Here are odds on winning the Stanley Cup as of today:
Anaheim 6-1
Detroit 7-1
San Jose 7-1
Nashville 8-1
Ottawa 8-1
Pittsburgh 12-1
Buffalo 15-1
Minnesota 15-1
N.Y. Rangers 15-1
Vancouver 15-1
Colorado 20-1
New Jersey 20-1
Calgary 25-1
Dallas 25-1
Carolina 30-1
Tampa Bay 30-1
Toronto 30-1
Atlanta 35-1
Montreal 40-1
Islanders 40-1
Phila. 40-1
Fla. 50-1
St. Louis 50-1
Edmonton 55-1
Wash. 65-1
Boston 80-1
Chicago 80-1
L.A. 80-1
Colum. 100-1
Phoenix 100-1
It's too easy to look at the top and agree that those are the favorites. Instead, I'll look at a couple that might nice gambles :
Colorado 20-1 : team rebounding quick from a mini-rebuilding. If goaltending can stay strong, they'll be in the hunt. However, can they survive in the against the top heavy Western Conference.
Calgary 25-1 : Will Mike Keenan get this team back on track? The talent is certainly there but they lack a lot of discipline. One of the toughest teams at home must find way to win on the road.
Now for some terrible gambles :
Nashville 8-1 : Who one earth are these betters put money on the Predators to make them 8-1. With all the turnover they'll have a difficult time making the playoffs let alone winning it all. They still have talent but no where near enough to get it done come playoff time.
Phoenix 100-1 : This team should be at least 500-1. They'd need some major lucke to make the playoffs and some strange sort of viral infection to get out of past the second round. Winning the cup would probably require a plane crash or two so the opponent couldn't field a team. If you are making this bet you better be working on cloning a young Gretzky in your spare time.
2 comments:
So, if Atlanta misses the playoffs this year, does Hartley get the axe? And what about Hossa? Word is he's looking to leave Atlanta...
If Atlanta misses the playoffs, I see no reason to keep Hartley. I expect management would be inclined to clean house if that happens. Maybe not the right thing to do given the roster turnover and amount of youth influx this season.
I'm taking a guarded approach to the season. Let's see how things play out. If some players step up or mature quick the team will be in the mix.
Hossa will have to wait for another topic. The Heatley deal signed just yesterday got me thinking again.
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