NHL Western Conference Winner Odds & Predictions 2024/25: McDavid's Return Helps Keep the Oilers Afloat

• Connor McDavid managed to return from injury two weeks ahead of schedule

• The Winnipeg Jets currently have a sizable lead at the top of the Western Conference standings

• The Dallas Stars defense ranks 24th overall in Expected Goals Against in All Situations

After Connor McDavid went down with an ankle injury, it was expected the Edmonton Oilers would struggle to maintain their high marks in Expected Goals For in All Situations during his absence. Fortunately for Edmonton, McDavid managed to return from injury two weeks ahead of schedule which helps the Oilers avoid a potential slump while already near the bottom of the Pacific division standings. Even at less than 100%, McDavid still gives the Oilers a major boost in offensive production.

As for the rest of the Western Conference Championship contenders, the Dallas Stars continue to struggle with generating a hot stretch of play due to their defense ranking near dead last in Expected Goals Against in All Situations. The Winnipeg Jets meanwhile currently possess a sizable lead at the top of the Western Conference standings, yet their lack of offensive production hurts their chances of sustaining their Points Percentage as their low-scoring affairs bring in a high amount of negative variance.

NHL Western Conference Championship Odds 

Odds courtesy of Caesars Sportsbook. Click on the odds in the table below to head to Caesars and place your bets: $1,000 First Bet on Caesars OR $250 in Bonus Bets.

Rest of the conference listed at +900 or higher

NHL Western Conference Championship Predictions and Favorites to Win 

After retaining their stars, oddsmakers believe the Oilers are in a position to be the first repeat Western Conference champions since the Red Wings did it in 2008-2009.

Edmonton Oilers (+450) at Caesars

Just when the Edmonton Oilers were starting to build momentum after a slow start to the year, they suffered the worst news possible when it was reported Connor McDavid would need to miss 2-3 weeks of the season after suffering an ankle injury. Not only did the Oilers manage to remain competitive by going 2-2 during his absence, but McDavid also managed to make his return from injury two weeks ahead of schedule to help keep the Oilers afloat.

With the Hart Memorial Trophy betting favorite back in the lineup, the Oilers offense will continue to be one of the more formidable units in the league as they currently rank seventh overall in Expected Goals For in All Situations. Every bit of their offensive production is needed while their goaltending underwhelms as Stuart Skinner continues to allow in low-quality goals at an alarming rate. Until Skinner can round back into form, then pass on the Oilers' current odds to win the Western Conference Championship.

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Colorado Avalanche (+800) at Caesars

After entering the year listed as one of the betting favorites to win the Western Conference Championship, the Colorado Avalanche continue to trend in the wrong direction and stumble down the oddsboard as they struggle to break .500. With only 14 total points and a 7-8-0 record, the Avalanche are currently in fifth place in the Central Division standings and 10th overall in the Western Conference standings.

A stunningly bad level of play for a unit that ranks above league average in both Expected Goals For and Expected Goals Against in All SItuations, yet the Avalanche continue to suffer from a lack of production from their starting goaltender Alexandar Georgiev. As of writing, Georgiev is averaging over four Goals Against per game and a lowly Save Percentage of .851. Until the Avs can find more consistency from their goaltending, then pass on their current odds to win the Western Conference Championship.

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Vancouver Canucks (+1000) at FanDuel

While the Oilers and Avalanche suffer from a lack of production in net, the Vancouver Canucks goaltending has helped elevate their defense to top-3 marks in Expected Goals Against in All Situations and in 5-on-5 Play. Kevin Lankinen is steadily building a case for the Vezina Trophy award as he is currently averaging just 2.61 Goals Against per game while generating a Save Percentage of .905.

Unfortunately for Vancouver, their offense has yet to give their defense the production they need to help be a well-rounded contender as the Canucks front line ranks well below league average in Expected Goals For in All Situations. Even when fielding arguably one of the best defenses in the league, the Canucks will continue to play in high-variance contests due to their lack of offense. Pass on the Canucks for now, but continue to monitor them for a potential wager should their front line round back into form.

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Who Will Win the NHL Western Conference Championship - My Pick 

Dallas Stars (+450) at Caesars

After a 7-2 start to the season, the Dallas Stars have quickly fallen back down to reality as they are now 8-5-0 and 12 points behind the Winnipeg Jets for first place in the Central division standings. Their lack of defensive production has played a major role in their recent struggles as the Stars defense has dropped down to as low as 24th overall in Expected Goals For in All Situations after residing in the top-3 earlier in the year.

Even with the Stars back line struggling to lessen the quality of opposing Shots on Goal, their pair of goalies Jake Oettinger and Casey DeSmith have managed to continue to play at a high level as they are averaging a combined 2.20 Goals Against per game and a Save Percentage of .920. Even with their elite production in net, the Stars back line will need to swiftly round back into form to help limit the amount of negative variance moving forward. Especially if their offense cools off after a hot stretch of play.

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Who Won the NHL Western Conference Championship in 2023/2024?

The Edmonton Oilers won the Western Conference in 2023-2024, claiming their 8th conference title.

NHL Western Conference History

Since its inception in 1982, the Western Conference has been dominated by the Edmonton Oilers as they currently lead the West with eight total conference championships in 11 appearances. Even as the current favorites to win the West, history has shown that it is not easy to repeat as a conference champion as no one has done it since the Detroit Red Wings did it back in 2008-2009.

Past MHL Western Conference Winners

How to Choose the Best Sportsbook for Betting on the NHL Western Conference Championship

When making a wager on the Western Conference Championship futures market, it’s important to have access to as many NHL sportsbooks as you can get. This gives you the ability to lineshop as odds can drastically vary for the conference winner. The Dallas Stars for example can be found as low as +400 at BetMGM and as high as +450 at Caesars to win the Western Conference. That is a difference of $50 in profit for a $100 bettor.

Another major benefit of collecting multiple sportsbooks is that you can receive their unique signup bonus. This gives you a boost to your bankroll, giving you a headstart ahead of the NHL season. FanDuel Sportsbook for example is giving new users $150 in bonus bets after creating an account and winning their first bet of at least $5.

*Bonus Bets Expire in 7 Days. One New Customer Offer Only. Add’l terms.

How to Read NHL Western Conference Winner Odds

When making any type of wager, it’s vital to know how listed odds work. Should you bet the Stars to win the conference at their current odds of +450, then a $100 wager would profit you $450 should they win the Western Conference. Should you decide to wait and see if they make it to the Western Conference Finals and are listed with a minus sign in front of their number (ex: -130), then you would need to wager $130 to profit $100 if they win the Western Conference.