Stanley Cup Odds

Las Vegas odds-maker Bovada released their odds (listed below) for the 2016-17 NHL season today, as well as the odds for each conference and division. Among the surprises was the inclusion of a co-leader alongside the reigning champion Penguins, as the Blackhawks are odds-on favorites win it all out of the West. The (relatively) high ranking of the Edmonton Oilers is also a shock, as the perennial bottom-dwellers of the last decade were given the same odds as a 2015-16 playoff team team, the Philadelphia Flyers. A mash up of Eastern Conference contenders at the 25/1 mark will also confuse many, as the Metropolitan’s Islanders and Rangers performed significantly better than the Atlantic’s Bruins, Red Wings, and Canadiens last year.

Other than the Blackhawks, who have to battle through a tough division simply to make it to the Western Conference Final, and the Oilers, who have yet to prove they can even remain in the playoff conversation past the holidays, the worst bet may be the Dallas Stars. Although they are coming off a strong 2015-16 campaign, the Stars have severe goal-tending problems, a depleted defensive unit, and a pair of banged-up superstars leading their offense. Dallas seems primed for a regression in 2016-17, and their #5 ranking in the odds is a little too high to be a smart take.

The best bet available? Any of the 16/1 teams seem like a smart choice. The Florida Panthers especially have re-tooled this off-season and likely have only Tampa Bay standing between them and an easy division title. The Los Angeles Kings have won two of the last five Stanley Cups and shouldn’t be counted out, and if they do fail to make it out of the Pacific Division, the Anaheim Ducks seem likely to be the ones knocking them out. The Nashville Predators are a dark horse candidate seemingly every season, and after bringing in P.K. Subban, who projects to be a perfect fit in their system, this could finally be the year that the Preds put it all together. The long shot: how about the Carolina Hurricanes, who missed the playoffs in 2015-16 by a handful of points and have several young players just waiting to break out. With the worst odds of any team, that’s a high-yield bet worth making.

Pittsburgh Penguins    9/1

Chicago Blackhawks    9/1

Tampa Bay Lighting    10/1

Washington Capitals   10/1

Dallas Stars                   12/1

St. Louis Blues              14/1

San Jose Sharks            14/1

Anaheim Ducks             16/1

Florida Panthers           16/1

Los Angeles Kings         16/1

Nashville Predators       16/1

Boston Bruins                25/1

Detroit Red Wings        25/1

Minnesota Wild             25/1

Montreal Canadiens      25/1

New York Islanders        25/1

New York Rangers          25/1

Edmonton Oilers            33/1

Philadelphia Flyers         33/1

Buffalo Sabres                 50/1

Calgary Flames                50/1

Colorado Avalanche        50/1

New Jersey Devils            50/1

Ottawa Senators              50/1

Toronto Maple Leafs      50/1

Winnipeg Jets                  50/1

Arizona Coyotes               66/1

Carolina Hurricanes        66/1

Columbus Blue Jackets   66/1

Vancouver Canucks         66/1