Stanley Cup Odds for Every NHL Team at the Start of 2015-16 NHL Season
Can the Chicago Blackhawks repeat as Stanley Cup champions, or did the many moves they made because of salary-cap restraints finally put a dent in the modern-day dynasty?
Can the Los Angeles Kings return to glory and take their spot in the rotation of Hawks-Kings victories?
What teams are primed for a big rise in their respective conference, and will somebody pay off big on a bet placed early in the season before the odds change based on performance?
There are a lot of questions being asked here and not many answers that can be carved in stone—and certainly not on the silver chalice itself just yet.
But after poring over each team's roster and the moves they've made this offseason, or those they've chosen not to make, we've assigned Stanley Cup odds to all 30 NHL teams.
Click through to see where your team ranks, what's working for them and what's not as they attempt to raise the Cup over their collective heads.
Arizona Coyotes
1 of 30
Working in their favour: The Arizona Coyotes don't have a lot going for them, but they do have a couple of young players to watch with great interest this year. The team won't be winning any championships this season barring a miracle, but there's a chance one of them might claim the Calder. With speed, skill and sandpaper to his game, Max Domi—the Coyotes' top pick from the 2014 draft—should be among the best freshman across the league.
Working against them: The defense is extremely thin behind stud Oliver Ekman-Larsson. Returnee Zbynek Michalek, who was traded to the St. Louis Blues at the deadline as a depth player for the bottom pairing before re-signing with the Coyotes this summer, is the de facto No. 2 guy now. They are going to get scored on a great deal this season.
Odds: 500-1
Carolina Hurricanes
2 of 30
Working in their favour: Head coach Bill Peters is in his second season, and the players who were there last year should be better than in year one. Veteran Eric Staal is motivated in the final year of his contract, and there are some promising young players around him such as Jeff Skinner and Elias Lindholm. The addition of Eddie Lack in goal offers stability behind a past-his-prime Cam Ward.
Working against them: There just isn't a great deal of top-end talent or depth on offense or defense, but it's especially noticeable on the back end. Outside of 23-year-old Justin Faulk, who had a breakout 49-point season last year, the blue line is primarily made up of journeymen (John-Michael Liles, James Wisniewski and Ron Hainsey).
Odds: 250-1
Toronto Maple Leafs
3 of 30
Working in their favour: There are a lot of smart hockey people running the Toronto Maple Leafs now, from president Brendan Shanahan to head coach Mike Babcock. Together, they've attempted to put together a team that is at least willing if not capable of competing.
Working against them: Babcock has his work cut out for him. The defense has some puck-moving talent, but other coaches have had difficulty getting them to find balance. And shipping out top sniper Phil Kessel leaves a massive hole that is going to have to be filled by a collection of players whose best scoring days are well behind them. Brad Boyes, Michael Grabner and P.A. Parenteau have all had their moments but are past their prime.
Odds: 150-1
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New Jersey Devils
4 of 30
Working in their favour: Low expectations might be the only thing working to their advantage when it comes to performance this year. There is very little hope the New Jersey Devils will be in the playoffs, never mind in a position to win a Cup. At least they have a strong goaltender in Cory Schneider to build in front of. But the rebuild will take some time.
Working against them: Everything is new in Jersey, from general manager Ray Shero to coach John Hynes, whom Shero snagged from his former Pittsburgh Penguins farm team to lead the Devils this season. But the problem remains that the Devils are a veteran team without enough young difference-makers from the draft to bolster the roster now and into the future.
Odds: 100-1
Buffalo Sabres
5 of 30
Working in their favour: Assuming second overall draft pick Jack Eichel makes a relatively smooth transition to the NHL, the Buffalo Sabres actually have pretty good depth up front. The team made some big moves last season to rebuild without taking a long road to do it, bringing in 24-year-olds Evander Kane and Ryan O'Reilly to improve the roster.
Working against them: The defense is thin, to say the least. And with arguably their top two blueliners, Zack Bogosian and Josh Jorges, both hurt to start the season, a hot start is out of the question. The right side is in decent shape when all are healthy, with Bogosian, Rasmus Ristolainen and Cody Franson. The left features Mike Weber and Mark Pysyk behind Jorges.
