NHL Betting Futures: Anaheim Ducks Sitting Among Stanley Cup Odds Favorites

The Anaheim Ducks are one of only five teams that have clinched NHL playoff berths heading into action Thursday night and are at 9-1 odds to win the Stanley Cup at sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark.com.

Anaheim also leads the race for the Presidents’ Trophy, which is awarded to the team that collects the most points on the season.

Winning the Presidents’ Trophy, however, has not translated to much postseason success in recent seasons. Since the 2008 Detroit Red Wings won the Presidents’ Trophy and the Stanley Cup, only the 2013 Chicago Blackhawks have gone on to duplicate the feat.

The Boston Bruins (18-1 on the Stanley Cup odds) won the Presidents’ Trophy a year ago, but this season they're just looking to make it into the playoffs as one of the last teams to qualify in the Eastern Conference.

The Red Wings (20-1) are in the same boat, as they are trying to hold off Boston for third place in the Atlantic Division, with the Montreal Canadiens (10-1) and Tampa Bay Lightning (10-1) still battling it out for that division's title. Montreal and Tampa Bay have already secured spots in the postseason.

The New York Rangers have also clinched a playoff berth, emerging as the favorites to win the 2015 Stanley Cup at 13-2 odds after representing the Eastern Conference in the Stanley Cup Final last year. The Rangers lead the league in road wins and goal differential and just welcomed back star goaltender Henrik Lundqvist following a seven-week absence due to a vascular issue in his neck.

In the Western Conference, the Blackhawks look to be the top challengers for the Ducks at 7-1 odds to win the Stanley Cup but are still awaiting the return of star winger Patrick Kane from a fractured clavicle.

Kane hopes to be able to return early in the playoffs, with Chicago chasing the Nashville Predators (14-1) and the St. Louis Blues (10-1) in a competitive Central Division that also includes one of the hottest teams in the NHL, the Minnesota Wild (8-1).

The Predators have clinched a playoff spot as well but have really been struggling lately, putting them in danger of surrendering the division lead to the Blackhawks or Blues in the final week of the season.