Betting Tips for the NHL 2016/17
The new season of the NHL is all set to get underway in October, which means that fans of the teams competing in it are preparing to get back into the groove of supporting their side at the matches or at home, by watching the games on television. Of course, as well as following the twists and turns of the season, a lot of these fans also get a real kick out of betting on the individual matches – or on which side will win the Stanley Cup. It is this latter issue that this article will examine in greater depth.
The hot favourites for Stanley Cup glory with the bookmakers are the Pittsburgh Penguins, with futures odds of +900. To a large degree this status is both understandable and deserved – after all they are the defending Stanley Cup holders and have succeeded in retaining the majority of the players that made the 2015/16 season such a successful one for them. Their triumph last season was all the more astonishing given the fact that they sacked their coach Mike Johnston and replaced him with Mike Sullivan two months into the season – with Sullivan doing a remarkable job. It is impossible for him to improve on last year, but with players like Matt Cullen and Phil Kessel still on board, they have the firepower to challenge for the cup again this time around. One of their biggest rivals looks likely to be the Chicago Blackhawks – currently rated +950 second favourites – as they have also kept the majority of a strong squad. Last season saw them perform strongly until the play-offs, where they exited disappointingly early against the St Louis Blues. The star players who will be hoping for better this time include new signings Brandon Mashinter, Pierre-Cedric Labie, Michal Rozsival and Mark McNeill, as well as established names like Artemi Panarin. C Andrew Shaw, who contributed 14 goals last time out, is a big loss, but it is hard not to see the Blackhawks in the hunt come the play-offs.
If you are looking for more of an outside bet than either of these sides, the Ottawa Senators, rated +5000 by bookies, is one to consider. Last season was disappointing for the Senators, as they missed the play-offs, with defence being a massive problem that saw them leak 247 goals. They were far more impressive as an attacking sideand have signed Derick Brassard – who promises goals. Defence is still a major problem though and they have only brought in Matt Barkowsi – while losing the influential Chris Phillips – suggesting they will struggle unless they can recruit at the back. When it comes to hockey betting, an online casino slot like Hockey Hero, which is available from sites like http://www.gamblinginsider.ca, offers something similar but also subtly different to betting on NHL. It has hockey themed reels and bonus games, as well as a jackpot to go for, so why not give it a spin during the season.
If you pick the 2016/17 NHL winner and win the Hockey Hero jackpot, you will certainly be in the money next summer.