With the NHL playoffs complete and the Stanley Cup getting ready to parade down the streets of Pittsburgh, Vegas has released early betting odds for the 2017-2018 season.
To no surprise, the back-to-back Stanley Cup Champion Penguins opened as the favorites to hoist the Cup once again with 9/1 odds.
According to Bovada, the Blackhawks opened in a four-way tie for the second best odds in the league at 12/1, along with the Edmonton Oilers, Tampa Bay Lightning, and Washington Capitals.
Opening odds on 2018 #StanleyCup. Dat Predators 14-to-1 line. (Bovada) pic.twitter.com/JqXbI9VUHB
— Greg Wyshynski (@wyshynski) June 12, 2017
Chicago entered the 2017 post season as the Stanley Cup favorites before getting swept by the Western Conference Champion Predators. Despite their surprising knock out in the first round, oddsmakers aren’t ready to give up on the ‘Hawks just yet, with Chicago listed towards the top at various sportsbooks according to OddsShark.
Speaking of the Preds (14/1), Nashville may have made an embarrassment out of the ‘Hawks and made it all the way to the Cup Finals this year, but according to the futures board, oddsmakers are skeptical of a repeat performance.
Other surprising odds on the board include the Senators (33/1) who were just one win away from advancing to the Finals, and the Lightning (12/1) who missed out on the playoffs this season.
With a lot of action anticipated for the upcoming weeks with the NHL draft and expansion draft, it will be interesting to see how these odds shift throughout the off-season.