2020-2021 NHL Stanley Cup Championship Odds

It seems like just yesterday that the Tampa Bay Lightning hoisted the Stanley Cup shedding, for the time being at least, their reputation as playoff chokers. It was St. Louis shaking the choker label last year, and the Capitals the year before that.

Will a perennial choker surprise us in 2021? The Lightning didn’t even hit the parade route when the odds for the 2021 Stanley Cup winners were released. Of course, that was well before the commencement of free agency. Among the favorites were Colorado, Vegas, Boston, and the newly crowned champs.

While there are still several decent free agents looking for landing spots as we put October behind us, most teams seem to have their 2021 rosters set. Some squads appear to have become stronger, others look weaker, and a few are hard to gauge.  The $81.5 million salary cap is proving to be a challenge for many teams who are desperately looking to fill and/or upgrade key positions. GMs still have a lot of time to work their magic.

The puck is slated to drop on the 2020-21 season on January 1^st. This is a best-case scenario. Many things are up in the air in these uncertain times and all sports schedules are subject to change. It isn’t even clear whether the NHL will move forward with its current conference structure.

There is a real possibility that we could see some realignment to facilitate an all-Canadian division. While professional hockey will almost certainly happen in 2021, many questions remain. This gives hockey bettors plenty of time to contemplate their Stanley Cup winner wagers. So, let’s have a look at the opening 2021 Stanley Cup odds. We will regularly update the odds throughout the offseason, though the regular season, and through the playoffs.