NHL Betting – Western Conference futures odds/predictions
Like NFL odds, hockey odds are already catching us by surprise early in the NHL season. Colorado good? Detroit bad? What’s going on? As we look at 2009-10 Western Conference futures, ranked in our projected order of finish, we’ll tell you which hot starts are legit and which early slumps are cause for concern.
CLICK HERE TO VIEW OUR NHL PICKS FOR TODAY’S ACTION!!! —–>
1. San Jose Sharks (+250 to win)
Hey – don’t mistake me for a Sharks backer. I fully expect them to flop again in the playoffs but there’s no denying that the Sharks win like crazy in the regular season every year. Dany Heatley is the best winger Joe Thornton’s ever had by a fair margin so it’s possible both guys have career years. Still, until the Sharks prove they aren’t chokers, they’ll do nothing in April.
2. Chicago Blackhawks (+300 to win)
These are the guys to back at your sportsbook, not just to finish high in the regular-season standings, but also to make major waves in the West and possibly reach the Stanley Cup final. The Hawks are the deepest team in the conference. Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane don’t even play on the same line; Patrick Sharp, Kris Versteeg and many other support them and Marian Hossa will return from injury soon enough. Chicago has the best young blueline in hockey with Duncan Keith, Brent Seabrook, Brian Campbell and Cam Barker. The only question mark – and it’s a big one – is goaltending.
3. Calgary Flames (+800 to win)
Thanks to Vancouver’s injury woes, things are looking up in Calgary. Jay Bouwmeester joins Dion Phaneuf and Robyn Regehr to give the Flames some serious minutes eaters on defense. Calgary still may regret letting Mike Cammalleri walk – can Rene Bourque keep up his hot start? – but Jarome Iginla and the Flames are a legit playoff team.
4. Detroit Red Wings (+250 to win)
Hmm. Grey-haired hockey brass still love the Wings’ Stanley Cup odds this season because they “do it every year.” But riddle me this: how can a Stanley Cup finalist lose four of its top six goal scorers (Hossa, Hudler, Samuelsson to free agency, Franzen to injury), replace them with nothing but Todd Bertuzzi and compete at the same level?
5. Anaheim Ducks (+800 to win)
Don’t underestimate the Ducks. Bobby Ryan is starting slowly but I still think he’ll form the NHL’s best line with Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry by the time the season ends. The Ducks are strong up front but Scott Niedermayer needs help mentoring a young defense. Also, it would help Jonas Hiller or J.S. Giguere could win the starting goalie job outright.
6. Vancouver Canucks (+900 to win)
I liked Vancouver’s hockey odds to win the Northwest division but Daniel Sedin’s broken foot will have a ripple effect on the lineup for the next month or two. The key to the Canucks’ breakout last season was finally icing two good scoring lines; losing Daniel cripples their depth, so teams can key on brother Henrik and the first line again. Roberto Luongo still hasn’t shaken his funk, either.
7. St. Louis Blues (+1500 to win)
There’s no doubt the Blues’ future is bright, but there’s a slight chance they were ahead of schedule last season. They’re loaded with budding scorers and have a great future top-two defense pair in Erik Johnson and Alex Pietrangelo, but the kids are still, well, kids. Temper your expectations.
8. Los Angeles Kings (+3000 to win)
For the record, my picking the Kings to make the playoffs has nothing to do with their hot start; I ranked them eighth a month ago. Think of them like we did the Blackhawks for the last couple of years; they’ve stockpiled young talent and it’s time for them to get rewarded. Drew Doughty could be an All-Star defenseman as early as this season and the Kings are surprisingly deep at forward. If the goaltending holds up. Look out.
9. Columbus Blue Jackets
10. Dallas Stars
11. Edmonton Oilers
12. Nashville Predators
13. Colorado Avalanche
14. Minnesota Wild
15. Phoenix Coyotes
Betting services projection to place first in West: San Jose Sharks
Betting services pick to win Western Conference Final: Chicago Blackhawks
