Stanley Cup Odds: Who Offers Best Value For Your Dollar?

I am not a hard core gambler by any means.  I play PRO-LINE now and then, to mixed success.  But I was looking around at various Stanley Cup odds for the upcoming season to see where the “experts” are leaning, and there were some interesting numbers that popped out at me.

Apr 11, 2013; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Flyers right wing Jakub Voracek (93) tries to skate past Ottawa Senators left wing Cory Conacher (89) during the third period at the Wells Fargo Center. The Senators defeated the Flyers, 3-1. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports

As you would expect, in the Atlantic Division, the Bruins are the favorites at 3-1.  Perhaps more surprisingly the Leafs come next at 4.75-1, followed by the Red Wings and the Canadiens.  The Senators are 5th at 11-1, which would be pretty good odds by my account.

Now to understand how it works, they aren’t exactly the odds to win the division, but essentially what the bookmaker sets the number at in order to get enough action. A lot if it is determined on reputation, as well as anticipated success.

The Senators are also 26-1 to win the Stanley Cup, which is a decent value bet.

The other team in the East that made me turn twice was the Flyers.  Yes, they have questions in goal and their blue line could be deeper, but overall at 11-1 to win the Metropolitan Division (Pittsburgh is the heavy favorite at 1.68-1) that would offer solid value for the money. They have a strong set of forwards that rivals the deeper teams in the Conference.

If I were a betting man, that is where my money would be going.

The Western Conference is about where you would expect most teams to be, with no real surprises.