The Colorado Avalanche have opened as the betting favorites to win the Stanley Cup in the 2021-22 NHL season, according to Caesars Sportsbook by William Hill.
The Avalanche, who won the Presidents' Trophy for the NHL's best record this season, are +500 to win next year's Stanley Cup. The Vegas Golden Knights, who eliminated the Avalanche in the 2021 playoffs, have the second-best odds at +550.
The Tampa Bay Lightning, who won their second straight Stanley Cup on Wednesday night, are +600 to make it three in a row. The Boston Bruins, Carolina Hurricanes and Toronto Maple Leafs follow at +1400.
The Montreal Canadiens, who lost in the Stanley Cup Final to the Lightning, open at +2000 to win it all next season.
The most interesting odds for 2021-22 belong to the Seattle Kraken. Call it the "Golden Knights Effect" after Vegas went to the Stanley Cup Final in its inaugural season. The Kraken, who don't even have a roster yet, have the same opening odds (+10000) as six other teams and have better odds to win the Cup than the Buffalo Sabres (+15000) and Detroit Red Wings (+20000).
The top 14 teams all made the postseason this season, with the Edmonton Oilers, and their +2500 price, among those rounding out that group: Avalanche +500, Golden Knights +550, Lightning +600, Bruins +1400, Hurricanes +1400, Maple Leafs +1400, Canadiens +2000, New York Islanders +2000, Washington Capitals +2000, Oilers +2500, Florida Panthers +2500, Minnesota Wild +2500 and Pittsburgh Penguins +2500.
The New York Rangers and Philadelphia Flyers, both at +3000, follow from there after disappointing seasons in which they did not qualify for the postseason.
From there, it's a mish-mash of rebuilding clubs and other franchises that have several moves to make in the coming months: Dallas Stars +4000, St. Louis Blues +4000, Calgary Flames +5000, Nashville Predators +5000, Winnipeg Jets +5000, Vancouver Canucks +6000, Los Angeles Kings +7500, Chicago Blackhawks +8000, Anaheim Ducks +10000, Arizona Coyotes +10000, Columbus Blue Jackets +10000, New Jersey Devils +10000, Ottawa Senators +10000, Kraken +10000, San Jose Sharks +10000, Sabres +15000 and Red Wings +20000.
These odds are the ones featured in New Jersey and Pennsylvania for Caesars Sportsbook by William Hill. The odds in Las Vegas might be slightly different, specifically when it comes to the Golden Knights.