The National Hockey League is back. The puck drops on the new NHL season on Wednesday night, giving you one last chance to make your preseason pick on the Stanley Cup betting futures at online sportsbooks like Bodog.
With the beginning of the season on the horizon the Chicago Blackhawks remain the favorite to repeat as Cup champs at +650 at Bodog. There hasn’t been a repeat Cup winner since the Detroit Red Wings turned the trick in 1997-98. The Blackhawks have lost a few pieces from last season’s winning roster, but with Jonathan Toews, Duncan Keith and, hopefully, Patrick Kane all still around Chicago remains the team to beat.
Following the Blackhawks on the Bodog Stanley Cup futures is the team they beat in last year’s final, Tampa Bay, and the team they beat in the Western Conference final, Anaheim, both at +900.
The Lightning look like they’re just getting started on a long successful run with a talented squad of young guns led by Steven Stamkos. The Ducks retooled a bit in the offseason, but they’re still Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry’s team.
Rounding out the rest of the top five on the futures are Los Angeles at +1100 and both the Rangers and Pittsburgh at +1200. The Kings look great on paper, but they looked great last year before failing to make the playoffs.
The Rangers fell one win short of back-to-back appearances in the Cup final last season. The Penguins nearly missed the playoffs last season only to be bounced in the first round. They tried to reload in the offseason with the acquisition of Phil Kessel.
The top Canadian team on the Bodog odds are the Montreal Canadiens at +1800. Montreal finished first in the Atlantic Division last season, but couldn’t get past Tampa Bay in the second round. With arguably the best goalie in the world in Vezina and Hart trophy winner Carey Price, the Canadiens can steal a win from anyone.
The rest of Canada’s NHL teams are much farther down the futures list. Winnipeg and Calgary are both at +2800, while Edmonton comes in at +3300 in Connor McDavid’s rookie season. Ottawa and Vancouver are both longshots with the Senators at +4000 and the Canucks at +6600, while Toronto isn’t being given any chance at +10000.
Odds to Win the 2016 Stanley Cup @ Bodog
Chicago +650
Tampa Bay +900
Anaheim +900
Los Angeles +1100
NY Rangers +1200
Pittsburgh +1200
St. Louis +1400
Minnesota +1600
Nashville +1800
Washington +1800
Montreal +1800
NY Islanders +2200
Boston +2500
Columbus +2500
Detroit +2500
Winnipeg +2800
Calgary +2800
Edmonton +3300
Dallas +3300
San Jose +3300
Ottawa +4000
Vancouver +6600
Colorado +6600
Florida +6600
Philadelphia +7500
New Jersey +10000
Buffalo +10000
Toronto +10000
Carolina +15000
Arizona +25000