predictions: Recommended Bets 

• Mason McTavish to win Calder Trophy (+750) at BetRivers
• San Jose Sharks lowest point total in NHL (+800) at BetMGM
• Seattle Kraken Under 79.5 points (-115) at BetMGM

Odds to Win NHL Pacific Division

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Who is in the NHL Pacific Division?

There are eight teams in the NHL’s Pacific Division. Those teams are the Anaheim Ducks, Calgary Flames, Edmonton Oilers, Los Angeles Kings, San Jose Sharks, Seattle Kraken, Vancouver Canucks, and Vegas Golden Knights.

Conclusion 

We could have some fierce battles at the NHL Pacific Division. Interested in more NHL content? Be sure to read our guide: How To Win at Sports Betting or check out our complete handbook for our full NHL predictions and our Metro and Central Division Previews. Visit our odds comparison tool to compare the latest odds.

Written by Daniel Coyle.  

Daniel has written professionally about sports for two decades and covered the sports betting beat for the past nine years. He is an expert EPL, MLB, NBA, NFL, NHL, and UFC writer.    

His work has featured in various newspapers, magazines, and online media, including the Montreal Gazette, Globe & Mail, Faceoff.com, Sports Illustrated, Bleacher Report, NESN, Sportsnet, Featurd, SB Nation, Oilers Nation, and The Nation.