We are just two weeks away from puck drop on the NHL regular season! Opening night is a fresh start for each team as they start their journey to lift Lord Stanley’s Cup. Well, most teams have some hope, anyway.
In the betting market, now is the time to get in on some NHL Stanley Cup longshots. Here are three teams that you’ll want to be holding a long Stanley Cup ticket on come the playoffs.
NHL Futures: 3 Stanley Cup Longshots To Bet Right Now
Stanley Cup Longshots: Ottawa Senators (+7500)
If you’re able to find the Senators at 75/1, book it. The rest of the market has them priced between 35/1 and 43/1. Those prices are around what the Senators should be at, and I wouldn’t hate betting it there. But 75/1 is a must-bet.
Ottawa has overhauled its roster in the last two years. They’ve brought in Claude Giroux, Vladimir Tarasenko, and Jakob Chychrun, among others. At the same time, the Sens have seen guys like Brady Tkachuk, Tim Stutzle, Thomas Chabot, and Jake Sanderson develop into true weapons.
They went out this offseason and paid between the pipes for Joonas Korpisalo. He had his troubles in Columbus but put up a .914 SV% last season (including .921 in 11 games with the Kings). Anton Forsberg is an established backup there as well.
It’s a tough Atlantic Division, but the Senators are poised to finally take that next step. 75/1 is an absurd price.
Stanley Cup Longshots: Vancouver Canucks (+7500)
The Vancouver Canucks are a volatile team with a wide range of outcomes in the upcoming season. Rick Tocchet took over in the middle of last season and led the Canucks to a 20-12-4 record in their last 36 games. That’s 44 points — an 82-game pace of 100 points.
Now, I’m not necessarily saying that the Canucks are going to be one of the top teams in the Western Conference, but they have the pieces to put it all together.
Elias Pettersson is an emerging superstar (and potential Hart Trophy candidate?) up front. He’s joined by a bevy of solid middle-six wingers.
Quinn Hughes is another award-worthy player leading the way on defense. After that, however, the Canucks’ blue line is lacking, which could be their downfall. Tocchet should have his team playing responsible hockey to make up for that, though.
The keystone is between the pipes, as it usually is, in the form of Thatcher Demko. The netminder put up back-to-back .915 SV% seasons before laying a .901 last year. That’ll need to get better after an injury-plagued campaign.
Sure, this team could fall apart, but they could put it together, and there are a lot worse things to waste a few bucks on than Canucks at 75/1.
Stanley Cup Longshots: Winnipeg Jets (+7000)
The Jets were one of the best teams in the league for parts of last season before fading in the second half. They were 34-19-1 through 54 games but then went 7-12-2 in their next 21. Winnipeg won five of its next seven games to finish the regular strong but fell flat in the first round against Vegas.
Much was made of the Jets’ culture problems that led to Blake Wheeler being bought out. However, Winnipeg is a talented team with the depth needed to lift the Stanley Cup.
Connor Hellebuyck is a Vezina-quality goalie. Josh Morrissey proved himself as a potential Norris Trophy winner last season. Kyle Connor, Mark Scheifele, and Nikolaj Ehler make up one of the most underrated top lines in the league. The Jets have what it takes to get it done.
If you read my piece on one best bet for every Central Division team, you know I like the Jets to make the playoffs. They’re -125 to do so. Once they’re in the dance, their odds are going to be much shorter than 70/1.