Odds: 90-1
Philadelphia Flyers
6 of 30
Working in their favour: There are a couple of elite forwards and some decent depth up front. Claude Giroux and Jakub Voracek were one of the most impressive scoring combinations in the NHL last year. Goaltender Steve Mason looked solid in the preseason, and the team's success will depend on his health and performance after a career year was overshadowed by the lack of team success last season.
Working against them: The defense was atrocious even before they determined to waive one of their highest-paid blueliners in Andrew MacDonald this week. That move may save them some cap space, but it doesn't make the group any stronger. And tasked with pulling together the group is rookie head coach Dave Hakstol, who last year guided the University of North Dakota in the NCAA.
Odds: 90-1
Florida Panthers
7 of 30
Working in their favour: There's a feeling of momentum in Florida, where the team made major strides last season thanks to a strong year from goalie Roberto Luongo and improvement from young players such as Jonathan Huberdeau and Aleksander Barkov. Having a mullet-powered Jaromir Jagr looking to capture some of his old magic would help as well.
Working against them: As good as defenseman Aaron Ekblad was in winning the Calder last season as the league's top rookie, the defensive group as a whole is made up of ancient veterans (Brian Campbell and Willie Mitchell) or young players who have yet to fulfill their potential (Dmitri Kulikov and Erik Gudbranson). They'll rely heavily on the top offensive players scoring enough to support Luongo.
Odds: 80-1
Colorado Avalanche
8 of 30
Working in their favour: Only two years removed from a playoff appearance, the Colorado Avalanche have hopes of bouncing back after a brutal season. They have improved the porous defense with some nice additions in the offseason and still have the collection of young and talented forwards to lead the way offensively.
Working against them: Dealing away center Ryan O'Reilly was a big blow to the team's forward depth. The group isn't as strong as it was two years ago when the Avs made the postseason, and even then, the team was winning in spite of poor possession numbers and leaning heavily on goalie Semyon Varlamov, who was a little inconsistent last year.
Odds: 80-1
Vancouver Canucks
9 of 30
Working in their favour: The Vancouver Canucks still have the Sedin twins, who are productive even at age 35. But more importantly, there's a youth movement on the coast, and the Canucks have a number of prospects ready to make an impact. Bo Horvat had a nice finish last season and will look to grow his game. Rookies Jake Virtanen and Jared McCann are also being given a chance to prove they belong.
Working against them: They traded away their best goalie in the offseason when they shipped Eddie Lack to the Carolina Hurricanes. Starter Ryan Miller posted his two worst save percentages since 2008 in the past two seasons. Backup Jacob Markstrom hasn't had a great deal of experience yet and moves up in the queue because of the departure of Lack.
Odds: 65-1
San Jose Sharks
10 of 30
Working in their favour: Despite some of the turmoil there last season, the San Jose Sharks still have some great forward talent and depth, with a top nine that is capable of spreading the scoring if everyone stays healthy and lives up to their potential. There are some young players filling in behind Patrick Marleau and Joe Thornton.
Working against them: Their best players are in decline, especially Marleau, who posted the lowest shooting percentage of his career and saw his production dip significantly last season. The also seems to be chronic friction between Thornton and GM Doug Wilson, and new head coach Peter DeBoer will have to get everybody to buy in.
Odds: 65-1
Edmonton Oilers
11 of 30
Working in their favour: It's amazing what one first overall draft pick can do for an organization. The Edmonton Oilers have certainly had their share of those in the past few years, but none have come with the same kind of buildup as the one that nabbed them Connor McDavid this past spring. The addition may be swaying the writers, too, with Todd McLellan landing on the list for potential Jack Adams winners in our recent B/R Experts' predictions poll.
Working against them: Sure, there is a lot of talent. But that's been the case for years, and coach after coach has tried to get this group to get things together. If McLellan can't make the difference, the owners will have to admit it's the mix of players that's the problem.
