Atlantic Division futures: Panthers, Bruins favored to win

There’s just over a month left in the NHL regular season, which means it’s a perfect time to look at the Atlantic Division futures. This is one of the most competitive divisions in the entire league, with numerous contenders. The Florida Panthers are currently in first place and sit as the favorite to win outright, but the Boston Bruins are right on their heels. The Toronto Maple Leafs, Detroit Red Wings, and Tampa Bay Lightning are also in the mix, but it’s unlikely any of them can catch the Panthers or Bruins.

Panthers

With -165 odds at 888sport, Florida has every opportunity to win the Atlantic Division. This was a team that barely clinched their spot in the playoffs last season yet they made a Cinderella run all the way to the Stanley Cup Finals, even shocking the Bruins in the first round in seven games. In 2023-24, the Panthers are the real deal and currently own a 41-16-4 record and sit two points above Boston in first place. Florida has one of the best blue lines in the NHL, allowing a mere 2.4 goals per game. They’re also scoring 3.27 times per night. Sam Reinhart is the star of the show with 71 points, while Matthew Tkachuk and Carter Verhaeghe have both registered over 60 points apiece. The Panthers are 9-1 in their last 10 and have won four in a row.

Bruins

A lot of people believed the Bruins would take a step back this season after their historic 2022-23 campaign, but Jim Montgomery’s squad is still thriving. Boston is top-10 on both ends of the ice and has a 35-12-14 record. David Pastrnak continues to prove why he’s one of the best players around, scoring 38 goals and supplying 49 assists in 61 games played. Brad Marchand is still producing as well with 53 points while Charlie Coyle also has 50 points. The Bruins are a very good team with lots of experience. Although winning the Atlantic Division isn’t the be-all to end-all, Boston is very much in the mix to do so. The Bruins are struggling at the moment though, compiling a 3-2-5 record in their previous 10 appearances.

Maple Leafs

10 points behind the Panthers, Toronto is probably the only team outside of the Bruins who could potentially catch Florida. The storyline for the Maple Leafs is the same every single year, make the playoffs then flame out in the first or second round. The hope is things will be different this time around. Sheldon Keefe’s group has 76 points and a 34-17-8 record. They’ve been red-hot since the All-Star break, only losing three times. Auston Matthews is on track for 75 goals, having scored 53 times and setting up another 25. The core five for this team of William Nylander, Matthews, Mitch Marner, Morgan Reilly, and John Tavares have all collected a minimum of 40 points. Marner, Matthews, and Nylander are over 70. The offensive firepower is clear, it simply comes down to locking it down defensively. Most NHL sportsbooks are giving Toronto the third-best odds in the Atlantic Division odds.