The NHL is now well into its 2023/24 season and the top teams across the league are beginning to make themselves known.
It has become clear which teams are genuine contenders to win the Stanley Cup next year, but in truth, only around a dozen teams should be realistically counted out of potentially winning the prestigious prize.
Many exciting and unique narratives could be born off the back of the potential winning teams this season. We could see a franchise win the Stanley Cup for the first time, or we could see a certain team begin to create a magnificent legacy by securing back-to-back Championship triumphs.
Florida Panthers’ maiden success?
One of the major headlines that is a genuinely realistic outcome for the 2023/24 NHL campaign is for the Florida Panthers to win their first Stanley Cup in franchise history.
The Panthers are seen as genuine contenders by a wide range of major sportsbooks. For example, BetMGM offers them at +1800Ā to be the 2024 champions and they have a range ofĀ NHL betting bonuses this season which include aĀ $1500 first bet offer. Similar odds and offers are available at a host of sites, with the NHL expected to offer another dramatic and unpredictable season.
Panthers Eetu Luostarinen (27) and Ryan Lomberg (94) check William Eklund (center) off the puck – Photo by Jack Lima
The Panthers finished as runners-up last season, and could well go one better this time around, after an impressive start to the regular season. They won 11 of their opening 17 fixtures which means they have been one of the most in-form teams across the NHL.
EMPTY NETTER āļø pic.twitter.com/KdrjclMJZV
— Florida Panthers (@FlaPanthers) November 15, 2023
The Florida team has a strong centerĀ rotationĀ of Aleksandr Barkov and Sam Reinhart who have spearheaded much of their success so far this year. The pair scored 41 points combinedĀ in the opening 17 games.
Winger Matthew Tkachuk is their genuine difference maker though. He has beenĀ the team’s top assisterĀ with 14 in 17 appearances so far. Keeping Tkachuk fit will be vital to the Panthers’ overall chances this season – they do not have a quality like-for-like replacement to come in for him.
If the team’s stars can remain healthy, then we could finally be set to see the first-ever Stanley Cup victory for the Miami-based team.
Golden Knights could go back-to-back
The Vegas Golden Knights are Stanley Cup holders having beaten the Panthers in the 2023 final.
If the pair were to somehow meet again in this year’s final, then we would be guaranteed to be delivered a special headline.
The Vegas-based teamĀ could follow up the first success in their history with a remarkable title defense, or for the second year running, we could see a franchise win their first-ever honor if the Panthers were to succeed.
The Golden Knights are perhaps the more likely to secure a glamorous headline as they are offered at +1000 to retain the trophy in 2024. 
The Las Vegas team has arguably even stronger central depth than the Panthers, with William Karlsson and Jack Eichel having combined for 39 points in the team’s opening 19 games. The former has a +10 point differential when he is on the court making him one of the entire league’s most effective players so far this season.
They also have several top wide players such as MarkĀ Stone and Jonathan Marchessault, and a top defender in Shea Theodore. 
The Golden Knights certainly look best equipped to win the Stanley Cup in 2024 as opposed to the Panthers. However, the Florida team’s incredible start has laid down a firm statement – they are intent on avenging last year’s runners-up finish and they could write a fairytale story in doing so.
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