On August 14th, I looked at how the oddsmakers ranked each team by averaging the odds on each team to win the Stanley Cup from many different sportsbooks.
As Richard’s Puck Prospectus article Cinderella and the Disappointment highlights, some unexpected teams are off to hot starts, while other teams, expected to be among the league’s best, are struggling.
Here is the second version of the rankings. I’m not naming the tiers, rather I’m categorizing them by the average odds each team is available at. Have the oddsmakers adjusted to teams’ hot/cold starts?
Tier 1: (5-1)
1. Pittsburgh
After an 8-1-0 start the Penguins have emerged as the clear favorite to win the Stanley Cup.
Tier 2: (7-1 to 10-1)
2. Detroit 3. San Jose 4. Chicago 5. Washington
Slow starts by the Wings and Sharks have dropped them from the top tier. Chicago is having goaltending issues and Washington is looking like an offensive force.
Tier 3: (11-1 to 20-1)
6. Boston 7. Philadelphia 8. Calgary 9. Vancouver 10. New York Rangers
Boston moves down after a slow, injury-plagued start to the season. Philadelphia and Calgary remain in this group after a solid start to the season. Vancouver drops in odds but stays in this tier following a slow start, and the New York Rangers move up from the following an excellent beginning to the sesaon.
Tier 4: (21-1 to 30-1)
11. Anaheim 12. New Jersey
Anaheim drops out of the “contenders” group after a slow start. New Jersey has not been getting respect from oddsmakers the last few years, and are available at an average odds of 29-1 despite a respectable (5-3-0) start to the season.
Tier 5: (31-1 to 50-1)
13. Carolina 14. Ottawa 15. St. Louis 16. Columbus 17. Buffalo 18. Montreal 19. Los Angeles 20. Edmonton 21. Dallas
Other than the slow-starting ‘Canes and Habs and fashionable pre-season darkhorse pick St.Louis, this group is made up of teams that are over-achieving through the first 1/8 of the season.
Tier 6: (50-1 to 80-1)
22. Tampa Bay 23. Colorado 24. Minnesota 25. Nashville 26. Florida 27. Toronto
In this tier we can see how oddsmakers have not adjusted to many teams’ hot/cold starts. Toronto and the Islanders are by far the two worst teams in the league right now and Toronto’s struggles are not reflected in the odds. Colorado, on the other hand, has been playing well and is offered at 100-1 at one site to win the Stanley Cup.
Tier 7: (81-1 to 100-1)
28. Atlanta Thrashers 29. Phoenix Coyotes
It is early, but both of these teams are playing well and are above .500. Oddsmakers have not yet adjusted prices for these two teams.
Tier New York Islanders: (150-1)
30. New York Islanders
Though they have their own tier, they have been considerably better than the Maple Leafs this year.
