COL-SEA_DraftKings

Hunter Skoczylas of DraftKings breaks down and offers betting insight on all eight of the NHL's Western Conference teams in the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
The Stanley Cup Playoffs start Monday, and the race for the Stanley Cup will be intense with plenty of deep, talented teams poised to claim the championship.
But which Western Conference team has what it takes to become the next Stanley Cup champion?

RELATED:
DraftKings: Eastern Conference Stanley Cup odds
The Colorado Avalanche started slow but finished the season with multiple winning streaks and all-around dominant hockey. But can they repeat as Cup champs? Or is this the year Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers get over the hump and win their first title since 1990?
Read below for a breakdown of every Western Conference playoff team's potential success this postseason, including an "X-Factor" for each team that could be the reason they're hoisting the Stanley Cup by the end.
Place your NHL bets at DraftKings Sportsbook or by downloading the DraftKings Sportsbook app.
WESTERN CONFERENCE PREVIEW
Vegas Golden Knights (+1400)
Note: If you're new to betting, the Golden Knights' +1400 odds mean a $100 bet would profit $1,400 for a total payout of $1,500 if they win the Stanley Cup.
The Golden Knights didn't have one individual player propel himself that far ahead of the rest of the pack but were a collective unit that was able to score consistently. Vegas averaged 3.26 goals per game and the eighth most high-danger chances -- all while having 12 skaters with double-digit goals. On top of the offensive consistency, all four of Vegas' goalies have posted save percentages of at least .915, so its opponents will have a tough time matching its overall depth, especially when the bottom-six forwards are out there.
X-Factor: Depth
Edmonton Oilers (+800)
Note: If you're new to betting, the Oilers' +800 odds mean a $100 bet would profit $800 for a total payout of $900 if they win the Stanley Cup.
Although they finished second in the Pacific Division and Western Conference, the Oilers have been the hottest team since the NHL Trade Deadline on March 3. McDavid routinely reaches the 100-point club but was on another level this season, finishing with over 150 points. The goaltending and defense can be inconsistent at times, which means McDavid, Leon Draisaitl and the rest of the top six will need to bring some extra firepower if they're going to outlast tougher squads like Vegas and Colorado. The good thing about all of this is McDavid has the ability to carry his team to victory, so as long as he's out there, the Oilers can win.
X-Factor: McDavid
Colorado Avalanche (+650)
Note: If you're new to betting, the Avalanche's +650 odds mean a $100 bet would profit $650 for a total payout of $750 if they win the Stanley Cup.
The Stanley Cup hangover was a bit strong for the Avalanche at the start of the season, and many began to doubt if they were capable of running it back -- especially with so many injuries to key players. They turned things around, however, and won the Central Division thanks to their strong top-six forwards and top-four defensemen. Nathan MacKinnon, Mikko Rantanen and Cale Makar led the squad in terms of points and will look to continue their postseason dominance just like they did last year.
X-Factor: Top six
Dallas Stars (+1500)
Note: If you're new to betting, the Stars' +1500 odds mean a $100 bet would profit $1,500 for a total payout of $1,600 if they win the Stanley Cup.
Although they finished as the fourth seed in the conference and in second place in the Central Division, the Stars are a sneaky good team that could easily make a run to the Stanley Cup Final because of their high-level play in all areas. Dallas has five skaters with at least 70 points and a starting goaltender in Jake Oettinger, who's tied for the third most wins on the season. The Stars' depth is going to be hard to match for most teams, especially in a seven-game series. If that wasn't enough, the Stars have a top five power play and penalty kill.
X-Factor: Depth and discipline
Minnesota Wild (+2200)
Note: If you're new to betting, the Wild's +2200 odds mean a $100 bet would profit $2,200 for a total payout of $2,300 if they win the Stanley Cup.
The Wild finished the final 40 games of the season with a 23-11-6 record and in third place in the conference, crediting strong defense and goaltending. Despite having one of the youngest and dynamic snipers in the NHL in wing Kirill Kaprizov, the Wild had the sixth lowest goals per game average. Goalie Filip Gustavsson and the rest of the defense proved it can perform at a high level, so it will all come down to how well Kaprizov and the rest of the top six will perform in the games that matter.
X-Factor: Kaprizov
Los Angeles Kings (+2200)
Note: If you're new to betting, the Kings' +2200 odds mean a $100 bet would profit $2,200 for a total payout of $2,300 if they win the Stanley Cup.
The Kings had a rough end to their season, dropping five of their final nine games but have a roster that's built to withstand tough opponents. The Kings finished third in the Pacific Division and seven points out of first place but don't offer that high-powered feel that most of the other playoff teams do. The postseason success will almost directly stem from how well the Kings' veteran leaders, forward Anze Kopitar and defenseman Drew Doughty, keep them composed in those big moments and how well the power play continues to perform after finishing the season with the fourth best power-play percentage (25.3).
X-Factor: Experience
Seattle Kraken (+4000)
Note: If you're new to betting, the Kraken's +4000 odds mean a $100 bet would profit $4,000 for a total payout of $4,100 if they win the Stanley Cup.
As one of the more exciting options to root for when it comes to underdogs, the Kraken offer a ton of potential to steal games purely because of their offensive success. Seattle rolls four strong lines and finished the season averaging 3.52 goals per game (tied for fourth in NHL). There's depth all over the place and their bottom six will still be able to generate consistent offensive pressure. The Kraken's main weakness is their goaltending, and the opposing conference foes will certainly be able to get the puck in the back of the net more often than not.
X-Factor: Offensive attack
Winnipeg Jets (+3500)
Note: If you're new to betting, the Jets' +3500 odds mean a $100 bet would profit $3,500 for a total payout of $3,600 if they win the Stanley Cup.
Despite going 20-18-2 in their last 40 games, the Jets clinched one of two Western Conference wild card spots and offer some intriguing potential given how stellar their goaltending has been. Connor Hellebuyck finished the regular season tied for the third most wins, ranked third in save percentage (.920; minimum 40 games) and could single-handedly win Winnipeg a few games in any series. Winnipeg's top six and first defensive pair, led by Josh Morrissey (76 points; tied for second among NHL defensemen), have also produced solid seasons and come into the postseason with a real chance to advance to the next round in an upset.
X-Factor: Goaltending
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I am a promoter at DraftKings and am also an avid fan and user (my username is huntersk) and may sometimes play on my personal account in the games that I offer advice on. Although I have expressed my personal view on the games and strategies above, they do not necessarily reflect the view(s) of DraftKings and do not constitute a representation that any particular strategy will guarantee success. All customers should use their own skill and judgment in building lineups. I may also deploy different players and strategies than what I recommend above. I am not an employee of DraftKings and do not have access to any non-public information.