NHL Best Future Betting Picks To Lock in Before December

There are only four games on the NHL slate tonight, so how about we change things up a little bit? 

I’m going to look at a couple NHL futures that I have in the account, both are plus odds bets involving teams that did not come into the season with big expectations but have gotten off to encouraging starts. 

More importantly, they show some traits that could bode well over the long haul.

NHL Season Stats: 3-10 (-6.45 Units)

Seattle Kraken to Make Playoffs (+260 BetMGM)

The Kraken sit in playoff position right now with 23 points in 19 games, yet the market just does not believe. I get it, the West is tough and there are a horde of teams just 1 point back that would not make the postseason if it started today. But Seattle looks pretty strong so far, especially on the defensive end.

They’ve allowed just 2.69 xG per 60 minutes, 3rd best in the league. And that’s in front of an excellent trio of netminders, all of whom have a Save% of 90% or better and a positive Goals Saved Above Average (GSAA).

Joey Daccord is the primary starter and he just returned from injury and he has a +26.8 GSAA over the last three seasons and a 90.6% Save%. He took over for a slumping Phillip Grubauer last year, but the original Kraken netminder has played much better this year after a couple awful seasons in the pipes. He’s got a 90.3% Save% and his first positive GSAA since 2020-21 in Colorado.

Matt Murray was terrific in Daccord’s absence (92.2% Save%), but unfortunately he’s out for at least six weeks now. He could reemerge as the backup if Grubauer struggles again.

If the Kraken pull this off, it will have to be by keeping pucks out of the net and they do not have enormous firepower. Veterans Jayden Schwartz and Jordan Eberle have 7 goals each, but no one else has more than 4.

Matty Beniers is their best all around player and has a 59.75% xGF% when he’s on the ice, but has only netted two goals himself so far. He does lead the squad with 10 assists. Mason Marchment has been a nice addition this season and has a 62.85% xGF%, but just 1 actual goal. If the Kraken get there, it will be a defensive grind.

Philadelphia Flyers to Make Playoffs +228 Caesars

OK maybe I am attracted to a defensive profile as the Flyers have a very similar profile to the Kraken. No real offensive stars as they do not have anyone with over six goals on the season. But they play good D, allowing 2.80 xGF per 60 minutes.

Plus they have an excellent goalie emerging in Dan Vladar with a 90.9% Save% and 3.63 GSAA. They added Travis Zegras in the offseason, he of the crazy stickhandling and shot trickery. He’s shown real substance with a 61.27% xGF% as well as a team high 19 points. Plus he’s near automatic in shootouts so it’s safe to expect the Flyers to win more than their share of games that go beyond regulation.

The East playoff race figures to be super tight. Pencil in the Devils, Lightning, Hurricanes, and of course the Panthers as locks. But beyond that it will be a scrum and the Flyers have a decent shot.