Marc-Edouard Vlasic is hardly a household name outside of San Jose, while Kris Letang is a well-known all-star on a stacked Pittsburgh Penguins team.
But that won’t matter when it comes time to select Team Canada’s Olympic hockey roster, according to one sportsbook that posted dozens of fun Olympic hockey props Tuesday.
Vlasic, the Shark blueliner, is a -500 bet to make the team and Bodog is willing to bet that his defensive partner Dan Boyle will make it too (-200). The website is also willing to wager that Letang won’t make it, as they made him a -300 pick to not make it.
“There’s a lot of hockey to be played before the team is picked, but these odds give hockey fans an idea of where the public opinion is residing,” said Jack Randall of OddsShark.com. “And it seems like the general opinion is that current form, not name appeal, will be the deciding factors in who gets to wear the red maple leaf in Sochi this February.”
There has been a season-long swirl of opinion surrounding Montreal’s P.K. Subban and the latest odds point to him making the team. The ‘yes’ wager is a -200 bet at Bodog, while New York Ranger Marc Staal is -200 to not make the team.
Sticking with the Canadiens, linemates Max Pacioretty and Alex Galchenyuk won’t be linemates for Team USA, if these odds prove correct. Pacioretty is favored to make the team, while Galchenyuk is an underdog to make the roster.
Patrice Bergeron seems a lock to make the team again, while San Jose’s Joe Thornton, Chicago’s Patrick Sharp and Sidney Crosby’s linemate Chris Kunitz are all underdogs.
For Team USA, Chicago’s Brandon Saad is favored to make the cut, while Blue Jacket Brandon Dubinsky, Nashville rookie Seth Jones and Winnipeg sniper Blake Wheeler are all underdog bets.
After falling slightly last week on news that Steve Stamkos broke his leg, Team Canada pulled even with the host Russians in gold medal odds this week. The rivals are 11/5 co-favourites to win Olympic gold, while the Swedes are the third betting choice.
Canadian women are a 4/5 favourite over the United States to win gold as well.
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