The summer means free agency around the National Hockey League, but the biggest movers and shakers around the league this offseason haven’t been able to knock Patrick Kane and the Chicago Blackhawks off the top of the 2015 Stanley Cup odds.
The Blackhawks sit as the 13/2 favorites on the updated Stanley Cup odds at Bodog, with the Los Angeles Kings second on that list at 9/1 odds, and the Boston Bruins at 10/1 odds. Chicago’s biggest move so far this offseason has been to sign veteran center Brad Richards to play on their second line.
Three teams are then at 12/1 on the updated Stanley Cup futures at Bodog, with each of the Anaheim Ducks, Pittsburgh Penguins, and St. Louis Blues looking to improve on last year’s shortened playoff showings. The Blues have made one of the biggest signings so far this summer, inking centre Paul Stastny to a four-year, $28 million contract.
The San Jose Sharks are then at 14/1 at Bodog, with the New York Rangers, Tampa Bay Lightning, and Minnesota Wild at 16/1, and the Montreal Canadiens and Colorado Avalanche at 18/1. The Avalanche lost Stastny in free agency but managed to sign winger Jarome Iginla to a three-year, $16 million contract. The Wild signed winger Thomas Vanek to a three-year, $19.5 million contract.
The Dallas Stars are then at 20/1 on the odds to win the 2015 Stanley Cup at Bodog, with Dallas signing winger Ales Hemsky to a three-year, $12 million contract to complement centre Jason Spezza – added in a trade with the Ottawa Senators. The Detroit Red Wings are at 22/1 on those NHL futures.
The Philadelphia Flyers are at 28/1 on the Stanley Cup odds, with the Columbus Blue Jackets at 33/1 odds, and the Toronto Maple Leafs, Vancouver Canucks, and Washington Capitals at 40/1 odds. The Caps signed defensemen Brooks Orpik and Matt Niskanen to free-agent deals – Orpik at five years, $27.5 million, and Niskanen at seven years, $40.25 million
The bottom tier of teams on the updated Bodog Stanley Cup odds then has the Edmonton Oilers and New Jersey Devils at 50/1, with the Arizona Coyotes, Carolina Hurricanes, New York Islanders, Ottawa Senators, and Winnipeg Jets at 66/1, and the Buffalo Sabres, Calgary Flames, Florida Panthers, and Nashville Predators at 75/1.
2015 Stanley Cup Odds at Bodog as of August 18:
Chicago Blackhawks 13/2
Los Angeles Kings 9/1
Boston Bruins 10/1
Anaheim Ducks 12/1
Pittsburgh Penguins 12/1
St. Louis Blues 12/1
San Jose Sharks 14/1
Minnesota Wild 16/1
New York Rangers 16/1
Tampa Bay Lightning 16/1
Colorado Avalanche 18/1
Montreal Canadiens 18/1
Dallas Stars 20/1
Detroit Red Wings 22/1
Philadelphia Flyers 28/1
Columbus Blue Jackets 33/1
Toronto Maple Leafs 40/1
Vancouver Canucks 40/1
Washington Capitals 40/1
Edmonton Oilers 50/1
New Jersey Devils 50/1
Arizona Coyotes 66/1
Carolina Hurricanes 66/1
New York Islanders 66/1
Ottawa Senators 66/1
Winnipeg Jets 66/1
Buffalo Sabres 75/1
Calgary Flames 75/1
Florida Panthers 75/1
Nashville Predators 75/1