The worst NHL team odds for 2024-25 offer a unique approach to hockey futures. While some teams in the NHL have Stanley Cup aspirates, other clubs are trying to stay out of the basement.
In this article, I examine the latest odds and share my predictions for the team to finish with the worst NHL regular season record in 2024-25.
2024-25 Worst NHL Team Odds
The following NHL worst record betting odds are courtesy of Bovada:
| TEAM | ODDS |
|---|---|
| San Jose Sharks | +165 |
| Columbus Blue Jackets | +300 |
| Anaheim Ducks | +550 |
| Chicago Blackhawks | +750 |
| Montreal Canadiens | +1200 |
| Calgary Flames | +1400 |
| Philadelphia Flyers | +2800 |
| St. Louis Blues | +2800 |
| Buffalo Sabres | +4000 |
| Seattle Kraken | +4000 |
After a 19-54-9 season with 47 points, the San Jose Sharks (+165) are favored to be the worst NHL team in 2024-25. At +165, the Sharks have a 37.7% implied probability of finishing with the fewest points this season.
Following the Sharks, the Columbus Blue Jackets (+300) have the shortest odds for the worst record. After a tragic offseason in Columbus, the Blue Jackets are expected to put a poor product on the ice.
You can find up-to-date worst NHL team odds at Bovada by navigating to All Sports > Hockey > NHL Futures > NHL 2024/25 Worst Regular Season Record.
2024-25 Worst NHL Team Favorites
The best of the worst is a competitive NHL betting market this season! There are a few squads who stand above the rest as the most likely to finish with the worst NHL record in 2024-25:
San Jose Sharks (+165)
According to the best NHL betting sites, the Sharks are the leading candidates to repeat with the worst record in the NHL. They got off to an abysmal start a season ago, opening the season on an 11-game losing skid!
After the seasonâs first month, the Sharks were overwhelming favorites to have the worst record. They were able to recover in November, when with their best run of the season with five wins in seven games. Afterward, though, the Sharks ended the season how they started it.
San Jose lost 16 of their last 19 games to finish with only 47 points! This solidified the Sharksâ league-worst mark of 19-54-9. However, I expect this young squad to see progress this season. Although it isnât going to be anything substantial, the addition of rookie center Macklin Celebrini should help.
WHAT A SHOT đ„
Macklin Celebrini finds the back of the net in his first preseason game! pic.twitter.com/U0d22DEiV0
— NHL (@NHL) September 23, 2024
Celebrini was selected with the first overall pick of the 2024 NHL Entry Draft. He is already making a splash in the preseason, and I expect him to send this team in the right direction. He should fit in well with 25-year-old left winger Fabian Zetterlund and 21-year-old William Eklund.
Look for the Sharks to show growth this season, so I donât see any betting value on them at +165 odds. Look elsewhere for your worst NHL team betting picks!
Columbus Blue Jackets (+300)
The Columbus Blue Jackets enter the 2024-25 regular season after an offseason marred by tragedy. Prominent forward, Johnny Gaudreau, passed away after a drunk driver struck him and his brother during a bike ride near their childhood home in New Jersey.
The loss of Gaudreau leaves a hole in the organization that goes far beyond the on-ice product. The ripple effect in the locker room and in the hearts of those who were close to him is the biggest takeaway from Gaudreauâs death. When it comes to hockey, yes, his absence will have an impact on the Jackets.
Johnny Gaudreau
Aug. 13, 1993 â Aug. 29, 2024 pic.twitter.com/QGPsV4v7mv— Columbus Blue Jackets (@BlueJacketsNHL) August 30, 2024
This is a club that went 27-43-12 with 66 points a season ago. They were not good to begin with, even with Gaudreau in the lineup. He was a major asset in the locker room as well as on the ice, leading the Blue Jackets in points with 60 in 2023-24.
Columbus is in rebuild mode, and the unfortunate passing of Gaudreau only expedites that process for the Blue Jackets. I donât see a lot of progress for Columbus this season due to a lack of depth. In fact, they will likely regress and take a further seat back than the 2023-24 campaign
Last season, the Blue Jackets finished last in the Metropolitan Divison. Expect more of the same, but only this time, itâs possible they are dead last in the NHL. With the Sharks and Blackhawks improving, the Blue Jackets could be in the basement this season.
Anaheim Ducks (+550)
The Ducks were a near co-favorite to finish last a season ago. San Jose was just too bad for the Ducks, though, as they recorded a mark of 27-50-5. That was 12 points better than the Sharks in the Pacific Division.
In the end, it wasnât particularly close, with the Sharks easily worse than the Ducks. The second overall pick of the 2023 NHL Draft, Leo Carlsson, showed promise in his rookie campaign. Look for Carlsson to continue to grow this season.
Leo Carlsson is nastyyy in the shootout đźâđšđ„ pic.twitter.com/SeOboiv057
— Gino Hard (@GinoHard_) February 25, 2024
He and Mason McTavish should have a solid season together. Additionally, the Ducks welcomed Beckett Sennecke to the organization with the third overall pick of the 2024 NHL Draft. It was an unexpected selection, as Sennecke was not forecasted to go off the board that high.
Nevertheless, the Ducks have a quality young core, and some veteran leadership with experienced defenseman Cam Fowler remaining in Anaheim for another year. I donât see the Ducks falling backward, so I do not see them as a contender for the worst record in the NHL in 2024-25!
NHL Worst Team Sleepers
Although there isnât a high probability of a longshot, there are a couple of plays at sports betting sites worth your attention! They include big payouts, so even if you want to sprinkle a small bet, consider placing it on these long shots:
Buffalo Sabres (+4000)
Already off to a 0-1-0 start, the Sabres are likely in for another rough season. Things will turn around in Buffalo eventually, but it could get worse before brighter skies begin to emerge. Jeff Skinner left for Edmonton after spending six years in Buffalo.
Skinner is on the other side of his prime, but he will be missed in Buffalo. In the 4-1 loss to the Devils, netminder Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen had a shaky performance. If the Sabres are going to avoid another poor season, they need top goaltending and that isnât a confidence-inspiring start.
The Sabres have work to do to get into playoff contention. Two or three injuries could very well throw their season into havoc, so Buffalo finishing with the worst NHL record is worth considering at +4000!
Utah Hockey Club (+4000)
The Arizona Coyotes, er, Utah Hockey Club drop the puck in a new beginning in Salt Lake City. After relocating from Arizona, Utah will aim to have a great start in their new home. Last season, this franchise finished second-last in the Central Division at 36-41-5.
I like some of the pieces of this Utah squad. Clayton Keller, including Nick Schmaltz and Nick Bjugstad, has some support on this roster. That said, I do not expect massive leaps forward in their new home in Utah.
Theyâll need to have some bad luck with injuries, but Utah has a path to the worst record in the NHL if things go astray. Like the Sabres, a small play is warranted on the Utah Hockey Club.
2024-25 NHL Worst Team Predictions and Betting Pick
We cashed the Sharks to finish with the worst record a season ago at Bovada. However, in 2024-25, I am not ecstatic about betting on them to do it again. They should experience some gains with Celebrini emerging as a young, up-and-coming star in the NHL.
There isnât any value on the Sharks at +165, so I am more inclined to back the Blue Jackets. Gaudreauâs unfortunate passing should be a source of motivation to open the season. Expect the Blue Jackets to play hard out of the gate. However, they should begin to run out of gas in December and onward.
The Sharks and Ducks should both show forward movement this season â I canât say the same for the Blue Jackets. They will be a competitive team once again in the future, but it wonât happen this year. At +300, the Jackets for the worst NHL record is a solid wager at Bovada!
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