Bet on the NHL
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.
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Here are six teams that may raise the Stanley Cup next June. The full list of 2014 Stanley Cup odds can be found here.
Chicago Blackhawks (+750)
The Blackhawks were as close to a wire-to-wire champion as the NHL has ever seen, starting the season on a 24-game point streak and then ending the playoffs with wins in 11 of their final 14 games to capture the Cup. Salary cap restrictions will mean some key players will leave town, but the team’s strong core (which has won two of the last four Stanley Cups) will remain, and we now know that Corey Crawford can be good enough to backstop the team to the promised land.
Boston Bruins (+900)
Boston’s most recent trip to the Cup Final was their second in three years. The Blackhawks may have handed out a blueprint on how to neutralize Zdeno Chara, but Bruins head coach Claude Julien is pretty good with the X’s and O’s himself and always puts his team in the best position to win. Boston’s depth is unmatched and the ability to roll four lines is always an advantage come playoff time.
Vancouver Canucks (+1400)
Vancouver had two chances to win the Cup in 2011 but couldn’t seal the deal in games 6 or 7 against Boston. There’s no question that the Canucks have enough talent to win, and new head coach John Tortorella has been brought in to help whip the team into shape in hopes that they’ll finally accomplish what they’ve been assembled to do, which is win a Cup. As Roberto Luongo and the twins age Vancouver’s window of opportunity is closing fast.
Detroit Red Wings (+1600)
The 2013-14 NHL season will be suspended in February to allow players to participate in the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia. This will mark the fifth time in the modern era that NHL players will participate in the Olympics. Detroit won the Cup in two of those first four years. With an aging core looking for one last taste of glory, Detroit will be a dangerous team come playoff time.
Toronto Maple Leafs (+2500)
A late collapse in Game 7 of Toronto’s opening round series with Boston left Leaf fans with thoughts of what might have been after the Bruins went on to play in the Stanley Cup Final. Nevertheless, the team took a major step forward under head coach Randy Carlyle in 2013, and general manager Dave Nonis has already begun the process of bringing in new pieces to allow that momentum to continue. Goaltender Jonathan Bernier (a former 11th overall draft pick) should solidify the team’s situation in net, while Dave Bolland fills a major void up the middle. Those low cost moves leave Nonis with plenty of cap space to plug some other holes through free agency.
Ottawa Senators (+3300)
Captain Daniel Alfredsson didn’t agree to return for an 18th season because he needs the paycheck. Head coach Paul MacLean is the defending Jack Adams Award winner, and if not for injuries the team would have also claimed the Norris and Vezina Trophies as well. With a solid mix of talented prospects and gritty depth players in supporting roles Ottawa appears ready to take the next step. The Senators might just be the best under the radar play on the board.
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