2024-25 NHL odds, predictions: Long-shot picks for Rangers, Devils, Islanders

The 2024-25 NHL season gets underway this week and all three local teams will come into October with high hopes. 

The Devils and Rangers are essentially co-favorites to win the Metropolitan Division, while the Islanders are projected to be in the mix for a sixth playoff appearance in seven years. 

To get us all ready for what should be a thrilling season for the local teams, I’ve highlighted my favorite futures bet for each club going into the new campaign: 

Devils: Dougie Hamilton to win Norris Trophy (50/1, bet365) 

Sportsbooks are guarding against a massive bounce back from the Devils in 2024-25. 

You’d think that their disastrous performance in 2023-24 would temper everyone’s expectations for the upcoming season, but New Jersey is right back at the top of the betting board before Opening Day on Friday in Prague against the Sabres.

And it doesn’t stop there. New Jersey’s head coach, Sheldon Keefe, is the favorite to win the Jack Adams, Jack Hughes is the fourth-favorite to win the Hart, Nico Hischier is the third-favorite to win the Selke and Jacob Markstrom is near the top of the board for the Vezina. 

One player who may be flying under the radar a bit in the betting market is Dougie Hamilton.

The puck-moving defenseman was limited to just 20 games last year, but the previous season saw him score 22 goals and record 74 points.

He has every chance to top that total and that would almost certainly put him in the running for the Norris. 

Islanders: Patrick Roy to win Jack Adams (30/1, BetMGM) 

The Islanders are in a familiar spot this October. Most of the hockey world — and the betting market — expects the Isles to be a scrappy bunch and to be in the mix for a playoff spot.

Their Over/Under is right around 92 points, they’re basically a 50-50 shot to make the postseason and they’re hovering around 50/1 to win the Stanley Cup. 

In other words: The Islanders have the same projections as they had before each of the previous two seasons. 

It’s hard to blame anybody for assuming more of the same from the Isles, but there are some signals that the Islanders could have some sneaky upside. 

Most notably, the Islanders played at a 100-point pace in Roy’s 37 games in charge last season and the legendary goaltender took them from playoff long shot to a wild-card spot despite injuries, mediocre goaltending from Ilya Sorokin and the league’s worst penalty kill.

Roy clearly was doing something right and if things break the Isles’ way, we could see this team push beyond 100 points. 

But the easiest way to see the value in this bet is to look around at the betting market.

The Isles are +220 to get to 100 points and 12/1 to win the Metropolitan Division.

If the Islanders get above 100 points, Roy will get consideration.

If they win the division, he’d almost certainly be the favorite and you’re getting better than double the price. 

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Rangers: Igor Shesterkin to win Hart Trophy (70/1, FanDuel) 

It is going to take a monster performance for any player to beat out the likes of Connor McDavid, Nathan MacKinnon, Auston Matthews and/or Leon Draisaitl in the MVP race, but Shesterkin is one of a few players who can do it, as evidenced by his finishing third in the voting back in 2022. 

Anointed as the Vezina Trophy favorite ahead of the new campaign, it may seem jarring to see Shesterkin’s number this high but it’s been a decade since a goaltender won the Hart and that means the league’s elite netminders will always be underrated in this market. 

If you think Shesterkin is a good bet to win the Vezina at +600, you may as well sprinkle his Hart Trophy odds too.

Why Trust New York Post Betting

Michael Leboff handicaps the EPL, NHL, golf and anything else that isn’t the NFL and NBA for the NY Post. He’s up 49.73 units betting EPL with a 7.17% ROI.