The Chicago Blackhawks have continued their rise on the NHL betting futures, surpassing the defending-champion Pittsburgh Penguins to emerge as +750 favourites on the odds to win the Stanley Cup at sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark.com.
The Blackhawks will once again rely on a core group that includes superstar forwards Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane, stud defenseman Duncan Keith, reigning rookie-of-the-year Artemi Panarin, and goaltender Corey Crawford.
However, with the departure of Andrew Ladd, Andrew Shaw, and Teuvo Teravainen, questions linger about Chicago’s supporting staff as they prepare to open the regular season against St. Louis next Wednesday night at the United Center.
Meanwhile, Sidney Crosby kicks off the season on a high following Canada’s victory at last month’s World Cup of Hockey. However, after being pegged as favourites for most the offseason, the Penguins have slipped to +1000 odds to repeat as Stanley Cup champions.
It has been a short summer for Pittsburgh. Six team members participated in the World Cup of Hockey, including goaltender Matt Murray who suited up for Team North America until suffering a hand injury that will sideline him until early November.
The Penguins are joined at +1000 by the Washington Capitals and Tampa Bay Lightning. The Capitals won a league-high 56 games last season, but followed up with another early playoff exit as they were bounced by Pittsburgh in six games in their second-round matchup.
The Lightning fell victim to the Penguins in last spring’s Eastern Conference final, and could be without forward Nikita Kucherov to start the season as contract negotiations with the unsigned Russian sniper drag on.
Rounding out the front of the pack are the Dallas Stars at +1200, followed by the Blues at +1400. The Stars have been impacted by a number of offseason personnel changes, with unrestricted free agent defenseman Alex Goligoski moving on to Arizona and unsigned forward Valeri Nichushkin electing to return to Russia.
The winds of change also hit in St. Louis, with captain David Backes departing for Boston, while forward Troy Brouwer and goaltender Brian Elliott both moved north to join the Calgary Flames.
And with goaltender Carey Price back to full health, the Montreal Canadiens continue to lead the NHL’s Canadian contingent at +2500 on the odds to win the Stanley Cup.
Led by youthful captain Connor McDavid the Edmonton Oilers continue to hold steady at +3300, ahead of the Flames, Ottawa Senators, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Winnipeg Jets, who sit deadlocked at +5000, while the Vancouver Canucks join the Arizona Coyotes, Carolina Hurricanes, and Columbus Blue Jackets as the +6600 longshots to win the title this season.
