Updated NHL Futures (Dec. 2014)
The Chicago Blackhawks sit atop Bovada’s updated NHL futures list.
The Chicago Blackhawks continue to top the NHL futures list but are starting to generate a little daylight between themselves and the rest of the league, according to online sportsbook Bovada.
The bookmaker unveiled its latest set of NHL futures odds this week, giving bettors a chance to make their pick for the 2015 Stanley Cup championship.
Bet on the latest hockey futures odds
The Blackhawks (11/2) have topped the NHL futures list for much of the season, but have generally been involved in a to-and-fro battle with some of the league’s other powerhouses. Right now though, Joel Quenneville’s side is (almost) comfortably out in front.
A trio of sides sits behind the Blackhawks on the list.
The Anaheim Ducks, Pittsburgh Penguins and St. Louis Blues have all been assigned 17/2 odds by the bookmaker, giving each a share of second place. While there’s not a massive difference between 11/2 and 17/2, the difference does mark the largest gap for several months.
Of those three sides, both the Ducks and Blues are trending up, while the Penguins are (slightly) trending down.
The Los Angeles Kings and Tampa Bay Lightning (both 12/1) share fifth place on the list. Neither side is all that far from where it started the season in regards to Stanley Cup odds.
The Boston Bruins have experienced a drop off since the last time we looked at the NHL futures. Odds of the Bruins lifting the cup have fallen from 9/1 last month to 14/1 this month. Claude Julien’s side had been as high as second in the eyes of the bookmakers this season, but a 3-5-3 record over the last 11 games has taken its toll.
The Philadelphia Flyers (75/1) are another team trending downwards having compiled a 4-9-3 record since November 14. The side had seen its odds shortened as low as 33/1 previously.
As documented previously on this site, the New York Islanders are experiencing something of a renaissance in their final season on Long Island. The team’s success has translated to the futures list.
The Islanders are currently listed at 16/1, an improvement over the 20/1 odds the side had this time last month, and a major improvement on those 66/1 odds the teams started the season with. Will John Tavares’ side continue to climb the rankings?
Other teams on the rise include the Florida Panthers (from 150/1 to 75/1), the Nashville Predators (from 33/1 to 22/1) and the Toronto Maple Leafs (from 28/1 to 22/1).
At the bottom of the futures list lie the lowly Edmonton Oilers. As documented earlier this week, the Oilers are experiencing yet another season of disappointment, giving fans little to be cheerful of during this festive period.
The Oilers took a beating from bookmakers this month, with championship odds falling from 150/1 to 1000/1. That’s what happens when you’ve won just one game since November 11.
Other teams taking the plunge include the Carolina Hurricanes (from 200/1 to 500/1), Buffalo Sabres (from 300/1 to 500/1) and Arizona Coyotes (from 100/1 to 300/1). It would take more than a miracle on ice for any of these teams to become relevant this season.
You can see the full list of NHL futures below.
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The latest hockey futures can be found here
A selection of team prop bets can be found here
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