Updated NHL Futures (Dec. 2013)

The Pittsburgh Penguins and Chicago Blackhawks are favorites with the bookies.

The Chicago Blackhawks and Pittsburgh Penguins continue their cat-and-mouse game at the top of the NFL futures list, with the Blackhawks edging the Penguins for top spot.

With the NHL in the middle of a three-day holiday, BettingSports.com has decided now is as good a time as any to examine the current NHL odds available.

The last time we took a detailed look at the NHL futures, Pittsburgh (27-11-1, 55pts) was the favorite to lift the Stanley Cup ahead of Chicago (26-7-6, 58pts). The two have now switched seats with the Penguins – 6/1 to win the trophy – just behind the Blackhawks – 11/2 to be crowned champions for the second straight year.

The two sides remain favorites to win their respective conferences, as has been the case all season. With both challenging it’s likely that this particular race will still be in full effect the next time we visit the NHL futures and, in all likelihood, as we approach the end of the season.

The St. Louis Blues (24-7-5, 53pts) have climbed into third place on bookmakers’ lists, with current odds of winning the Stanley Cup at 7/1.

Without a Stanley Cup appearance since Bobby Orr skated the ice in 1970, there’s nothing more St. Louis fans would like than to lift a first ever trophy. But with the Western Conference proving to be a beast this season – six teams currently have 50 or more points – the Blues will have their work cut out for them.

The Boston Bruins (25-10-2, 52pts) continue to offer the Penguins their toughest challenge in the Eastern Conference.

The Bruins – who have beaten the Penguins twice in three meetings so far this season – are currently listed at 8/1 to lift Lord Stanley’s trophy, the team’s lowest odds of the season. The club is also 3/1 to win the Prince of Wales Trophy, just behind Pittsburgh’s 5/2.

The San Jose Sharks (23-8-6, 52pts) round out the top five with odds of 9/1 to be crowned champions in June.

After a hot start to the season, the Sharks have gone 4-5-1 over the last 10 games with two of those wins coming in a shootout. Todd McLellan’s side will need to rediscover its earlier form if it’s to reward bettors later in the season.

The Western Conference and NHL-leading Anaheim Ducks (27-7-5, 59pts) currently sit sixth with the odds makers. Having opened the year with 25/1 odds, the Orange County team is now considered 11/1 to win the Stanley Cup, a figure that represents its shortest odds of the year.

Having recorded a ninth straight win on Monday night, the Ducks continue to look like a genuine threat, and may just represent the best value on any of the 30 teams listed on the NHL futures.

Eight weeks ago we commented on the Colorado Avalanche (23-10-3, 49pts) and its unexpected rise to glory under new coach, Patrick Roy. The Avs have cooled off somewhat since then but remain in contention for a playoff spot. Bookmakers have cooled off on the team, stretching its odds from 12/1 to 22/1, but this is still a team that could make a splash later in the year.

The Tampa Bay Lightning (23-11-3, 49pts) and Montreal Canadiens (22-13-3, 47pts) continue to stand tall towards the top of the Eastern Conference standings. Both have shown improvement on the NHL futures list since the start of the season, with both currently listed at 25/1 to win it all.

At the other end of the spectrum, the Edmonton Oilers (12-24-3, 27pts) continue to plummet towards the bottom of the NHL standings and futures.

The Oilers began the year ranked 10th in the league with 20/1 odds of winning a championship. Those odds sunk to 100/1 the last time we checked in with the team and now the team finds itself ranked joint-28th in the league with 500/1 odds. Only the lowly Buffalo Sabres (10-24-3, 23pts) have longer odds (1000/1).

NHL action resumes on Friday with a 10-game slate. Odds, trends and game lines will be available from BettingSports.com as soon as they are released by the sportsbooks.

All odds supplied by Bovada.

For updated NHL futures odds, click here.

For a selection of NHL team prop bets, click here.

For a selection of NHL player prop bets, click here.