They say the more things change the more they stay the same, and they might as well have been talking about the Stanley Cup future odds at online sportsbook Bodog as they haven’t changed a bit since we last looked at them earlier in the summer.
The Chicago Blackhawks, the defending Stanley Cup champions, remain the oddsmaker’s favorite at Bodog at +650 to repeat. The Blackhawks’ championship roster has gone through a few changes during the offseason, but the biggest change could still be to come depending on what happens with Patrick Kane.
If Chicago does end up losing Kane for any amount of time not only will the Blackhawks’ future odds be in for quite the shift, so will the futures for the teams trailing them. Four teams share the second spot on the Bodog Stanley Cup futures with Tampa Bay, Anaheim, Los Angeles and the New York Rangers all at +1000.
Along with the Hawks those teams make up some of the best in the NHL over the last couple of seasons. Tampa Bay lost in the Cup final last season, while the Rangers came up just short a year earlier.
The Kings went from champs to chumps, hoisting the Cup in 2014 but missing the playoffs in 2015. The Ducks have finished first in the Pacific Division for the last three seasons, and took Chicago to seven games in the Western Conference final last year before getting eliminated.
Sitting alone in sixth on the futures is Pittsburgh at +1400, and the Penguins hope the addition of goal-scorer Phil Kessel will get them deep into the postseason once again. Since winning the Cup in 2009 Pittsburgh has gotten past the second round only once and has been knocked out in the opening round three times.
Sharing +1400 odds with the Pens is St. Louis, while Minnesota remains at +1600. A trio of teams, including Nashville, Washington and Montreal, are all then at +1800.
Montreal is still the top Canadian team on the futures odds list, well ahead of Winnipeg at +2800. Calgary and Edmonton are both at +3300 after their offseason upgrades, while Ottawa is +4000, Vancouver is +5000, and Toronto sits near the bottom of the futures at +10000. It could be a long first season for Mike Babcock.
Odds to Win the 2016 Stanley Cup @ Bodog
Chicago Blackhawks +650
Tampa Bay Lightning +1000
Anaheim Ducks +1000
Los Angeles Kings +1000
New York Rangers +1000
Pittsburgh Penguins +1400
St. Louis Blues +1400
Minnesota Wild +1600
Nashville Predators +1800
Washington Capitals +1800
Montreal Canadiens +1800
Boston Bruins +2000
New York Islanders +2200
Columbus Blue Jackets +2500
Dallas Stars +2500
Detroit Red Wings +2800
Winnipeg Jets +2800
Calgary Flames +3300
Edmonton Oilers +3300
Ottawa Senators +4000
San Jose Sharks +4000
Vancouver Canucks +5000
Colorado Avalanche +6600
Florida Panthers +6600
New Jersey Devils +7500
Philadelphia Flyers +7500
Buffalo Sabres +10000
Carolina Hurricanes +10000
Toronto Maple Leafs +10000
Arizona Coyotes +15000