2019 NHL Stanley Cup Predictions with Futures Odds and Expert Analysis

by Trevor Whenham - 6/8/2018

As I write this we are just a couple of hours past the end of the 2018 NHL Playoffs. Washington's players haven't even gone to bed yet. Heck, they are still probably drinking out of the Cup. The offseason is as young as it can possibly be, and the Stanley Cup in 2019 is a very long way away. The draft hasn't happened, and free agency is most of a month away. A lot will change, in other words. But the first 2019 Stanley Cup futures are up, so it only makes sense that we take a look at them for early value - or at least for early interest, because it would be hard to make a case that betting these numbers now would be a good idea. ( Odds are from Bovada )

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Tampa Bay Lightning (+900): I was on this team from the preseason this past year and fell one round short. Now they are favored this year, and I have no problem with that at all. The talent is deep, the offense is potent, the goaltending is sound, and hopefully they learned something when they fell short in the playoffs. What I really like is that the team didn't just stand still after the loss. They cleaned house with their assistant coaching staff, and they have signaled that some player changes could be coming as well. They have a very strong core, and they are committed to getting better - and I trust this management team to do that. Justifiable favorite at a price that is, at least in relative terms, fair.

Boston Bruins (+1000): This is one of those very hard situations to judge at this point. This team was very good this past year, but they were also far ahead of expectations. They were forced into a fairly aggressive rebuild, and they reached a critical mass at least a year early. To get there they got some spectacular performances from young players. Can these young stars move forward a year after exceeding expectations so much, or will they hit a slump as the pressure intensifies and they can no longer sneak up on anyone? I was slow to buy into this team this year, so I tend to be a little pessimistic going forward. But I wouldn't bet the house against this team.

Toronto Maple Leafs (+1000): After the season and the very disappointing early departure, there were two things I didn't like at all surrounding this team. First, Auston Matthews refused an invitation to play for the U.S. at the World Championships. And then he went to his hometown of Phoenix and pouted. Soon after, coach Mike Babcock went down there to meet with him. I am happy that the star of the team is upset and embarrassed - he should be. But this was too much diva attitude for me, and it feels like a really bad omen. The team was good this year, but I was skeptical from the start that they could be trusted mentally. That sure hasn't changed. And they have some very hard work to do improving their defensive corps because they just aren't good enough back there. That is going to require some changes on the roster, and there is no certainty that it will work out. I remain pessimistic about this team.

Winnipeg Jets (+1000): They ran into a wall against Vegas, but I really liked their win over Nashville and so much of what came before that. This is a very deep team, and they play in the right way - fast, egoless, and with sound defense balanced off by potent, explosive offense. I really believe in this team and would pick them above many teams as the one to not only maintain what they have done but also take a step forward.

Pittsburgh Penguins (+1100): The scariest thing in the NHL is an angry Sidney Crosby. Losing in the second round makes them very angry, and then seeing their biggest rivals hoist the Cup after eliminating them hurts even more. This is going to be a driven, angry team. And they should get better goaltending this year after health issues got in the way of what they were trying to do consistently. They will be very dangerous.

Washington Capitals (+1400): The Caps are the last team standing, However, despite what Pittsburgh did the two previous years, it is extremely tough to defend. And the difference is that the Penguins won as a dominant team, while the Capitals did it as a team that got very hot and played to the very best of their capabilities at exactly the right time. I don't mean to disrespect them when I say I see no possible way to bet this team at this price.

Dallas Stars (+2500): There is no shortage of teams coming off a wildly-disappointing season that should be expected to be better this year - or at least that should be dramatically better than they were last year. Of all of them, the Stars stand out best for me. They have good goaltending that was a disappointment last year. They have goal scoring that didn't deliver last year. And they should be better defensively than they were. On paper this should be a top four or five team in the West. That would make this a decent price.

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Start:	July 17, 2018 @ 10:00 PM
Expert:	Scott Spreitzer
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2019 NHL Stanley Cup Predictions with Futures Odds and Expert Analysis

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