NHL Metropolitan Division Winner Odds, Favorites to Win, Best Bets 2024/25: Devils Odds Continue to Grow

• New Jersey Devils odds to win the division title continue to grow as the current betting favorite

• New Jersey is in first place in the division standings with eight total points

• The New York Rangers comfortably lead the league in Expected Goals For in All Situations

After injuries derailed their 2023-2024 campaign, the New Jersey Devils have finally shown what their ceiling can be by getting off to a hot start to their year. At 4-1-0, the Devils are in first place in the Metropolitan division standings and are listed as the current betting favorites to win the division title. Their metrics back up their success as the Devils are one of the few teams who rank above league average in both Expected Goals For and Expected Goals Against in All Situations.

Moving down the board, the New York Rangers offense continues to be the best unit in the league as they currently lead the rest of the pack in Expected Goals For in All Situations and by a wide margin. Their defense continues to be a thorn in their side, desperately needing their back line to improve their level of play to help be a well-rounded contender. As for the Carolina Hurricanes, it was a rough debut for their retooled defense as they lost to the Tampa Bay Lightning 4-1 in their season opener.

NHL Metropolitan Division Winner Odds 2024/25

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Metropolitan Division Winner Predictions and Favorites to Win 

With Jack Hughes back from injury, oddsmakers believe the New Jersey Devils will be in a position to claim their first Metropolitan division title since its inception in 2013.

New Jersey Devils (+230) at Caesars

With health back on their side, the New Jersey Devils entered the year with high expectations as they were listed as one of the betting favorites for the Stanley Cup. Injuries derailed their regular season campaign last year, handicapping their ceiling while consistently dealing with a loss of production. Now at near full strength, the Devils have already flashed deep run potential as they are one of the few teams ranked above league average in both Expected Goals For and Expected Goals Against in All Situations.

Their goaltending duo of Jacob Markstrom and Jake Allen have also given their defense a much-needed boost in defensive production as both goalies have played at a high level so far this season. As of writing, Markstrom is averaging 2.71 Goals Against per Game and a Save Percentage of .906 while Allen is averaging 0.50 Goals Against per Game and an astonishing Save Percentage of .974. It may be early, but the Devils may be worth an addition to the portfolio to pair along with our Rangers division title position.

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Carolina Hurricanes (+320) at FanDuel

Entering the season, question marks were already looming over the Hurricanes' revamped back line after they lost multiple productive defensive players throughout the offseason. In their season debut, the Hurricanes lost to the Tampa Bay Lighting 4-1 while generating an Expected Goals Against mark of 3.80. Their lack of defensive production has only created more cause for concern, especially with how well the New Jersey Devils and New York Rangers have already looked.

While their defense struggled to lessen the quality of the Lightning’s Shots on Goal, their offense actually managed to play very well by finishing the contest with an Expected Goals For mark of 3.52. Every ounce of their offensive production will be needed early on in their year as they continue to reconfigure their back line, desperately needing to stay within winning pace in a top-heavy division. Until their defense elevates their level of play, pass on the Hurricanes' current short odds to win the division title.

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New York Islanders (+1600) at Caesars

After the top three, the New York Islanders bridge the gap between the division title contenders and the division longshots. They are projected to possess just enough production to stay within the division title picture, yet not enough to actually threaten the top three favorites. Their metrics back up that sentiment, ranking just slightly below the league average in Expected Goals For and Expected Goals Against in All Situations.  

Unfortunately for the Islanders, below average is not nearly enough to compete with the New Jersey Devils and New York Rangers as both units already look head and shoulders better than the rest of the division. Vezina Trophy contender Ilya Sorokin can’t play in every game to help keep contests tight enough for their offense to compete in. With not enough production on either side of the ice to compete with the top of the Metropolitan, pass on the Islanders' current odds to win the division title.

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Who Will Win the Metropolitan Division - My Pick 

New York Rangers (+250) at BetMGM

After losing to the Florida Panthers in the 2023-2024 Eastern Conference Finals, the New York Rangers enter the new year with deep playoff run potential by retaining a majority of their core throughout the offseason. Their continuity has already shown to pay immediate dividends, ranking first overall in Expected Goals For in All Situations and by a wide margin. As of writing, the Rangers are the only offense to average over four Expected Goals per game.

While their offense has thrived, their defense has struggled to give them the support they need as their back line ranks below league average in Expected Goals Against. With a lack of defensive production, the Rangers will continue to find themselves in high-variance situations which hurts their chances of staying within the New Jersey Devils' point total pace for first in the division standings. Continue to back the Rangers to win the division, yet be prepared to hedge with the New Jersey Devils if their defensive woes persist.

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Who Won the Metropolitan Division in 2023/2024?

The New York Rangers won the Metropolitan division in 2023-2024, claiming their second division title since its inception in 2013.

Metropolitan Division History

Since the NHL’s realignment in 2013, only four teams have managed to win the Metropolitan division title. The Washington Capitals are the current leaders with five division titles, followed behind the Carolina Hurricanes and New York Rangers who are tied at two apiece. The Pittsburgh Penguins have also managed to win the division, winning the Metropolitan in 2014. Oddsmakers believe a new name may join them this year as the New Jersey Devils are the current betting favorites to win this year’s division title.

Past Metropolitan Division Winners

How to Choose the Best Sportsbook for Betting on the Metropolitan Division Winner

When making a wager on the Metropolitan division winner market, it’s important to create an account with as many NHL betting sites as you can. This allows you to line shop the market as odds can vary between each book. When betting on the Rangers to win the Metropolitan division, their odds can be found as high as +250 at BetMGM and as low as +170 at Caesars. That is a difference of $80 in profit for a $100 bettor.

Another benefit of acquiring multiple sportsbooks is that you can collect multiple signup bonuses to help boost your bankroll. Caesars Sportsbook for example is giving new users up to $1,000 First Bet on Caesars should you lose your first wager after creating an account with the WSN promo code WSN1000.

How to Read Metropolitan Division Winner Odds

Before making any type of wager, it’s vital to understand how listed odds work. Should you bet the Rangers to win the Metropolitan division at their current odds of +250, then a $100 wager would profit you $250 should they win the division. Should you wait to see if they get off to a sizable lead and are listed with a minus sign in front of their odds (ex: -130), then you would need to wager $130 to profit $100.