Oddsmakers have released preliminary odds for the 2019-20 NHL season with the Tampa Bay Lightning and Vegas Golden Knights at the lead as the two teams most likely to reach the Stanley Cup Finals next season, released by SuperbookUSA. The Tampa Bay Lightning are projected to lead the league again in points with 108.5, while Vegas is expected to lead the Western Conference with 103.5 points.
Here are the rest of the projections:
Anaheim Ducks – 80.5
Arizona Coyotes – 91.5
Boston Bruins – 100.5
Buffalo Sabres – 83.5
Calgary Flames – 96.5
Carolina Hurricanes – 94.5
Chicago Blackhawks – 90.5
Colorado Avalanche – 100.5
Columbus Blue Jackets – 82.5
Dallas Stars – 96.5
Detroit Red Wings – 76.5
Edmonton Oilers – 85.5
Florida Panthers – 96.5
Los Angeles Kings – 74.5
Minnesota Wild – 84.5
Montreal Canadiens – 89.5
Nashville Predators – 97.5
New Jersey Devils – 88.5
New York Islanders – 94.5
New York Rangers – 88.5
Ottawa Senators – 68.5
Philadelphia Flyers – 90.5
Pittsburgh Penguins – 95.5
San Jose Sharks – 94.5
St. Louis Blues – 96.5
Tampa Bay Lightning – 108.5
Toronto Maple Leafs – 102.5
Vancouver Canucks – 88.5
Vegas Golden Knights – 103.5
Washington Capitals – 97.5
Winnipeg Jets – 96.5
- SportsDay’s Mathew DeFranks writes that despite comments made last season by Dallas Stars CEO Jim Lites about Tyler Seguin and Jamie Benn, there was little consequence to that this offseason as the Stars were quite successful this offseason as they managed to sign Joe Pavelski, Corey Perry and Andrej Sekera. The scribe writes that in the end, free agents looked at three things when it comes to Dallas. First, they are Stanley Cup contenders. Second, they had plenty of cap space and finally, Dallas is a destination that many players prefer to live in, especially in the winter.
- The Detroit Free Press’ Helene St. James writes that Detroit Red Wings defenseman Dennis Cholowski spoke at a hockey youth camp recently and stated that he is focused on fixing his defensive liabilities in hopes of returning to the Red Wings’ lineup next season. Cholowski looked like a franchise-changing defenseman early on but was eventually demoted to the Grand Rapids Griffins due to his lack of success on the defensive side of his game. The 21-year-old scored seven goals and 16 points in 52 games last season but also had a team-worst plus-minus at minus-20. “Having to go down to Grand Rapids was a disappointment a little bit; I guess it would be for anybody,” Cholowski said. “In order to play you have to be good defensively and then that generates the offense. So I’m working on the D-zone and hopefully I take those things I learned into camp this year.”
I would much rather see Cholo get big time ice than any veteran dman the wings have(Daley, Ericsson, Kronwall)
Agreed
That list only has 29 names as of my comment FYI. Vegas and Tampa are listed up top but also on the main list. The Kings are missing because that’s a projection I looked for and didn’t find. Not sure who the second team is. No complaints but figured you might want to know
What is the Jets’ number?
And the Kings?
When you realize the Stars signed 3 guys who all played in the same division but on different teams.
Sorry, I now see your reply about the Kings. Thanks for posting this.
Jets are 96.5.
I see the Kings on your list now too. Sorry for the excessive replies. Carry on.
Jets 96.5 , Kings at a whopping 74.5 so this tells me Los Angeles, Ottawa, & Detroit will jockey spots in basement for next years draft Number # 1 pick, or will, Minnesota , Edmonton , maybe Columbus be knocking on that down stairs door.
Gerald – sounds like you’re hinting at a 6-way tie for League Cellar Dweller? I’ll agree with 5 of those, but, to me, Edmonton’s a crap-shoot right now. If Koskinen sucks again, Smith will be forced into more games than he should, and the wheels could come off with the uncertain D and unproven “depth” scoring. If Koskinen’s OK to above-average, then Smith can be good reinforcement with a better, but not good chance at a WC playoff spot. Lots of things have to go right for the Orange-and-Blue to even come close to contention, but as long as Tipp doesn’t try to coach 0 to Minus 1 hockey, there’s a chance. They might very well be gasping and wheezing to get to the 8th seed, but if the bottom half of the conference sucks again this upcoming season, anything’s possible. At least Ken Holland’s *trying* to fix things, which he couldn’t do in Detroit. If “The Family” did, indeed, meddle in his hockey decisions, as some Wings fans have hinted, then he might be able to get things fixed faster. Face it, none of us believed that Looch’s contract could be moved without heavy equipment, but he did it.
Thanks Mac, I do see Columbus with all the Free Agent loses and questionable goaltending no disrespect to Korpisalo or whoever is in goal to decline in standings in East but not far down as Ottawa or Detroit , Ottawa may surprise, Detroit doesn’t know who will play on Defense , young guys or older than dirt, veterans , In west I see Los Angeles falling out early in standings, Anaheim and Minnesota will be there near bottom , if Edmonton starts out well and Koiskinen has good season with McDavid, Draisaitl, Nugent Hopkins, Nurse and maybe a young defenseman shines when not expected and rest of D steps up they may agreed battle for 8th seed in West. for Lucic -Neal deal interesting story that compensation in deal will be determined by whom scores more since Neal will play with McDavid gets step up there , and Lucic will be bottom 6 but will be on power play with Gadreau, Monohan , Girodano, very interesting.
As a Sharks fan it pains me to say this but I think Anaheim is going to rebound. They won’t make the playoffs but they will be over 80.5. Good D corps, Gibson and up and coming forwards. And if Eakins with a second chance has learned from what went wrong in Edm, maybe he becomes coach he was thought to be.
Sharks still have a few descent players to put the biscuit in the net if they can find away to re-sign Thornton, and hopefully bring back Marleau as he is still dangling out there , to minimum salary for 1 year , still may move on from a few players on the backend to get a look at some of the young defenseman prospects for the future, I still see Anaheim struggling at end of season as they may play well early though have few young ones coming in to the lineup at forward and want to see Hakanpaa get a good look at him , and Kase back for full year. why I didn’t say Anaheim will struggle as some others I mentioned in West