Whether you expected it or not, the home team to watch in New York sports betting this season clearly was the New York Rangers.
The Rangers’ deep playoff run was a good thing, too, because success was elusive in NHL betting for the state’s other two teams.
Let’s look at what happened with the New York Islanders and Buffalo Sabres last season and how oddsmakers view their chances in the season ahead.
New York Islanders
What a difference a year makes.
The Islanders were playing their last full season in 2020-21 in the Nassau Coliseum and they made it truly memorable.
After a thrilling run to Eastern Conference Finals that ended one game short of the Stanley Cup Finals, the Islanders started the 2021-22 season as one of the clear favorites for another run, especially in their brand-new UBS Arena, next to historic Belmont Park
However, New York started the season with a 13-game road trip due to UBS Arena opening delays and had a 5-6-2 record during that span. It left the Isles reeling and they never fully would recover.
The Islanders finished with a 37-35-10 record (84 points), finishing fifth in the Metropolitan Division and ninth in the 16-team Eastern Conference.
On the eve of the NHL Draft, the Islanders will be looking to add some more offensive firepower and have to decide if they want to try and make another run under new coach Lane Lambert or continue to rebuild and have depth from last year’s disappointing season.
Turns out, oddsmakers are leaning toward the rebuild as 2023 future odds have been posted on all New York sports betting apps.
Caesars Sportsbook New York has the Islanders at +1600, tied with the Washington Capitals, to win the Eastern Conference. Teams ahead of them include, in order Toronto and Tampa Bay (tied for first at +450), Florida, Carolina, the Rangers, Pittsburgh and Boston.
The Islanders are at +3500 to win the Stanley Cup for a fifth time in their history, tied with the Capitals and Los Angeles Kings for 14th place in the 32-team league.
Look for updates on NewYorkBets.com as well as the best New York sports betting promo codes.
Buffalo Sabres
With some salary cap space to work with, the Buffalo Sabres will look to add some veteran leadership and experience to a young squad that finished with a lackluster 32-39-11 record (75 points). That placed the Sabres fifth in the Atlantic Division and 11th overall in the Eastern Conference.
The Sabres have something to build on as they finished the year with a 16-9-3 record over the last two months of the season and on the eve of the NHL Draft will look to add even more young talent and depth to their roster.
Expectations for next year from the oddsmakers are to be expected.
As of late Wednesday morning, Buffalo is at +4000 to win the Eastern Conference, tied with the Ottawa Senators. To win the Stanley Cup those odds are doubled to +8000, tied with the Senators and Anaheim Ducks, and making the Sabres an extreme long shot.
For both the Sabres and Islanders, a hopeful optimism is out there among both fanbases and Empire State sports bettors.
NHL Draft Held July 7-8 in Montreal
The NHL Draft will take place on July 7-8 at Bell Centre in Montreal.
The Islanders will have five selections, including the No. 13 pick in the first round. Other selections: No. 65 (Round 2 from the Colorado Avalanche), No. 78 (R3), No. 142 (R5) and No. 174 (R6).
The Sabres have a whopping 11 selections, including three-first round choices at No. 9, No. 16 (from Vegas Golden Knights) and No. 28 (from Florida Panthers). The other selections: No. 41 (Round 2), No. 74 (R3), No. 106 (R4), No. 134 (R5 from New Jersey Devils), No. 170 (R6), No. 187 (R6 from Calgary Flames via Panthers), No. 202 (R7) and No. 211 (R7 from Dallas Stars)
