Following a wild free agency, we explore which teams are on the rise or sloping down for Stanley Cup Odds.
Free agency kicked off Monday with some wild signings that have shaken the fabric of the NHL itself. Big name players like Steven Stamkos, Jake Guentzel and Elias Lindholm were among the players that moved on to new teams and have made certain teams more interesting in terms of potential investments next season.
We looked over some of the future bets listed for next season and which ones saw the greatest amount of movement in terms of the team's odds.
All betting lines are from Bet365 and are subject to change. Hockey is a difficult sport to predict so please gamble responsibly.
Nashville Predators to win Stanley Cup (+3500 ⬇️ +1700)
The Predators signings of Steven Stamkos, Jonathan Marchessault and Brady Skjei have propelled the team into the conversation of a contender. They came just short last season, losing to the Vancouver Canucks in the first round.
Their desire coming into the off-season was acquiring goal-scorers to help near-50 goal man Filip Forsberg. Stamkos and Marchessault combined for 82 goals last season despite their old age and should help Nashville find the offense they were hoping for.
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They will also get the contribution of 13 goals as well as a +15 rating from Brady Skjei, who should slide into the team’s top pairing.
Backup netminder Scott Wedgewood was another great signing for the team and will provide a reliable sidekick for Juuse Saros when the Finnish netminder will need rest.
All signs point to a significantly better team that may go far but we should wait and see the product before heavy investment.
Tampa Bay Lightning to win Stanley Cup (+3000 ⬇️ +1800)
The Nashville Predators having better odds to win the Cup over the Lightning is certianly a head-turner but that may be the Steven Stamkos effect. Despite losing their long-time captain, Tampa made a quick move to switch out the player for a younger one in former Hurricane, Jake Guentzel.
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They made changes in other areas like moving on from defenceman Mikhail Sergachev and trading him to the newly-formed Utah Hockey Club as well as sending forward Tanner Jeannot to the Kings.
They cleared up a messy cap situation and also added veteran Cam Atkinson and Zemgus Girgensons.
This team will also need time to evaluate but if the Lightning can hit a new found groove with Guentzel and their top six, they very well can be in the conversation for a championship once again.
Winnipeg Jets to win Stanley Cup (+1900 ⬆️ +2900)
The Jets are expected to still make changes and shouldn't be discredited for the subtle ones they've made already. They moved on from backup Laurent Brossoit and freed up cap space while adding Kaapo Kähkönen as well as returning Jet Eric Comrie.
Goaltending should continue to be a strongsuit for this team and they will remain as one of the best defensive teams in the league.
They lost key forwards Sean Monahan and Tyler Toffoli but they will have the chance to add a lot of youth into their bottom six with the additions of Jaret Anderson-Dolan as well as five other signed forwards under the age of 26 that doesn’t include current RFA Cole Perfetti.
Their young crop of forwards at the bottom of their lineup could add a surprising spark to their game that many may not expect. They could see a breakout or two this season as well as continue to dominate with their defensive style of play that should go unchanged and will keep them in the conversation for a Stanley Cup next Spring.