2018-19 NHL Play-Off Futures
2nd Round Play-off Series
Bruins -165 vs Blue Jackets WON
Rested or not, the Blue Jackets are not as good as the Bruins. Bruins won the season series 2-1, including the last 2. I like the team that was playing with their season on the line the last 2 games, which was some of their best hockey. I don’t expect these to be a long series and the jackets come crashing back to Earth.
NY Islanders -125 vs Hurricanes LOST
I did not expect this number to be this low. They might have looked like the best team in the league (even better than the jackets) in the first round. They made easy work of Penguins in a sweep. Now they get the Canes. The Canes were down 2-0 to come back and win in 7. The Islanders held Sidney Crosby and the Penguins to just 6 goals, only 3 after a 4-3 Game 1. The Isles are real deal and should get some consideration for a stanley cup future play.
1st Round Play-off Series
Predators -175 vs Stars LOST
The Stars might be one of the better defensive teams in the NHL. But the Predators are the superior team here. Getting this under -200 is a nice price.
Jets +110 vs Blues LOST
The Jets seemed to stumble into the playoffs and just hold on to home ice here. 4-6 in their last 10 vs the Blues 8-2 in their last 10 is a main reason for this almost pick’em price. It’s hard to lay off a team of the jets caliber at a plus price.
2018-19 NHL Regular Season Futures
Western Conference Winner
San Jose Sharks +500 LOST
In what is becoming a 4 dog race in the west, the Sharks stand to make a deep run. The addition of Erik Karlsson was a little surprising across the league. And now they have 2 perennial Norris trophy candidates on their blue line. The old saying, defence wins championship, and now the Sharks have one of the best units.
Regular Season Points
NY Rangers Over 77 1/2 -125 WON
As the Rangers begin their rebuild, they still have a few pieces on the back end that is always important during a rebuild. King Henrik is still between the pipes and Staal and Shattenkirk lead the defence unit. The Rangers played 19 overtime games, almost 1/4, right there is a free almost 20 points and the possibility of a bounce here and there to 40. 80 points is well within the realm of possibility.
Senators Under 72 1/2 +145 WON
Bad, just a whole lot of bad. Where to start? How can they be 5 points better than last year? The team captain was traded away after a bizarre social media tirade involving players wives. Before the conversation of Jack Hughes started, the senators managed to trade their first pick for Matt Duchene. You often wonder how much noise the players hear from the press, Eugene Melnyk is regularly talking expansion. Where is the motivation? Crowds could be record setting thin, will they even average 9,000?
Canucks Under 76 1/2 -105 LOST
Life after the Sedins officially starts this year. But the same question, how is this roster better than last years 73 points? The canucks have one of the younger teams in the league and are trending in the right direction, this just won’t be the year they surpass 77 points. The crazy stat that sticks out from last year, the Canucks never won a shootout, the only team with that honour. There’s another 5 points given up. So now I’m thinking there’s no way this team is 8 points (4 wins) better than last year.
Top Goalscorer
Austin Matthews +1200 LOST
No one will benefit from the addition of John Tavares quite like Matthews. JT will get most teams shut down defensemen, while Matthews will get the 2nd unit. Then there’s the powerplay.
Most Points
Sidney Crosby +900 LOST
A pure value play. Still one of the top 3 players in the world and you get almost 10 to 1. Hard to pass up.