Stanley Cup odds: Biggest movers after 1 week of free agency
NHL free agency opened up just over a week ago. Although there are still some name-brand players available - most notably Nazem Kadri and John Klingberg - the majority of the top talent has found a new home.
Let's take a look at how that has impacted the market, focusing on some of the biggest risers and fallers.
TEAM | ODDS (July 21) | ODDS (July 11) |
---|---|---|
Colorado Avalanche | +400 | +425 |
Toronto Maple Leafs | +750 | +900 |
Florida Panthers | +900 | +1100 |
Tampa Bay Lightning | +1000 | +1000 |
Carolina Hurricanes | +1200 | +1500 |
Vegas Golden Knights | +1600 | +1100 |
Edmonton Oilers | +1800 | +1700 |
Minnesota Wild | +1800 | +2000 |
Pittsburgh Penguins | +2000 | +2700 |
New York Rangers | +2000 | +2000 |
St. Louis Blues | +2200 | +2700 |
Boston Bruins | +2500 | +3000 |
Calgary Flames | +2500 | +2000 |
Los Angeles Kings | +3500 | +3500 |
New York Islanders | +3500 | +3100 |
Washington Capitals | +3500 | +4000 |
Dallas Stars | +4500 | +4000 |
Vancouver Canucks | +4500 | +5000 |
Nashville Predators | +5000 | +4000 |
Winnipeg Jets | +5000 | +6500 |
Detroit Red Wings | +5500 | +7500 |
Ottawa Senators | +5500 | +5000 |
New Jersey Devils | +7000 | +5000 |
Anaheim Ducks | +8000 | +7500 |
Buffalo Sabres | +8000 | +7500 |
Columbus Blue Jackets | +8000 | +10000 |
Philadelphia Flyers | +10000 | +6000 |
Seattle Kraken | +17500 | +6000 |
San Jose Sharks | +17500 | +7500 |
Chicago Blackhawks | +22500 | +10000 |
Montreal Canadiens | +22500 | +10000 |
Arizona Coyotes | +40000 | +50000 |
Risers
Carolina Hurricanes (+1200)
The Hurricanes have been one of the league's better teams for a handful of years now. Natural finishing ability - or a lack there of - was perhaps the biggest thing holding them back.
GM Don Waddell has certainly tried to address that in recent weeks, most notably with the additions of Max Pacioretty and Brent Burns. It's fair to say both players have passed their peaks but they are still very good; particularly offensively.
Pacioretty has amassed 43 goals in 87 games over the last two seasons in Vegas; he remains one of the best pure scorers in the NHL when healthy.
Burns brings real pop to the back end as well. He has netted at least 10 goals in eight straight seasons in which he's appeared in more than 60 games. He's one of the best volume shooting defenders in the league and is as durable as they come.
With those two joining the organization for pennies on the dollar - and quality depth scorer Ondrej Kase signing for $1.5 million - the Hurricanes have more than adequately replaced the departures of Vincent Trocheck and Tony DeAngelo.
Detroit Red Wings (+5500)
The Red Wings are done being complete pushovers. They've made that loud and clear with the moves we have seen this summer.
Free-agent signings David Perron (27 goals, 57 points) and Andrew Copp (21 goals, 53 points) will nicely complement the stars the team already has in place up front. Not to mention, they'll provide sandpaper and make the Wings tougher to play against.
While Ben Chiarot, Olli Maatta, and Mark Pysyk have limitations with the puck, they should help the Red Wings improve in the defensive zone.
Ville Husso is a nice upgrade in goal as well. He's coming off a breakout season in which he ranked top-10 in save percentage - and high-danger save percentage - at five-on-five.
The Red Wings are still unlikely to make a ton of noise this season - hence the +5500 Cup odds - but they've really improved.
Fallers
Vegas Golden Knights (+1600)
The Golden Knights were a huge disappointment this past season, missing the playoffs outright in a year they entered heavily favored to win the division.
Although better health next season should help the cause, they haven't exactly had a confidence-inducing offseason. Their only move of note saw them trade Pacioretty - who averaged 35 goals per 82 games over four years with the team - for nothing but cap space, something they are still very short on.
They've made no additions to the team, a huge chunk of their core - including Mark Stone, Jonathan Marchessault, Reilly Smith, Alex Pietrangelo, Alec Martinez, and Robin Lehner - is on the wrong side of 30 and they have to adjust to a new coaching staff.
Vegas still figures to be good; but the betting market is understandably a little skeptical based on what we've seen from them this summer.
Calgary Flames (+2500)
I'm surprised the Flames' odds haven't dipped much further than +2500. They just lost their most dynamic player, Johnny Gaudreau, to free agency and recouped nothing for the 100-plus point winger.
Now their other star winger, Matthew Tkachuk, appears unwilling to extend and will likely be traded sooner than later as a result. He would obviously fetch quality assets in return but nothing - or nobody - of his caliber.
A Flames team losing two members of arguably the league's best line last season is going to take a step back no matter who replaces them.
Todd Cordell is a sports betting writer at theScore. Be sure to follow him on Twitter @ToddCordell.