NHL Betting Guide For 2022-23
The NHL is considered to be the premier professional ice hockey league in the world. That being the case, competitive NHL betting lines are heavily sought after by US hockey fans.
The lengthy NHL season is broken down into three parts: the exhibition season, the regular season, and the postseason (i.e., NHL Playoffs and Stanley Cup Finals). Together, these span from September through to June each year. This means that hockey fans can bet on their favorite NHL teams almost all year long!
For those of you who are new to hockey, you can learn more about the NHL hockey league and teams a little further down this page. For those of you who are ready to get started and want more information about betting, you can visit our page covering how to bet on hockey and our page about reading hockey betting lines to get off on the right skate.
Though hockey betting legalities in the US can be confusing, there are a number of legally licensed and regulated offshore sportsbooks that American residents can use to place real-money wagers without violating any federal laws. You can read more about the legal status of betting on hockey in the United States on our home page.
Some of the most valuable assets you'll find in this guide are our recommendations for legal hockey betting sites. Each of the sites featured here has been vetted by our team of analysts, and each site's licensing and compliance certifications have been verified for legitimacy.
The operators we recommend all offer legally sanctioned destinations for US residents interested in wagering on hockey. Making sure you use a sportsbook that is legitimately licensed and regulated is a key aspect of legal hockey betting, and we're happy to one-time you the assist!
Best USA Sports Betting Site for Legally Betting on Hockey In 2024
BetOnline Sportsbook is our top recommendation for US residents seeking legal options for betting on NHL teams and games (as well as betting on college hockey lines). BetOnline AG has been in the business since 1991, making it one of the pioneers of the online betting industry. The site is a trusted brand that goes the extra mile to offer a secure, legal betting environment for US residents.
For new members, BetOnline has an excellent $1000 welcome bonus, and the site offers a 25% match bonus (also worth up to $1000) for all recurring deposits you make during the life of your account. BetOnline also features a mobile sports betting application and in-game betting features that include live NHL betting lines. The operator is licensed and regulated by the government of Panama, and both US and international players are supported with a wide range of banking methods including Bitcoin, Litecoin, Ethereum, and more!
2024's Best NHL Betting Sites In The USA
| Sportsbook | Bonus | USA | Rating 0-10 | Visit Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Betonline Sportsbook | 25% Max $1,000 | Yes | 9.3 | Visit Site |
| Mybookie | 50% Max $1,000 | Yes | 9.2 | Visit Site |
| Sportsbetting.ag | 25% Max $1,000 | Yes | 9.1 | Visit Site |
| Bovada Sportsbook | 50% Max $250 | Yes | 8.9 | Visit Site |
| Bookmaker | 50% Max $300 | Yes | 8.6 | Visit Site |
NHL Hockey Teams
The National Hockey League (NHL) is made up of 32 teams that are spread out over four divisions in two main conferences, the Eastern Conference and the Western Conference.
The NHL actually shares a lot in common with the NBA in terms of how the league is set up and operated. It wasn't always like this, as there used to be several competing hockey leagues in the US and Canada, but the NHL was the last league standing.
Since then, as more and more teams joined up, they were broken down into conferences and divisions in order to organize playing schedules and a playoff system. With 32 teams today, the NHL can still accept new teams into its league any time it wishes.
Teams By Division:
There are two divisions under each conference. The Eastern Conference is divided into two divisions, the Atlantic Division and the Metropolitan Division. The Western Conference is divided into the Central Division and the Pacific Division.
Teams are put in divisions based on their geographic location. Each region has an equal opportunity to compete over an 82-game regular season schedule within their division, either winning the division or winning enough games to earn a wild-card berth into the playoffs.
NHL Eastern Conference
Atlantic Division:
- Boston Bruins
- Buffalo Sabres
- Detroit Red Wings
- Florida Panthers
- Montreal Canadiens
- Ottawa Senators
- Tampa Bay Lightning
- Toronto Maple Leafs
Metropolitan Division:
- Carolina Hurricanes
- Columbus Blue Jackets
- New Jersey Devils
- New York Islanders
- New York Rangers
- Philadelphia Flyers
- Pittsburgh Penguins
- Washington Capitals
NHL Western Conference
Pacific Division:
- Anaheim Ducks
- Calgary Flames
- Edmonton Oilers
- Los Angeles Kings
- San Jose Sharks
- Seattle Kraken
- Vancouver Canucks
- Vegas Golden Knights
Central Division:
- Arizona Coyotes
- Chicago Blackhawks
- Colorado Avalanche
- Dallas Stars
- Minnesota Wild
- Nashville Predators
- St. Louis Blues
- Winnipeg Jets
Pro hockey is no longer limited to cold-weather states, as NHL teams now reside in Arizona, Nevada, Florida, California, and Texas. The NHL is also an international league – with seven teams in Canada, too.
With the rules of free agency, a salary cap, and an NHL draft system that is closely tied to college hockey in the US, every team has an equal opportunity to compete for the Stanley Cup every year, and it's this fair play that has propelled the NHL to such great heights.
While some team markets are much larger than others, every NHL team has a solid fan base. If you want more detailed information about NHL teams in general, you can visit the NHL's official website.