Canadiens 2023 Draft Odds Soar As Panthers Playoffs Odds Fall

The Montreal Canadiens’ recent slide down the standings has improved their 2023 Draft outlook, but a significant shift in betting odds project that the Florida Panthers could make it even better.

The Canadiens are currently within striking distance of a bottom-three finish at this current rate, thereby securing them a top-5 pick in the upcoming 2023 NHL Draft, but that isn’t the only good news fans can look forward to.

As everyone knows by now, the Montreal Canadiens own the Florida Panthers‘ 2023 1st-round pick, left unprotected by the club upon their acquisition of Ben Chiarot at the 2022 NHL Trade Deadline.

The Panthers traded four 1st-round picks between July 2021 and July 2022, of which all but their 2023 1st-rounder had lottery protection in case of an unexpected tumble down the standings. The Panthers’ oversight is trending quite well for General Manager Kent Hughes and the Canadiens, especially if you look at the emerging odds.

The Florida Panthers are now expected to miss the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time this season, according to updated NHL Betting Odds.

The Panthers started the season with a -3000 odds to make the playoffs, basically indicating that they were no-brainer in the eyes of the oddsmakers. Those odds dropped in November and December to -200 as the Panthers continued to struggle.

However, with the resurgence of both the Buffalo Sabres and Ottawa Senators; coupled with the incredible jump from Metropolitan Division teams hogging all the Wild Card spots, the Florida Panthers have seen the odds turn against them for the first time this season.

As of today, the Panthers are a -192 to not make the playoffs this spring; a major turnaround from oddsmakers that usually signal a loss in confidence, despite the Panthers having great underlying numbers.

One source in the field has indicated that that’s still a conservative numbers and that the odds may continue to dive by the end of the month, as the gap becomes harder and harder for the Panthers to make up with teams in Wild Card positions.