Odds: 55-1
Ottawa Senators
12 of 30
Working in their favour: This is a very young group that had an inspiring finish to its regular season last year and has a lot of room for improvement. There is a great deal of potential throughout the top three lines to provide the kind of offense needed to win. They've also got the reigning Norris Trophy winner in Erik Karlsson.
Working against them: Their goaltending is a question mark. Andrew Hammond was the star who helped them go on a miraculous late-season run and make the playoffs. But veteran starter Craig Anderson is still in the picture, and neither of them are proven commodities at this point of their careers. Anderson may be in decline and Hammond may have caught lightning in a bottle.
Odds: 55-1
Winnipeg Jets
13 of 30
Working in their favour: The defense is strong, especially on the right side with Dustin Byfuglien, Tyler Myers and Jacob Trouba. All three of those players can move the puck well and be physical when needed—or in Byfuglien's case, every shift.
Working against them: Goaltender Ondrej Pavelec had a career year that helped the Winnipeg Jets get into the playoffs. He stunk for the majority of his NHL experience prior to that. Odds of him matching the numbers he posted last season are slim. Backup Michael Hutchinson was good in an extended look last year, but is he capable of a starting job if Pavelec regresses?
Odds: 55-1
Detroit Red Wings
14 of 30
Working in their favour: Not only do the Detroit Red Wings still have Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg on the roster—although Datsyuk isn't starting the season healthy—they added solid vets Brad Richards and Mike Green in the offseason. The Wings also have a number of players-in-waiting already performing as if they are the keys to the team's present.
Working against them: The loss of head coach Mike Babcock, their leader since 2005, is a big one. Bringing in the team's AHL affiliate bench boss tempers that sting a bit since Jim Blashill has developed relationships with many of the younger players on the current Wings roster. However, he's an NHL rookie tasked with replacing one of the best in the league.
Odds: 45-1
Calgary Flames
15 of 30
Working in their favour: The Calgary Flames may have the best blue line in all of hockey from top to bottom after the addition of Dougie Hamilton in the offseason and a healthy Mark Giordano returning to the lineup. Kris Russell, Dennis Wideman, Brett Kulak and Deryk Engelland round out the starting six at the moment, but only because T.J. Brodie and Ladislav Smid are hurt.
Working against them: The team was king of the comebacks last season, never quitting on games and amassing a plus-36 goal differential after the second period. That's a hard thing to maintain, and not unlike the Colorado Avalanche of a year ago, some believe the Flames will regress this year because of their underlying possession numbers. They weren't big shooters but had a high scoring percentage.
Odds: 45-1
Dallas Stars
16 of 30
Working in their favour: Tyler Seguin, Jamie Benn and Patrick Sharp. That line combination could help propel the Dallas Stars' offense to the very top of the NHL if all stay healthy and Sharp finds chemistry with his new partners. They also have Jason Spezza as a star second-line center and can mix and match lines to find the right units all season long.
Working against them: That defense gets more Stanley Cup experience, replacing Trevor Daley for Johnny Oduya, but it's not really any better on paper or on the ice. Alex Goligoski and John Klingberg are a nice top pairing. Oduya and Jason Demers are a serviceable second duo, but they won't be striking fear into the hearts of opposing forwards any time soon.
Odds: 40-1
Boston Bruins
17 of 30
Working in their favour: Tuukka Rask is one of the best goaltenders in the league, and if he can bounce back from an inconsistent season, the Boston Bruins will be back to competing for the playoffs again after missing out last year.
Working against them: The Bruins have turned over a chunk of the roster, losing key pieces at forward and defense with Milan Lucic now in Los Angeles and Dougie Hamilton in Calgary. If they are to return to their winning ways, it will be because of the health and abilities of the remaining veterans and at least a surprise or two from the youngsters they added or are developing.
Odds: 35-1
Columbus Blue Jackets
18 of 30
Working in their favour: Healthy isn't something the Columbus Blue Jackets could claim they were at any point last season. They upgraded their top-end talent with the addition of Brandon Saad, but just being able to play all their talented youngsters at the same time will benefit this underdog team in a huge way. They're a team to watch out for in beating the odds with three very good scoring lines and a star goalie.
