The top and bottom of the odds really aren’t terribly shocking. The defending Stanley Cup champs are the favorites and the team that finished 30th last year is the longest of long shots at 75 to 1. The oddsmakers weren’t exactly going out on a limb there.
| Team | Odds |
| Chicago Blackhawks | 4/1 |
| Washington Capitals | 5/1 |
| Pittsburgh Penguins | 6/1 |
| Detroit Red Wings | 7/1 |
| San Jose Sharks | 8/1 |
| Vancouver Canucks | 10/1 |
| Philadelphia Flyers | 12/1 |
| Los Angeles Kings | 12/1 |
| New Jersey Devils | 15/1 |
| Boston Bruins | 18/1 |
| Buffalo Sabres | 20/1 |
| Tampa Bay Lightning | 25/1 |
| Carolina Hurricanes | 25/1 |
| Anaheim Ducks | 25/1 |
| Montreal Canadiens | 30/1 |
| Calgary Flames | 30/1 |
| Nashville Predators | 35/1 |
| St Louis Blues | 35/1 |
| Phoenix Coyotes | 35/1 |
| Ottawa Senators | 35/1 |
| New York Rangers | 40/1 |
| Colorado Avalanche | 45/1 |
| Toronto Maple Leafs | 50/1 |
| Dallas Stars | 60/1 |
| Florida Panthers | 70/1 |
| New York Islanders | 70/1 |
| Minnesota Wild | 75/1 |
| Atlanta Thrashers | 75/1 |
| Columbus Blue Jackets | 75/1 |
| Edmonton Oilers | 75/1 |
Source: Gold Coast and Caesar’s in Las Vegas
But the most interesting part of these odds is that they remained unchanged from July 3rd to July 26th. The odds come out after most of the player movement goes down on Canada Day and then the odds are moved around accordingly after the remainder of the players find new homes. Last year, a few odds moved throughout July, but nothing noteworthy. But this year, not one team has seen their odds change at all. While fans love to talk about Jaroslav Halak helping the Blues or the Devils landing Ilya Kovalchuk, the odds remain the same. Take that as you wish—but if you think Kovalchuk is a difference-maker, then 15/1 for the New Jersey Devils might sound like an investment. Not only that, the Kings odds didn’t move after MISSING on the talented left wing.
Speaking of the Kings, people have talked about how they were one of the next “teams of the future.” Checking out their place on this list at 12/1, it looks like the oddsmakers think this could be the year the Kings make their big jump. It’s hard to believe they give them the same shot to win the Cup as the team who was just lost in OT of Game 6 of the Finals.
Some other things that caught my eye:
- 30/1 doesn’t exactly sound like the kind of odds the Flames management must have had in mind when they put together this team. That would be the team that is firmly against the cap and is a longshot to even sniff the Cup.
- The Lightning at 25/1 makes me think that Steve Yzerman’s magic has a few believers in Vegas.
- The Ducks at 25/1? It would be more enjoyable to just light a $20 bill on fire and watch it burn.
- I really thought that the Derek Boogaard signing would increase the Rangers’ odds. At 40/1, they don’t seem impressed.
- Considering the Thrashers have half of the defending Cup champs roster on their team, 75/1 certainly sounds like a decent value bet!
- 70/1 for the New York Islanders? Do you know what we call that? Progress.
- At 18/1, I guess the oddsmakers aren’t really waiting for that earth-shattering “Michael Ryder to Providence” headline.
- Apparently Ryan Miller and Tyler Myers will get you 20/1 odds. Because the rest of that team just SCREAMS Minnesota Wild to me.
- The Blues at 35/1 seems like another decent long-shot pick. If they perform like they did two years ago—which isn’t out of the realm of possibility—they could be a factor with their new goaltender and Erik Johnson. Then again, if they play like they did last year, 35/1 aren’t nearly good enough odds.
- 8/1 for the San Jose Sharks to win the Cup? Nah… it’s too easy.
Matt Reitz is the Editor-In-Chief here at ViewFromMySeats.com and former NHL Writer for ProHockeyTalk on NBCSports. When he’s not shoving a mic in the face of NHLers or explaining why home teams should wear white, he’s usually trying to figure out what song to play next on his iPod. It’s a never-ending job.
