by Jazz Ray
Monday, Sep 29, 2025Hockey season is almost here, the puck dropping on October 7th. I feel the NHL could’ve picked better Opening Night games: Florida vs. Chicago, Pittsburgh vs. NY Rangers, and Colorado vs. LA. First, why no Canadian team? Hockey’s huge in Canada, and fans deserve a team to cheer for on night one.
Second, Florida, a two-time champ and likely powerhouse, faces Chicago, a team expected to finish 32 points behind them. With Florida favored at -300, where’s the thrill? Then we’ve got the Rangers, favored at -200, against a fading Pittsburgh squad—decent, but not exactly gripping. The Colorado-LA matchup is solid, with two strong, evenly matched teams, but its late slot means many won’t catch it. Still, I’m pumped hockey’s back!
Second, Florida, a two-time champ and likely powerhouse, faces Chicago, a team expected to finish 32 points behind them. With Florida favored at -300, where’s the thrill? Then we’ve got the Rangers, favored at -200, against a fading Pittsburgh squad—decent, but not exactly gripping. The Colorado-LA matchup is solid, with two strong, evenly matched teams, but its late slot means many won’t catch it. Still, I’m pumped hockey’s back!
If you don't mind tying up your money for a few months, NHL team O/U point totals can provide great opportunities to profit. The lines also provide some insight into what we can expect in the upcoming season. For example, based on their projected O/U line, the Boston Bruins are going to be a very mediocre team (again) this season, perhaps not even. Sorry Boston fans, that's reality.
NHL Team Projections: Observations
In looking at the following NHL projected number of team wins, courtesy of Draft Kings on September 29th, a few things jumped out at me.
- The Blackhawks and Sharks are going to be really bad.
- There's no single team that stands out but there are a lot of very good ones.
- It's going to take me some time to get used to Utah's new name: The Mammoth.
- How can the Knights be so good every year when teams like the Sabres never get there?
- The Maple Leafs O/U line looks like great value to me. Skip to the bottom to find out why I think so!
CHI Blackhawks
Over 67.5 −115
Under 67.5 −115
FLA Panthers
Over 99.5 −115
Under 99.5 −115
NY Rangers
Over 95.5 +105
Under 95.5 −135
PIT Penguins
Over 76.5 −110
Under 76.5 −120
COL Avalanche
Over 103.5 −115
Under 103.5 −115
LA Kings
Over 98.5 −105
Under 98.5 −125
MTL Canadiens
Over 90.5 −115
Under 90.5 −115
TOR Maple Leafs
Over 99.5 −115
Under 99.5 −115
BOS Bruins
Over 80.5 −115
Under 80.5 −115
WAS Capitals
Over 96.5 −110
Under 96.5 −120
EDM Oilers
Over 103.5 −115
Under 103.5 −115
VGK Golden Knights
Over 104.5 −110
Under 104.5 −120
CGY Flames
Over 82.5 −125
Under 82.5 −105
NJ Devils
Over 99.5 −115
Under 99.5 −115
BUF Sabres
Over 85.5 −120
Under 85.5 −110
TB Lightning
Over 102.5 −115
Under 102.5 −115
PHI Flyers
Over 84.5 −105
Under 84.5 −125
CAR Hurricanes
Over 105.5 −115
Under 105.5 −115
OTT Senators
Over 95.5 −110
Under 95.5 −120
DET Red Wings
Over 84.5 −130
Under 84.5 +100
NY Islanders
Over 83.5 −130
Under 83.5 +100
CBJ Blue Jackets
Over 85.5 −115
Under 85.5 −115
WPG Jets
Over 97.5 −110
Under 97.5 −120
MIN Wild
Over 95.5 −110
Under 95.5 −120
STL Blues
Over 92.5 −110
Under 92.5 −120
DAL Stars
Over 103.5 −125
Under 103.5 −105
NSH Predators
Over 85.5 −115
Under 85.5 −115
UTA Mammoth
Over 92.5 −120
Under 92.5 −110
VAN Canucks
Over 90.5 −115
Under 90.5 −115
ANA Ducks
Over 84.5 −105
Under 84.5 −125
SJ Sharks
Over 70.5 −110
Under 70.5 −120
SEA Kraken
Over 77.5 −120
Under 77.5 −110
PICK: TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS UNDER 99.5 POINTS
Sustaining elite performance every season is tough. Hitting 100 points requires consistent excellence. Last year, the Maple Leafs racked up 108 points, second in the East and tops in the Atlantic, but their playoff run fizzled. Could that shift their focus toward postseason prep over regular-season dominance? Quite possibly.
PICK: TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS UNDER 99.5 POINTS
Sustaining elite performance every season is tough. Hitting 100 points requires consistent excellence. Last year, the Maple Leafs racked up 108 points, second in the East and tops in the Atlantic, but their playoff run fizzled. Could that shift their focus toward postseason prep over regular-season dominance? Quite possibly.
Losing Mitch Marner hurts, as his absence leaves a gap. The Eastern Conference is stacked with powerhouses like Carolina, Florida, Tampa, New Jersey, Washington, and the Rangers. Nearby rivals Ottawa and Montreal are also on the upswing, making easy wins scarce. With a key leader gone, a tough conference, and a possible pivot in priorities, taking the Leafs to finish below 99.5 points makes sense.
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