Working against them: The defense is still a weak spot. Jack Johnson isn't the guy you want as the headliner, although he has talent offensively and a physical presence. David Savard and Ryan Murray are solid young prospects who need some seasoning. Fedor Tyutin's best days may be behind him. Netminder Sergei Bobrovsky may have to be great on many nights.
Odds: 30-1
New York Islanders
19 of 30
Working in their favour: Having a Hart Trophy-worthy captain sure helps. John Tavares nearly single-handedly pushed the New York Islanders back into the playoffs last year, leading the scoring race until the final game when Jamie Benn's hat trick leapfrogged the Dallas Stars captain over top. There are plenty of good young support scorers as well, and they'll be getting better with more experience.
Working against them: History isn't on their side. The Isles haven't won a playoff series since 1993. They'll also be adapting to the new Barclays Center in Brooklyn after leaving Nassau Coliseum on the Island behind. Maybe the new digs will help end that playoff slump.
Odds: 25-1
Nashville Predators
20 of 30
Working in their favour: Another year under head coach Peter Laviolette might help some of the Nashville Predators players who struggled in their first year together take a step forward. One of them was sniper James Neal, who struggled without his former Pittsburgh Penguins star linemates last season. They have a stellar defensive group and one of the best goalies in the league in Pekka Rinne. If the forwards get hot, the team will be tough to beat.
Working against them: The Preds were only a middle-of-the-pack offensive group last year, and that was with rookie Filip Forsberg leading the way. They can't afford him having a sophomore slump or any depreciation with center Mike Ribeiro or second-liners Craig Smith and Colin Wilson.
Odds: 25-1
Montreal Canadiens
21 of 30
Working in their favour: Goaltender Carey Price is capable of carrying the Montreal Candiens on his back. He showed that with his Hart Trophy season a year ago, and although the Habs attempted to improve their scoring punch this offseason, they know they can depend on Price to bail them out more often than not.
Working against them: That lack of scoring will eventually take its toll. Can Price take a beating nightly and keep up his heroics, or will the lack of support eventually take its toll through mental and maybe physical fatigue?
Odds: 20-1
Minnesota Wild
22 of 30
Working in their favour: Confidence should finally be there for the Minnesota Wild. The team struggled over the first half of the season but rallied around new goalie Devan Dubnyk after a trade brought him over in January. The Wild have some strong leadership with Zach Parise and Ryan Suter, who are influencing a cast primarily made up of talented young prospects.
Working against them: Because of the lack of superstars, the team has to be completely in sync to succeed. There are few proven game-breakers on the squad.
Odds: 20-1
St. Louis Blues
23 of 30
Working in their favour: In spite of their postseason failures, the St. Louis Blues have one of the most talented top-to-bottom forward groups in the league. Dealing T.J. Oshie for Troy Brouwer did nothing to hurt their front nine, and rolling four lines will no doubt be an advantage for head coach Ken Hitchcock all season long. They have size, speed and skill across the lineup, and a great goaltending platoon with Jake Allen and Brian Elliott.
Working against them: The pressure has never been higher, and their coach is a lame duck after signing a one-year extension this summer. It's a last chance for playoff success, but if it doesn't work out, bigger changes will come. The defense is strong at the top but not as deep as it has been in previous years.
Odds: 18-1
Los Angeles Kings
24 of 30
Working in their favour: The roster isn't a whole lot different than the one that won the Stanley Cup two seasons ago. It's a bit more rested, though, after having last spring off following appearances in the Western Conference Final for three straight years and Stanley Cup wins in 2012 and 2014. It might be more deep up front, if not just more physical, with the addition of Milan Lucic to replace departed free-agent Justin Williams.
Working against them: The defense boasts arguably the best all-around player in the game in Drew Doughty, but the depth behind him is sketchy at best. The Kings rely heavily on a team defense concept for a reason. They signed Christian Ehrhoff to add some flair on the back end, but he's a risky player to lean on at this stage of his career.
