NHL Hockey Handicapping – 2010 NHL Trade Deadline Recap
Hockey Gambling fans sure are getting their money’s worth from the free nhl picks we give out here at Capperspicks.com.
After a trade deadline in which very few significant deals happened, it’s especially tough for bettors to see which teams “won” or “lost” yesterday. That’s why I’m here to help. Here are three key winners and losers from yesterday’s deadline.
Important to note: this comes from a betting perspective. We’ll focus on the contenders – teams whose Stanley Cup futures actually matter. Sure, the Toronto Maple Leafs were losers yesterday, but that’s hardly relevant to us.
WINNERS
Pittsburgh Penguins
Stanley Cup odds: +500
The Pens didn’t have to make significant moves; they still have most of their Stanley Cup-winning core from a year ago. But they did make a few smallish gains without giving up anything important. Alexei Ponikarovsky is a bona fide top-six winger with great size and Jordan Leopold can play in any situation, including the second power play unit.
Phoenix Coyotes
Stanley Cup odds: +4000
It’s heartwarming to see the Coyotes, expected to struggle and/or move out of Phoenix this year, playing the role of buyer. Wojtek Wolski is much more “now” than Peter Mueller, whom the Coyotes sent to Colorado. Wolski will immediately help on a scoring line and Lee Stempniak, freed from his Toronto banishment, is a hard worker who can handle both offensive and defensive assignments.
San Jose Sharks
Stanley Cup odds: +500
Am I crazy? The Capitals went nuts with veteran acquisitions and the Sharks did nothing, yet I award “winner” status to San Jose. Here’s how I see it: the Caps didn’t acquire anything they didn’t already have, unless you count Milan Jurcina.
More importantly, the key to San Jose’s season may well be the moves it didn’t make. Every year, the Sharks enter the playoffs with a powerhouse franchise only to mentally wilt under pressure. Maybe not trading for any help qualifies as a vote of confidence to the current players .After all, the Sharks are a first-place team. They’re either going to win or crumble again; no deadline deal would change that anyway.
LOSERS
Philadelphia Flyers
Stanley Cup odds: +2000
Ugh. Not only did Philly fail to acquire Dan Hamhuis to help the blueline, it apparently didn’t even try for goalie help. Yes, Michael Leighton has enjoyed a hot streak, but good luck to him when he draws the Penguins or Capitals in the first round – which is very possible. He’s a backup.
Los Angeles Kings
Stanley Cup odds: +1500
Some pundits would argue that the Kings are in no rush. They’re finally returning to the playoffs and they have a great young core. That’s true but, in the salary cap era, teams can’t keep all their young stars. Windows to win close quicker than we may think. For that reason, I wonder if L.A. should’ve mortgaged a first-round pick to acquire a key veteran. It may not have been their fault, as Ray Whitney apparently wouldn’t go without getting a two-year deal.
Vancouver Canucks
Stanley Cup odds: +1000
This one frustrates me the most, as I truly believe the Vancouver Canucks are a top-notch sleeper to win it all this year. They have the superstar goalie in Roberto Luongo, who has the “pressure game” monkey off his back thanks to an Olympic gold medal. They have arguably the NHL’s best line in Sedin-Sedin-Burrows and an outstanding second line centered by vastly underrated Ryan Kesler. All they needed was a veteran blueliner to compensate for the loss of Willie Mitchell. Canucks fans should be very disappointed. Sorry – Andrew Alberts doesn’t count as a “win.”
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Shea Matthews lives and breathes sports. He made the transition from athlete to sports journalist at a young age, writing in TV & national newspapers. He now applies his knowledge to sports betting and handicapping every day, and shares his winning picks with the world.
