With the Stanley Cup playoffs beginning Wednesday night, the betting field has been narrowed just 16 teams. The landscape has certainly changed throughout the course of the season as the Washington Capitals (3-1) opened at 16-1, the New York Rangers, one-time favorites out of the East, opened at 8-1 but now sit at 16-1, and the Philadelphia Flyers are down to 25-1 from opening odds of 100-1.
In our midseason futures look, we cautioned not to bet on the favorites because their odds would not improve all that much and the logic behind making a bet at the same odds much earlier in the season (without playoff picture clarity and with a looming threat of injury) didn't make much sense. The three favorites at opening were the Chicago Blackhawks, Rangers, and Anaheim Ducks -- and all three have worse odds today.
However, with the regular season at a close, it's time to officially start looking at the favorites again. You are no longer solely searching for value, but instead mixing value with the team you actually believe will win the Cup.
Here are the best value bets for the 2016 Stanley Cup.