Flyers middle of the pack in 2022 Stanley Cup odds

The Philadelphia Flyers returned to the ice on Tuesday night to open up their preseason slate in all-too-familiar fashion, losing to the New York Islanders — the team that beat them in seven games two seasons ago in the Eastern Conference semifinals — in overtime 3-2.

It was the first opportunity to see the re-tooled side in game action after a disappointing 2021 season left more questions rather than answers.

At least early indications suggest that franchise goaltender Carter Hart is ready to put last season’s struggles behind him. The defense also looks improved as the newly-acquired Ryan Ellis stood out in his first action in a Flyers uniform.

However, the Flyers are seen as sizable longshots to win their first Stanley Cup in four-and-a-half decades considering how far they fell last year. It remains to be seen if general manager Chuck Fletcher was able to check off all the boxes in one offseason — but such a start turnaround is rare in the NHL.

It’s why the bookies have placed the Flyers firmly in the middle of the pack of Stanley Cup contenders with five teams from their division — the Metropolitan — ranked above them:

 

2022 Stanley Cup champions odds

1. Colorado Avalanche: +475
2. Vegas Golden Knights: +700
3. Tampa Bay Lightning: +700
4. Toronto Maple Leafs: +900
5. Boston Bruins: +1300
6. New York Islanders: +1500
7. Florida Panthers: +1800
8. Edmonton Oilers: +2000
9. New York Rangers: +2200
10. Carolina Hurricanes: +2500
11. Pittsburgh Penguins: +2500
12. Minnesota Wild: +2500
13. Washington Capitals: +3000
14. Dallas Stars: +3500
15. Seattle Kraken: +4000
16. Philadelphia Flyers: +4000
17. Winnipeg Jets: +4500
18. Chicago Blackhawks: +4500
19. Calgary Flames: +4500
20. St. Louis Blues: +5000
21. New Jersey Devils: +5000
22. Montreal Canadiens: +5000
23. Vancouver Canucks: +6000
24. San Jose Sharks: +10000
25. Nashville Predators: +10000
26. Los Angeles Kings: +10000
27. Detroit Red Wings: +15000
28. Columbus Blue Jackets: +20000
29. Buffalo Sabres: +20000
30. Arizona Coyotes: +20000
31. Anaheim Ducks: +20000
32. Ottawa Senators: +20000

Odds courtesy of DraftKings