2017 Stanley Cup Predictions
Looking for 2017 NHL Futures Odds & Picks? The luster of yet another NHL season hasn’t quire worn off and already Vegas has come out with the odds to hoist next year’s Stanley Cup.
NHL Handicapping Insight
The Penguins are this year’s champs and have been installed as the betting favorite while the defending President’s Trophy, according to the oddsmakers are among the favorites to avenge an awful postseason run from 2016 and finally emerge as Champs next year.
ODDS TO WIN 2017 STANLEY CUP
So who ya got? Here is a look at the early Stanley Cup odds and what should play out in 2017 after a long summer, the NHL draft and what is sure to be an interesting Free Agent period.
Pittsburgh Penguins 8/1
The newly minted champs are the Vegas favorite to become the first team since 1998 to repeat and why not?
They will return largely the same team that gelled down the stretch.
The Pens may be able to dump a huge salary in Marc-Andre Fleury in favor of the much cheaper and equally effective Matt Murray and they won’t have to pay Pascal Dupuis’s salary either which should give the team some serious cap space to improve during the offseason – scary!
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There is absolutely no reason that the Pens don’t contend again next year – their speed and overall talent up and down the lineup make them my favorite to win the East again over Washington. Are they my favorite to win the Cup?
Na – that distinction belongs too…
Chicago Blackhawks 10/1
The Blackhawks win the Cup every second year – 2017 will be their turn! On paper this team is still one of the most talented top-to-bottom.
The difference for the Hawks in 2016-2017 is the fact that they will be as rested and as fresh as they have been in years – a lengthy playoff run won be dragging them down.
Depth will always be an issue for this team especially with the fact that they have committed so much money to so few players.
But with the right moves (just like the Penguins of this year), and some revenge on their minds, the Hawks are a legit threat again.
Washington Capitals 10/1
It looks like either the Caps or the Pens that will rule the East next year. It was a disappointing run for the Caps for sure – they had the goaltending, the defense and the offense all year – unfortunately the lack of speed killed them in the playoffs.
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Simply put Washington is in the elite tier of teams in the Eastern Conference – maybe 2 teams are in their class.
St. Louis Blues 12/1
The Blues came closer this year as they every have but the power game that has become their signature may be a thing of the recent past in hockey! Speed kills in this game and the Blues lack some of that.
Add in the fact that David Backes and Troy Brouwer are free agents, it looks as though the Blues, although a great team, are the best of the “B teams”, not quite look like an “A team”.
Los Angeles Kings 14/1
The Kings are like the Blues – their size and dependence on playing a “heavy game” could be a detriment rather than a benefit.
The game has changed – teams like Chicago, Dallas and San Jose in the West possess a better formula for winning in today’s NHL.
The Kings core is aging before our very eyes – my fear is that the team’s best days are behind them.
San Jose Sharks 14/1
How about the Sharks? They had a magical run in 2016 indeed. Their corp., like Los Angeles is getting up there in age however – my fear is that this playoff run took it all out of them.
Tampa Bay Lightning 14/1
Until we know what is going to happen with Steven Stamkos it is pretty hard to prognosticate Tampa’s chances.
That said this team did pretty darn well without Steven in the playoffs this year.
Youngsters Jonathan Drouin and Andrei Vasilevskiy give the Lightning some serious promise and a core featuring Victor Hedman, Nikita Kucherov, Tyler Johnson, Anton Stralman gives Tampa the depth to make things interesting in the East.
Tampa is my sleeper team in the East – not much has to go wrong for Pittsburgh and Washington for this team to emerge.
Anaheim Ducks 16/1
The Ducks were my favorites to win it all this year – I think they make some noise next year. The Ducks have one of the more impressive forward groups in the NHL and some decent defense as well.
This team underachieved in the playoffs and should be good for a bounce back season next year.
Dallas Stars 16/1
– Let’s be clear – the NHL is all about speed and skill right now and the Dallas Stars have that in spades.
Jamie Benn and Tyler Seguin are two of the brightest youngsters in the game right now – this team seems to have largely the same mold as the Penguins.
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The issue is goaltending – period! If the Stars can do something about their historic net woes in the summer Dallas becomes an instant contender.
New York Rangers 18/1
– The Rangers are a tad undervalued. They should be active this offseason and could gain some cap space if they move on from Rick Nash. Talk to me in September and I may have New York higher on my list of contenders!
Montreal Canadiens 20/1
– Yes – Carey Price is THAT valuable. He alone could provide Montreal backers with a very nice payday.
Other Contendors – 2017 NHL Futures
- Anaheim is decent value at 16/1 – they look to me like Chicago’s biggest threat in the West.
- Detroit Red Wings 18/1
- Minnesota Wild 18/1
- Nashville Predators 18/1
- New York Islanders 20/1
- Boston Bruins 25/1
- Florida Panthers 25/1
- Philadelphia Flyers 25/1
- Colorado Avalanche 33/1
- Calgary Flames 40/1
- Edmonton Oilers 40/1
- Ottawa Senators 40/1
- Arizona Coyotes 50/1
- Carolina Hurricanes 50/1
- Columbus Blue Jackets 50/1
- New Jersey Devils 50/1
- Vancouver Canucks 50/1
- Winnipeg Jets 50/1
- Buffalo Sabres 66/1
- Toronto Maple Leafs 66/1
We’ll be providing 4* free NHL predictions on the blog all season long, and check out our Experts for guaranteed premium & free NHL Hockey picks!
CappersPicks.com has Stanley Cup odds up on a ton of futures, and you will also find NHL lines up for nightly games as well.
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