This is primarily a post for our Canadian visitors. Online sportsbook Bodog.eu currently has playoff qualification props up for every NHL team from Canada. Basically you can bet on whether each Canadian team will either make the playoffs or not.
I’m going to take a look at the odds being given for every Canadian team and then make my prediction.
First of all I would like to point out that the juice on each of these bets is very high. This fact, along with the reality that you will be locking up your funds for over half a year, leads me to recommend that you don’t place any of these bets. This is more or less just a fun post for me to do in the summertime when there isn’t a lot of NHL betting action to write about.
Here are the standings from last year if you’d like to reference them.
Montreal Canadiens To Make Playoffs?
- Yes 1.50
- No 2.50
The Canadiens easily made the playoffs last year and they should be able to build upon their successful season and playoffs by once again getting into the post season. I would be very shocked if the Habs missed the 2015 playoffs.
Ottawa Senators To Make Playoffs?
- Yes 2.10
- No 1.67
The Senators had an off year last season and still only missed the playoffs by 5 points. I expect the Sens to come back much better next season and play a more hard working, defense first style of play that got them into the playoffs in 2013. The loss of Spezza shouldn’t hurt them much either because they are also getting rid of his poor plus/minus. I like the Sens to get into the playoffs in one of the lower seeded slots.
Toronto Maple Leafs To Make Playoffs?
- Yes 2.00
- No 1.71
The Maple Leafs never make the playoffs, except in shortened seasons so why start now. I don’t think the Leafs will make the playoffs. They always find a way to lose late in the season and end up with a horrible record. They were 9 points out last year.
Calgary Flames To Make Playoffs?
- Yes 4.00
- No 1.20
The Flames will not make the playoffs. They are probably the worst team in the league (maybe Buffalo), but they would need everything to go right for them to have a shot at making the post season.
Edmonton Oilers To Make Playoffs?
- Yes 3.00
- No 1.33
I do expect the Oilers to take a small step forward this season, but that will just be enough to keep them from the Western Conference basement. They still have a lot of learning and growing to do before they can realistically make a push towards the playoffs. I think the culture in Edmonton is just a losing one and that doesn’t change over night.
Vancouver Canucks To Make Playoffs?
- Yes 1.91
- No 1.77
The Canucks had a rough season last year, but I don’t think they have the team to compete at the top of the Western Conference anymore. Now that the NHL changed divisions as well the Canucks are no longer in a horrible division where they can earn extra points to put them near the top of the league. Sure, they still have Edmonton and Calgary to feast on, but Anaheim, San Jose and LA are some of the best teams in the league.
Winnipeg Jets To Make Playoffs?
- Yes 3.50
- No 1.25
I’m surprised Winnipeg is being given a smaller chance at the playoffs than the Oilers, but I still don’t think they will be making it this year. They were 7 points out last year and all the other teams in the West seem to keep improving while the 4 Canadian teams sit at the bottom of the standings. The four Western Conference Canadian teams finished 11th through 14th in the West last year and I expect a similar result this time around.
These odds might not be up for that long. Check them out at Bodog.eu to see the changes and to find different NHL props this off season.
Tagged with: Canadian teams • NHL betting • NHL standings • playoffs