NHL futures: 2026-27 Eastern Conference best bets from proven expert
SportsLine expert Jeff Hochman has revealed his Eastern Conference best bets for the upcoming NHL season
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The Carolina Hurricanes finally got over the hump during the Rod Brind'Amour Era last spring and won the second Stanley Cup championship in franchise history. They now have the honor of raising the banner to the rafters of the Lenovo Center as they kick off the 2026-27 NHL season on Sept. 29.
Carolina will get the campaign started when they host the Florida Panthers, who won the title the previous two years before the Hurricanes took the crown in Brind'Amour's eighth season as head coach. The club hadn't hoisted Lord Stanley's Cup since he served as captain in 2006.
The Carolina-Florida matchup is one of five overall contests on the NHL's Opening Night schedule and one of three involving Eastern Conference teams. The Montreal Canadiens visit the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Boston Bruins host the New York Rangers in a pair of Original Six battles.
With just over three weeks to go before the puck drops for the 109th season in league history, it's time to start gathering information in order to make your Eastern Conference futures bets, and SportsLine expert Jeff Hochman is here to help.
Hochman dives deep into the statistics for every NHL team and developed a system that brings positive results. The average person would be absolutely amazed by how many categories he uses in order to determine what teams should be backed and which ones should be faded.
Hochman emerged on the sports betting scene in the 1990s. Today, he's one of the nation's most respected and selective handicappers. "This is not a hobby of mine," Hochman says. "It's my business, and I take it very seriously."
While excelling in most major sports, Hochman has enjoyed plenty of success with hockey. Over the past three NHL seasons, he is 81-69 (+656), and he capped the 2025-26 season with a plus-money future on Carolina to hoist the Stanley Cup.
Now, Hochman has revealed his top five futures best bets in the Eastern Conference for the 2026-27 NHL season.
What Eastern Conference teams are some of the best bets for the 2026-27 NHL season based on proven expert Jeff Hochman's reliable systems and computer model? ... Join SportsLine to see Hochman's top five Eastern Conference best bets for the upcoming NHL season!
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