Rumor around the NHL is that the league will need to begin preparation immediately if they want any hope of reaching a potential January 1st target.
It seems like yesterday that the NHL wrapped up their season in the Bubble, but focus has turned to the 2020-2021 calendar year. If the NHL wants to crown a champion and remain on schedule for the 2021-2022 season, puck drop will need to happen immediately after the new year.
※ Current Odds Date & Time: November 24th, 8:00 P.M. (EST)
Online bookmaker William Hill has Vegas at +350 to win the Western Conference.
Thankfully for bettors, they don’t have to wait for the season to begin to see odds for next year. Focusing on the Western Conference, odds are already out as to which team will represent the West in the Stanley Cup finals.The past four of five Stanley Cup champions have been from the Eastern Conference, despite the NHL having a ton of parity in the league. As for the Western Conference, the Vegas Golden Knights own the best odds to win the West next season.
Vegas has been a force in the NHL since their inaugural season. In their first year in the NHL, the Knights made it to the Finals but fell to the Washington Capitals. The Colorado Avalanche own the second-best odds, coming in hot at +375.
Dallas and St. Louis own the same odds, listed at +850. Stanley Cup hopeful Edmonton is listed at +900 to come out of the West. If they reach the Finals, it would be the first time since 2006.
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From the rest of the group, no one really sticks out. Calgary, Vancouver, and Nashville are interesting teams, but I am unsure if they can compete with the depth from Vegas or Colorado.
One team will represent in the Finals. Will it be top dogs Colorado, St. Louis, or Vegas? Or will the West be represented by an underdog?
