NHL Futures Betting Predictions – Division Winners

For the first post of this new site I’m going to be looking at some good futures bets you can make for this upcoming NHL season.

Future bets are a lot of fun because you can follow the team or player you bet on throughout the season and cheer them on to victory.  The problem is your money will be tied up for a long time and you will often not find the odds necessary for you to make a positive ROI bet.

In this article I’m going to be checking out the division winner odds at Bookmaker.com and see if I can find a few solid bets to go after.

Atlantic Division

  • Pittsburgh Penguins  -150
  • Philadelphia Flyers +250
  • New Jersey Devils +375
  • New York Rangers +565
  • New York Islanders +3000

In this case I would advise you to stay away from the New York Islanders because there is no way in a million years they are going to win the division.  Even if you got 100 to 1 odds do not take that bet.  The others all have a chance however and for this reason I would also stay away from the Penguins.  This team goes through ups and downs and they could very easily have a long slump that would take them out of contention for the division win.  The smart money goes on the Devils.  This team is always consistent from year to year and almost always takes down the division even though they are not expected to do much before the season begins.  At +375 the Devils is by far the smartest bet in this division.

I bet the New Jersey Devils at +375.

Northeast Division

  • Boston Bruins -150
  • Montreal Canadiens +300
  • Buffalo Sabres +400
  • Ottawa Senators +700
  • Toronto Maple Leafs +1100

This division is very strange this year.  Usually the strongest division in the conference, the Northeast has been on the decline for the past couple years.  This year, Montreal and Toronto completely shook up their rosters, but in my opinion the Habs got much worse.  I would definitely stay away from them with those subpar odds.  The chances are the Bruins will repeat as division champs because they really don’t have much competition, but if anyone is going to take them down, I think it will be the Senators.  The Sens have the lineup to win a lot of games.  If they can just mesh better this year they could easily win the division.  At +700 that is a bet I am definitely willing to take.

I bet the Ottawa Senators at +700.

Southeast Division

  • Washington Capitals -185
  • Carolina Hurricanes +250
  • Florida Panthers +600
  • Atlanta Thrashers +1000
  • Tampa Bay Lightning +1000

This is easily the worst division in the league.  The Capitals should have no trouble winning the division for the third year in a row.  This division is as close to a sure thing as you will find and that is why the odds are not very favourable when betting on the Caps.  However, I can’t see any of the other teams taking down Ovechkin and company so….

I bet the Washington Capitals at -185

Central Division

  • Detroit Red Wings -135
  • Chicago Blackhawks +135
  • St. Louis Blues +1000
  • Columbus Blue Jackets +1100
  • Nashville Predators +1100

This division is turning into quite the power house.  The Red Wings are obviously the front runners and it’s only the supposed promise of the Blackhawks that are keeping the Red Wings odds reasonable.  And personally, I don’t like the Blackhawks for the upcoming season.  Losing Havlat and Khabibulin over the summer will take it’s toll, especially with Hossa out for the first couple of months.  Personally, I think St. Louis is the team Detroit really needs to worry about.  Although I think the Blues will come second in the division, I’m not sure that they are quite over the hump yet and can make a run at the division title, but the odds are just so tempting.

I bet on the Blues at +1000 & I bet on the Red Wings at -135

Northwest Division

  • Calgary Flames +130
  • Vancouver Canucks +130
  • Edmonton Oilers +500
  • Minnesota Wild +650
  • Colorado Avalanche +1010

This is going to be a tight race between the top 4 teams.  Colorado will likely come last in the league.  I actually don’t think the Oilers are going to be much of a factor either, but I like the Wild a lot for the upcoming season.  The Wild seems like the only logical bet from this division.

I bet the Minnesota Wild at +650

Pacific Conference

  • San Jose Sharks -150
  • Anaheim Mighty Ducks +175
  • Dallas Stars +600
  • Los Angeles Kings +1000
  • Phoenix Coyotes +1500

The Mighty Ducks are not a regular season team and the other three teams do not have what it takes to overthrow the Sharks from their rightful position on top of this division.  Basically it comes down to a process of elimination.  The Sharks are the only team that has any real chance of winning this division.

I bet San Jose Sharks at -150

Written by: Niko de Jonge

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