After winning the Presidents' Trophy by 12 points last season, the Canucks failed to close the deal on their home ice, losing games six and seven of the Stanley Cup Finals to the Boston Bruins. Not much has changed since a year ago and if the team stayed pat, so did the oddsmakers, again expressing confidence in Vancouver.
While the Canucks are a clear but less than decisive favorite, another nine teams are offered at future book odds of 16/1 or less, an obvious admission to the wide open nature of the pursuit of Lord Stanley's Cup.
Pittsburgh is the second choice in futures at odds of 8/1 but NHL betting aficionados will have to make a determination if center Sidney Crosby can make a successful return after sitting out the second half of last season with a concussion. The Penguins also boast C Evgeni Malkin, giving Pittsburgh two of the League's top six players.
Boston, Washington, Philadelphia, San Jose and Detroit also are worthy contenders to win this season's Stanley Cup. The defending champion Bruins are listed at 10/1 in futures to become the first NHL team in 14 years (1997-98 Detroit Red Wings) to back-to-back titles. Boston, which lost some key players to retirement and free agency, still has Vezina Trophy winning goalie Tim Thomas and a surly defense on which to bank its championship aspirations.
The Capitals, 11/1, improved themselves in the off-season, adding strength to a roster that includes, arguably, the game's best player, left wing Alex Ovechkin.
The Flyers, Sharks and Red Wings each are quoted at odds of 12/1 in NHL future book betting. Philadelphia will have a different look this season but will the Flyers be better after dispatching nine regulars in an attempt to bring harmony to the locker-room? It's another serious question for NHL betting enthusiasts.
San Jose has been a perennial contender in the west but has not made a trip to the NFL Finals, causing General Manager Doug Wilson to make some changes in personnel. Again, NHL betting fans will have to make an assessment if those changes benefit or detract from the Sharks' Stanley Cup chances.
With ageless Nicklas Lindstrom back for his 20th season, Detroit has a legitimate chance to secure its fifth Stanley Cup Championship since 1997.
At odds of 14/1 each, neither the Blackhawks nor Lightning can be eliminated from Stanley Cup consideration and the same can be said for the Kings, a contentious 16/1 proposition.
Chicago won it all in 2010 is poised to make another run this season while Tampa Bay returns most of the key components from a team that came within one goal of making it to the Stanley Cup Finals. LA, which some call "Philly West" because the team has a number of former Flyers players, should challenge San Jose for supremacy in the Pacific Division.
Speaking of divisions, in addition to Stanley Cup and respective Eastern and Western Conference future book odd, many sportsbooks also are offering gamblers a chance to speculate on the six division winners.
In the Atlantic Division, even money Philadelphia is a slight favorite over Pittsburgh, 5/4, with New Jersey, 6/1, the NY Rangers, 10/1, and the NY Islanders, 25/1, out of serious contention.
Boston, 5/4, is a narrow favorite to edge Buffalo, 13/10 for the Northeast Division title with Montreal, 9/2, Toronto, 10/1, and Ottawa, 18/1, next in line.
At 1/3, Washington, is the shortest division favorite in the Eastern Conference, leading Tampa Bay, 2/1, for the Southeast crown. Carolina, 14/1, is a longshot and Winnipeg, 33/1, and Florida, 40/1, are real outsiders.
The Central Division has a trio of bona fide contenders in Detroit, ¾, Chicago, 9/4, and Nashville, 7/2. St. Louis, 14/1, and Columbus, 28/1, are looking up at those three.
NHL betting fans who like Vancouver to win the Northwest Division will have to grit their teeth and take 1/10. Calgary, 5/1, is the most likely to take advantage of a failure by the Canucks but Edmonton, 20/1, Colorado, 22/1, and Minnesota, 25/1, seem out of contention.
There's a good race in the Pacific Division with San Jose and LA tied atop at 3/2, Anaheim listed at 9/2, and Dallas and Phoenix each offered at future book odds of 8/1.
The first puck may not have been dropped yet but NHL betting already is underway.
This article was written by Luken Karel for http://www.thegreek.com. The Greek Sportsbook & Casino is host to one of the top online sportsbooks offering college football betting and sports betting on NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL and all other major sports. The Greek is a must have sports betting and entertainment portal with one of the largest wagering menus available online. Article reproductions must include a link pointing to http://www.thegreek.com
