Las Vegas oddsmakers favor the Chicago Blackhawks and the Boston Bruins to win the Stanley Cup next year.
If you’re already looking forward to next season, the oddsmakers at the LVH SuperBook offered the first odds for next year’s Stanley Cup contenders. It might be too early to really know as team rosters will change over the next few weeks because of free agency, trades and the NHL Draft, but it’s always interesting to have an idea of what to expect from the teams.
The Blackhawks, Stanley Cup champions in 2010 and 2013, are favored to claim a third Stanley Cup in six years in 2015 along with the Bruins, who won it in 2011. Both teams are at 7/1 at the LVH SuperBook.
It’s early but here is a quick look at the odds to win the Stanley Cup next year via the LVH SuperBook:
Blackhawks 7/1
Bruins 7/1
Kings 10/1
Penguins 10/1
Blues 10/1
Wild 14/1
Ducks 12/1
Rangers 15/1
Red Wings 15/1
Sharks 12/1
Canadiens 15/1
Avalanche 14/1
Stars 30/1
Blue Jackets 30/1
Lightning 20/1
Jets 50/1
Flyers 30/1
Capitals 50/1
Coyotes 50/1
Senators 50/1
Oilers 50/1
Maple Leafs 50/1
Canucks 50/1
Predators 100/1
Panthers 60/1
Islanders 60/1
Devils 60/1
Hurricanes 60/1
Flames 100/1
Sabres 100/1
According to the LVH SuperBook, the Calgary Flames and the Buffalo Sabres have the worst odds of winning the Stanley Cup at 100/1. Joining them near the bottom are the Florida Panthers, New York Islanders, New Jersey Devils and Carolina Hurricanes, all set at 60/1.
The Kings (10/1) would probably have better odds if repeats hadn’t been non-existent in the salary cap era. No team has gone back-to-back since the Detroit Red Wings in 1997 and 1998 but it still seems like the Kings have a decent enough shot to be next with so many players still under contract for next season and beyond.
Three of the top five teams are from the West, which certainly appears to be best conference even at this early stage.