They are still cleaning up the confetti from the Stanley Cup Parade in Chicago – what a party indeed! But it is never too early to start thinking about next year and which team will be trying to one-up the festivities in the Windy City.
Eight teams remain in the quest for the Stanley Cup. There’s still time to get in on some NHL futures action, but what picks should you make?
The first round of the NHL playoffs were typically epic but void of any real upsets setting the stage for some quality Round 2 tilts. Vegas has released the updated Stanley Cup Future odds to win it all and after the first round of games – they look to have it right.
Odds to win the 2015 Stanley Cup from Bovada
The 2014 NHL season is over – full marks to the LA Kings who won their second Title in three years. It’s a completely clean sheet as we head into summer – every team (yes even the Buffalo Sabres) are in the hunt for next year’s Stanley Cup – until we actually hit the ice in October of course!
The teams remaining in the Stanley Cup playoffs were cut in half after a thrilling first round, which saw the lower-seeded team win four of the eight series. There’s still plenty of hockey to be played, meaning plenty of opportunities for the alert bettor to cash in.
The Regular season is done, the first round playoff matchups have been set and the razors have been put away for all of the participants in this year’s Stanley Cup playoffs! Let the games begin, let the beards commence and let’s enjoy an intense two months of nail-biting hockey!
With the teams away for the Olympic break it’s a good time to re-evaluate where each club stands in their respective race. While the Eastern Conference has become a two-horse race, there are five teams within striking distance of the top spot in the West. Let’s take a look at those five teams and their chances ( [dfads params=’groups=63740&limit=1&return_javascript=0′]) for claiming the conference crown.
A new year is upon us and the NHL’s schedule has crept past its halfway mark on the 2013-14 regular season. With the playoffs just a few short months away, let’s re-examine the odds for each team’s chances of claiming the Stanley Cup at the end of the season.
The Chicago Blackhawks have barely had a week to celebrate their 2013 Stanley Cup win, and Patrick Kane’s hangover has surely yet to subside, but that hasn’t stopped books from releasing odds for the 2014 Stanley Cup. While the players may get to enjoy the offseason, there’s no offseason for the alert bettor.
Hockey betting fans sure are getting their money’s worth from the free nhl picks from Capperspicks.com.
Hockey betting fans sure are getting their money’s worth from the free nhl picks from Capperspicks.com.
Hockey betting fans sure are getting their money’s worth from the free nhl picks from Capperspicks.com.
Believe it or not, the NHL betting season will be here before you know it, so lets take a look at some early futures odds – NHL Style!
Thanks largely in part to the Ilya Kovalchuk fiasco, the NHL free agent frenzy has slowed to a crawl over the last few weeks. That means now is probably an ideal time to take a deep breath and assess the current Stanley Cup odds.
Chicago Blackhawks
Stanley Cup odds: +500
So far, books aren’t downgrading the Hawks even though they seem to lose another piece of their Stanley Cup-winning team every day. They’ve already said goodbye to Kris Versteeg, Dustin Byfuglien, Andrew Ladd and John Madden. But, fact of the matter is, some guys named Toews, Kane, Keith, Seabrook, Hossa and Sharp are still running the show. Chicago remains the team to beat.
Washington Capitals
Stanley Cup odds: +600
This is a team that frustrates me again and again at every trade deadline and during every free agency period. The Caps have so much firepower yet repeatedly fail to address their glaring need for defensive stability and perhaps even better goaltending. They won’t get my bet until they do so.
Pittsburgh Penguins
Stanley Cup odds: +600
The Pens have a great shot to represent the East in the final again this year. They lost Sergei Gonchar but may have actually improved on the back end with Paul Martin and Zbynek Michalek coming to town. They may still acquire another winger to play with Sidney Crosby as well. 
New Jersey Devils
Stanley Cup odds: +1500
Most books currently list the Devils with the same odds as L.A., Vancouver, and Philadelphia. That’s good company. Clearly, everyone expects Lou Lamoriello to figure out the salary cap conundrum and keep Ilya Kovalchuk in a restructured deal.
Los Angeles Kings
Stanley Cup odds: +1500
These guys are the next Chicago Blackhawks. This blog correctly predicted the Kings’ ascension into postseason play a year ago; it was bound to happen with the likes of Doughty, Kopitar, and Johnson leading the youth movement. Now, the Kings have potential to grow even more. Brayden Schenn, Thomas Hickey and Jonathan Bernier could become viable NHLers or the Kings could ship one of them to land another elite scorer. Tomas Kaberle? Marian Gaborik?
Tampa Bay Lightning
Stanley Cup odds: +3000
The Lightning were among the league’s busiest teams this offseason. First, they signed Steve Yzerman as their new general manager. Then, under his tutelage, they acquired Simon Gagne to join a strong offense that already included Steven Stamkos, Martin St. Louis and Vinny Lecavalier. Dan Ellis will bring stability in goal as well. Given how mediocre the Eastern Conference was last year, Tampa could return to the postseason.
San Jose Sharks
Stanley Cup odds: +900
The Sharks still have the fifth-best odds to win the Cup in most books but it’s been years since they ranked that low, hasn’t it? It seems bettors and books are almost ready to give up on this talented group that always seems to choke in the playoffs. If you’re looking for value, however, it’s worth noting that (a) The Sharks re-upped the only two guys who had great playoffs in 2009, Patrick Marleau and Joe Pavelski, with long-term deals. And Evgeni Nabokov’s departure for the KHL may be addition by subtraction.
Montreal Canadiens
Stanley Cup odds: +3000
The books have made their message loud and clear: you should’ve kept Jaroslav Halak and traded Carey Price, Montreal. It may seem strange for a conference finalist’s odds to plummet to the middle of the pack but, let’s face it, Halak carried the Habs in the playoffs and he doesn’t play for them anymore.
Colorado Avalanche
Stanley Cup odds: +6000
Ouch. After qualifying for the playoffs and showing real promise as a young team, the Avs now have the same odds as the Toronto Maple Leafs. I suppose oddsmakers think their situation is like Montreal’s in that a goalie, Craig Anderson, influenced their success. Don’t believe that. Colorado has some legit young talent on board with Matt Duchene, Chris Stewart, Paul Stastny and Peter Mueller leading the charge. It could be even better this year.
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.
Hockey betting fans sure are getting their money’s worth from the free nhl picks from Capperspicks.com.
Believe it or not, the NHL betting regular season is almost half over. Some major contenders have lived up to their promise; others, like the Philadelphia Flyers, have flopped.
