There are 22 games left in the 2016/2017 NHL regular season, which means the playoffs are just around the corner. When the playoffs begin, will the Pittsburgh Penguins be able to defend their championship, or is another team going to hoist the Stanley Cup this year?
2017 Stanley Cup Odds
The defending champions currently have the third best record in the league, five points behind the league leading Washington Capitals. Since there’s still over 20 games left in the season, the Penguins can still finish with the best record in the NHL.
According to BetOnline, these are the teams with the best odds of winning the Stanley this season. To see the updated odds head over to BetOnline.ag and click on ‘NHL Futures’ from the ‘Futures & Props’ drop down menu in the sportsbook.
- Washington Capitals: +400
- Minnesota Wild: +450
- Chicago Blackhawks: +800
- Pittsburgh Penguins: +800
- New York Rangers: +1000
- Columbus Blue Jackets: +1000
- Montreal Canadiens: +1200
- Anaheim Ducks: +1600
- Edmonton Oilers: +1600
- San Jose Sharks: +1600
The Washington Capitals once again have the best odds of winning the Stanley Cup, just like they did last year after finishing with the best record in the NHL. Will they be able to take advantage of home ice advantage and win it all this year?
My Picks
Since acquiring Alex Ovechkin, the Capitals have been a great regular season team. However, that success hasn’t translated in the playoffs and the team is still trying to make its first Stanley Cup Finals appearance since 1998.
The team’s lack of success in the playoffs doesn’t inspire me to take them at the current odds.
The Minnesota Wild made a quick playoff exit last season but gained some needed playoff experience. However, I don’t see them coming out of the tough Western Conference.
The San Jose Sharks came close to winning it all last year but ran out of steam at the end. They are still a solid favorite to win it all this year and worth taking a risk on at +1600.
At +800, the Chicago Blackhawks seem like the smartest bet in the West. The Blackhawks have the second best record in the Western Conference and have championship experience, which will come in handy during the playoffs.
In the East, the Penguins are the defending champs and can’t be ruled out. At +800, that’s a very solid pick to win the Stanley Cup. The New York Rangers are another good pick to win the East at +1000.
Plays: Blackhawks +800, Sharks +1600, Penguins +800
The NHL is a league where anything can happen in the playoffs. This isn’t like the NBA where we basically already know which two teams will be in the finals. In the NHL if you make the playoffs you have a shot at the Stanley Cup and you should place your wagers accordingly.
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