The NHL regular season is about to kick off on Wednesday night, and it should come as no surprise that the defending Stanley Cup champions from Pittsburgh are at the top of the list. However, it is only for now as the odds are packed together tightly and it’ll take a few weeks for everyone to separate themselves. Let’s take a look at the final preseason power rankings.
1. Pittsburgh Penguins
Last Week: —
NHL Stanley Cup Odds: +700
The Penguins lost the likes of Nick Bonino and Chris Kunitz, along with Trevor Daley and Marc-Andre Fleury was allowed to go in the expansion draft. However, they brought in Matt Hunwick and Antti Niemi will back up Matt Murray. Oh, and the Penguins also still have Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Phil Kessel, among other pieces. If everyone stays healthy, especially Crosby, this is a team that can definitely win. However, winning a third Stanley Cup in a row is a tall order for any team.
2. Edmonton Oilers
Last Week: —
NHL Stanley Cup Odds: +850
The Oilers traded Jordan Eberle to the New York Islanders for Ryan Strome, and made a smart veteran free-agent pickup in getting Jussi Jokinen. However, this team is all about Connor McDavid, who won the Hart Memorial and Art Ross trophies in just his second season, and really his first full season after his rookie year was cut short by injury. The Oilers also improved a ton on defense last season; can they manage expectations this season?
3. Washington Capitals
Last Week: —
NHL Stanley Cup Odds: +1000
The Capitals took some huge losses in the offseason as they lost Karl Alzer and Kevin Shattenkirk on the blue line, while Justin Williams left in free agency as well. They also traded Marcus Johansson for picks. Alexander Ovchekin is still leading the way for the Capitals, but everyone knows it is Stanley Cup or bust for this team, and if they get off to a slow start this season, don’t be surprised to hear Ovchekin trade rumors start to be whispered about.
4. Chicago Blackhawks
Last Week: —
NHL Stanley Cup Odds: +1200
The Blackhawks made a slew of moves this summer, although they did their thing mostly via trades as Marcus Kruger was sent to Vegas, and Niklas Hjalmarsson to Arizona, but they did get Brandon Saad and Anton Forsberg from Columbus. Still, this team is all about their core of Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane, Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook on the blue line and Corey Crawford in goal. Also, bringing back Patrick Sharp could be the sneaky-good move of the season. With those players around, the Blackhawks will be a threat at some point this season.
5. Tampa Bay Lightning
Last Week: —
NHL Stanley Cup Odds: +1200
The Lightning lost a few minor players in free agency, and they picked up Kunitz from Pittsburgh, along with Dan Girardi on defense. However, the Lightning will rise and fall with Steven Stamkos, who played just 17 games last season and that is the reason why Tampa Bay missed the postseason. With Stamkos in the lineup, the Lightning are a major contender in the Eastern Conference and he has to be considered one of the top five most valuable players in the league to their team.
6. Toronto Maple Leafs
Last Week: —
NHL Stanley Cup Odds: +1200
The Maple Leafs snapped up Patrick Marleau in free agency to go with their young core of Austin Matthews, Mitch Mariner and Morgan Reilly, among many others. Toronto was one of the biggest surprises in the league last season and put quite a scare into Washington in the first round of the playoffs, and they have one of the best coaches in NHL history in Mike Babcock steering the ship. Like the Oilers, the Maple Leafs are still very young and their biggest obstacle this season might be how they manage expectations, which are very high now.
7. Anaheim Ducks
Last Week: —
NHL Stanley Cup Odds: +1400
The Ducks brought in Ryan Miller to challenge John Gibson in goal, and Gibson was up and down during their playoff run. The Ducks still have a team full of veterans that can be successful, led by the omnipresent pairing of Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry, but you never know what you’re going to get in goal in Anaheim, and Miller might end up making more starts than you would think he should make at 37 years old. That is another important factor for the Ducks; they’re the third-oldest team in the NHL by average age, and you have to wonder if that will affect them later in the season.
8. Dallas Stars
Last Week: —
NHL Stanley Cup Odds: +1400
The Stars signed Martin Hanzal and didn’t really lose a lot in the offseason, but their biggest problem is depth in that they don’t get many points outside of the trio of Tyler Seguin, Jamie Benn and Jason Spezza. This is a very productive trio, and John Klingberg was solid last season, but if one of these players goes down, the Stars don’t have many options to step in and fill the void. Also, Ben Bishop might be the biggest free-agent signing of the offseason as only Colorado allowed more goals than the Stars last season.
9. Minnesota Wild
Last Week: —
NHL Stanley Cup Odds: +1400
The loss of Hanzal to Dallas might hurt the Wild, but they did manage to land Tyler Ennis and Marcus Foligno in a trade with Buffalo. Devan Dubnyk had a very good season for the Wild and he has to prove that it wasn’t a fluke. The Wild have the pieces to be a darkhorse throughout the season as you know they’re going to hang around, but can they catch up to the big guns in the West?
10. Nashville Predators
Last Week: —
NHL Stanley Cup Odds: +1400
The Predators are back after losing to Pittsburgh in the Stanley Cup final, and they lured Bonino from the Penguins. They have one of the best goaltenders in the league in Pekka Rinne, the blue line is stacked and while they’re not an offensive juggernaut, the Predators can score. Another run to the Stanley Cup final isn’t out of the question in Nashville.
The 2017-18 odds to win the Stanley Cup have been posted. Click here to get the latest lines from BetDSI, including moneylines, totals, props and futures!
