Stanley Cup Odds Are Very Close

Despite the title, to say that the Stanley Cup future odds are close is a bit of an understatement.

At the top of the heap is still the Chicago Blackhawks (15/2), where they have sat nearly all season long. Not far behind is the Anaheim Ducks (9/1). After that three teams sit at 10/1 and five teams sit at 12/1. That rounds out the top 10. Even then, you have to get to the No. 15 spot when the odds begin to look unlikely with the San Jose Sharks at 25/1.

The Blackhawks goal at the moment is to simply stay alive until Patrick Kane can return. The Blackhawks are going to have a difficult two rounds without their most valuable player, especially since it looks like they will be paired against the Nashville Predators and ST. Louis Blues.

The Blackhawks are favorites for a reason, though. If they can make it past the first two round without Kane, many expect them to cruise to the Cup upon his return.

Speaking of the Predators, they were team that we pegged as Dark Horse contenders for the cup earlier in the year and here we are with the season winding down and they sit near the top of the odds in the group that have 10/1 odds.

Nashville is not a team that is going to win a lot of praise for offensive prowess. It is Pekka Rinne who is like a brick wall as goalie that has led this team to success and with near perfect play when it matters could help take his team to the Cup.

Still, though, with the Ducks and Los Angeles Kings sitting near the top, the odds of the Cup coming to California are pretty good.

The Kings are a team that can win from anywhere. Last year they won the Stanley Cup after taking the first three series on the road. They also won in 2012 from the No.8 seed. This is a team that cannot be counted out to repeat this year.

Meanwhile, the Ducks rose up in the odds recently thanks to some defensive retooling they did just before the trade deadline. The Ducks defense still has a lot to prove but it certainly got the bookmakers excited pushing them to No.2.

Check out the full NHL future odds below:

Chicago Blackhawks
15/2

Anaheim Ducks
9/1

Los Angeles Kings
10/1

Nashville Predators
10/1

St. Louis Blues
10/1

Minnesota Wild
12/1

Montreal Canadiens
12/1

New York Islanders
12/1

Pittsburgh Penguins
12/1

Tampa Bay Lightning
12/1

New York Rangers
14/1

Boston Bruins
16/1

Detroit Red Wings
16/1

Washington Capitals
18/1

San Jose Sharks
25/1

Calgary Flames
28/1

Vancouver Canucks
28/1

Winnipeg Jets
33/1

Florida Panthers
66/1

Ottawa Senators
66/1

Philadelphia Flyers
66/1

Dallas Stars
200/1

Colorado Avalanche
300/1

New Jersey Devils
500/1