Place Your Bets: 2014 Stanley Cup Odds Edition

The gambling world wastes no time. Within hours of the Chicago Blackhawks winning the Stanley Cup on Monday, we had in our hands the betting odds for who will hoist sports’ greatest trophy in 2014. Based on these, it’s not looking very good for the Flyers already, and the offseason is barely even underway.

The NHL Draft isn’t until Sunday. Free agency opens on July 5. Sure, the Flyers already traded for Mark Streit, but conventional wisdom says Paul Holmgren isn’t finished making unpredictable moves, not by a long shot.

Heck, these odds were released even before word of Ilya Bryzgalov’s buyout became official, so we don’t even know who will be in stationed in net for the Orange & Black. Come to think of it, I wonder what the odds were on that happening. The oddsmakers probably knew Bryz was a goner before Homer did.

Anyway, a total of 13 clubs have better odds to win next year than Philadelphia as of right now. I suppose it’s not altogether unexpected or unfair of a team that didn’t make the playoffs this season, and it looks like – early on at least – they may only be considered on the fringe again for next year.

It could be worse. You could root for the Florida Panthers. (Okay, no you couldn't. Nobody roots for them.) Here are the odds courtesy of Bovada.lv:

Odds to win the 2014 Stanley Cup          

Pittsburgh Penguins                              13/2

Chicago Blackhawks                             15/2

Boston Bruins                                       9/1

St. Louis Blues                                      12/1

Los Angeles Kings                                14/1

Vancouver Canucks                               14/1

Detroit Red Wings                                 16/1

New York Rangers                                 16/1

San Jose Sharks                                   16/1

Anaheim Ducks                                     20/1

Toronto Maple Leafs                             25/1

Washington Capitals                              25/1

Montreal Canadiens                               28/1

Carolina Hurricanes                                33/1

Edmonton Oilers                                   33/1

Minnesota Wild                                     33/1

New York Islanders                                33/1

Ottawa Senators                                    33/1

Philadelphia Flyers                                33/1

Colorado Avalanche                              40/1

Columbus Blue Jackets                         40/1

Nashville Predators                               40/1

New Jersey Devils                                 40/1

Tampa Bay Lightning                             40/1

Winnipeg Jets                                       40/1

Buffalo Sabres                                      50/1

Calgary Flames                                     50/1

Dallas Stars                                          50/1

Phoenix Coyotes                                   50/1

Florida Panthers                                    100/1