The NHL season is just over two weeks away, which is just enough time to get all your futures picks locked in, including one for each division winner.'
According to NHL odds, the Avs (+425) are favorites to defend their Stanley Cup. However, while they have a deep and overwhelmingly talented lineup, Colorado has a few potential weaknesses they'll have to navigate.'
Each prospective division winner has a solid chance of upsetting the Avs apple cart.'
The first step is finding a way to rise to the top of their respective divisions, which will take unwavering consistency, dogged determination, and, to maintain a clean bill of health, a morsel of good fortune.'''
NHL Division Winner Predictions
Winner: Tampa Bay Lightning
Odds to Win Division: +250
The Tampa Bay Lightning, among the five early Stanley Cup favorites, is a perennial power that still has what it takes to win the Atlantic Division.'
The Toronto Maple Leafs are favorites (+200) to win the division, while last season's victors, the Florida Panthers, are nipping at the Buds' heels (+225).'
The race to top the Atlantic Division will be tight throughout, with three teams jostling for king-of-the-hill honors. However, you can hardly consider the Lightning underdogs; such is their depth of talent.'
The only notable loss is Ondrej Palat, whose clutch playoff performances will be sorely missed. Palat, who will suit up for the Devils, has the third-most game-winning playoff goals of all active players.'
However, the Lightning have arguably the world's best goaltender (though the entire populous of New York would vehemently disagree) in Andrei Vasilevskiy.'
The two-time Stanley Cup winner, one of a handful of netminders who have won the Conn Smythe and Vezina, is coming off an average 2021-22 regular season. He will be motivated to return to the elite best he showcased during Tampa's run to the Stanley Cup final.'
Jon Cooper is one of the best coaches in the league and has a crew of elite talent and proven winners at his disposal.'
Nikita Kucherov missed half of the 2021-22 regular season with a lower-body injury and is healthy and raring to go, while Brayden Point, who endured a substantial injury in the playoffs, will also check in for training camp in top physical condition.
Steven Stamkos and Victor Hedman round out the superstar cast looking to usurp rivals Florida as Atlantic Division champs.'
Meanwhile, Florida lost 115-point man Jonathan Huberdeau and Mackenzie Weegar to Calgary in a blockbuster deal that landed Matthew Tkachuk. In addition, stalwart blue-liner Ben Chiarot and veteran Claude Giroux left for pastures anew, leaving the Panthers particularly thin on the defensive end.'
Toronto is stacked in most positions aside from where it matters the most, in goal. Matt Murray, acquired from Ottawa, and former Cap Ilya Samsonov lead the way between the pipes.'