Odds: 16-1
Washington Capitals
25 of 30
Working in their favour: The Washington Capitals showed great progress under Barry Trotz in playing the game the right way, and you can expect more of the same in his second season. Braden Holtby had a breakout season as the starting goalie, and the team added even more firepower up front in the offseason with T.J. Oshie and Justin Williams.
Working against them: There isn't a lot to worry about in Washington, although the defensive group is a little thinner with the departure of Mike Green. The Caps also need to be more consistent than year one under Trotz.
Odds: 14-1
New York Rangers
26 of 30
Working in their favour: Not only do the New York Rangers have one of the best goaltenders in the league in Henrik Lundqvist, but he plays behind one of the most defensively responsible groups of skaters. The defense corps is deep, experienced and skilled in both ends of the ice.
Working against them: The bottom six forwards are not as strong as they were the previous couple of years, as the Rangers maneuvered around the salary-cap ceiling in the offseason and parted ways with the likes of Carl Hagelin and Lee Stempniak, with Martin St. Louis also announcing his retirement. The minutes may not be as evenly distributed this season as a result.
Odds: 12-1
Pittsburgh Penguins
27 of 30
Working in their favour: If any team has a better collection of elite scoring forwards, it might be one of the All-Star squads. The addition of Phil Kessel to a group that already includes Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin equals an embarrassment of riches. If Kessel can score 50—a very realistic possibility—no one will even care if he learns to backcheck or not. The team made improvements to depth on the bottom six as well.
Working against them: The Penguins lost a couple of veteran blueliners in Paul Martin and Christian Ehrhoff and will be relying on younger guys on defense. Those guys are Olli Maatta and Ian Cole, with Derrick Pouliot expected to join them at some point this year as well. Maatta is coming off serious injury, and the team demoted Pouliot after a disappointing preseason.
Odds: 12-1
Tampa Bay Lightning
28 of 30
Working in their favour: The team has top-end talent at every position and lots of depth. On any given night, the Steven Stamkos line or the Triplets tandem of Ondrej Palat, Tyler Johnson and Nikita Kucherov could dominate a contest. Defenseman Victor Hedman is Norris Trophy worthy, and goalie Ben Bishop has been solid in his two years as a starter. The experience they gained from being in the Stanley Cup Final last year is invaluable.
Working against them: Stamkos being a pending free agent will be a distraction as long as he remains unsigned for next season. Depth behind Bishop was a strength last year with Andrei Vasilevskiy out indefinitely following vascular surgery for a blood clot around his collarbone.
Odds: 10-1
Chicago Blackhawks
29 of 30
Working in their favour: The team is still loaded with elite players in very different roles. Jonathan Toews is an annual Selke Trophy contender as a two-way superstar. Patrick Kane is one of the most dynamic playmakers in the NHL. Duncan Keith is a minute-munching defenseman who can join or lead a rush and quarterback a top power play. Marian Hossa is a savvy veteran who leads by example and takes no shortcuts on the ice. The core group is as good or better than any in the league.
Working against them: For all the Stanley Cup experience on the roster, the Blackhawks have been forced by salary-cap restraints to rely on more youth in important slots up front. With Brad Richards, Brandon Saad and Patrick Sharp gone, they'll look to Teuvo Teravainen and Artemi Panarin to step up. Despite winning three titles in six seasons, this is a very different-looking club.
Odds: 9-1
Anaheim Ducks
30 of 30
Working in their favour: The Anaheim Ducks' calling card has for years been a blend of size, speed and skill—and that still stands today. They also have a great deal of depth up front, starting with one of best top-line combinations in the league in Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry. They can muck it up on the cycle or beat you on a fast break. Perry can also prank you with the best of them (or worst, depending on your perspective) on the ice. The defense is young but rising fast in overall talent.
Working against them: Frederik Andersen got the Ducks deep into the playoffs, but he's an average goaltender playing on an elite team as opposed to an elite goalie giving a very good team that extra boost. It might be semantics, but what I'm trying to say is Andersen is a potential weak link on a team that has very few—if any—obvious holes.
Odds: 8-1
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