Coming up on that time of year where I usually like to place a futures on a team from the Eastern / Western conferences.
I tend to look for value, especially in the NHL, as it seems to offer the best chances to a lower seeded team to win it all.
So I got to ask my Covers friends- who's your east / west pick taking odds into account? (Tampa is obviously the favourite, just not sure anyone's willing to take em with +280)
Coming up on that time of year where I usually like to place a futures on a team from the Eastern / Western conferences.
I tend to look for value, especially in the NHL, as it seems to offer the best chances to a lower seeded team to win it all.
So I got to ask my Covers friends- who's your east / west pick taking odds into account? (Tampa is obviously the favourite, just not sure anyone's willing to take em with +280)
For me, these are the teams I'm looking at - haven't pulled the trigger yet.
East - Boston (+900) - I think they've shown with the second best record in the NHL since feb (next to TB) that they can hang with Tampa (or any team in the East for that matter). Their goaltending for me is the wild card, but I love the physicality they can bring to the table and could see them wearing a team down in a best of 7
Washington(+1300) - Talent wise this team hasn't changed much since their cup run last year, with the obvious question being the urge to win your first cup vs the urge to repeat (not sure the latter carries as much emotionally)
Pittsburgh (+1700) - a season of up and downs, injuries, and some "under performers", it'll be interesting if Crosby can get some help from Kessel / Hornqvsit / Malkin come playoff time, can Letang be healthy, and which Murray will we see?
For me, these are the teams I'm looking at - haven't pulled the trigger yet.
East - Boston (+900) - I think they've shown with the second best record in the NHL since feb (next to TB) that they can hang with Tampa (or any team in the East for that matter). Their goaltending for me is the wild card, but I love the physicality they can bring to the table and could see them wearing a team down in a best of 7
Washington(+1300) - Talent wise this team hasn't changed much since their cup run last year, with the obvious question being the urge to win your first cup vs the urge to repeat (not sure the latter carries as much emotionally)
Pittsburgh (+1700) - a season of up and downs, injuries, and some "under performers", it'll be interesting if Crosby can get some help from Kessel / Hornqvsit / Malkin come playoff time, can Letang be healthy, and which Murray will we see?
West I'm at a complete loss right now. Rather than my traditional one east / one west team, I may just double dip on an East team this year as I can't see anyone in the West making much noise come the finals (SJ / Winnipeg have looked terrible as of late), and St. Louis, as good as they've looked lately, just never seems to be able to put it all together come playoffs.
West I'm at a complete loss right now. Rather than my traditional one east / one west team, I may just double dip on an East team this year as I can't see anyone in the West making much noise come the finals (SJ / Winnipeg have looked terrible as of late), and St. Louis, as good as they've looked lately, just never seems to be able to put it all together come playoffs.
What about Calgary for the West? When they get rolling and it's something to play for they are good. They got solid goaltending between Rittich and Smith. Fleury is the best though and can carry a team to the finals.
What about Calgary for the West? When they get rolling and it's something to play for they are good. They got solid goaltending between Rittich and Smith. Fleury is the best though and can carry a team to the finals.
Capitals have really impressed me lately. I counted them out until a couple weeks ago and they look like a real contender now. I also don't like anyone from the West. Blues would be my only long shot to consider but it would rely on Binnington playing at his best for the entire playoffs, and I'm not ready to bank on that.
Capitals have really impressed me lately. I counted them out until a couple weeks ago and they look like a real contender now. I also don't like anyone from the West. Blues would be my only long shot to consider but it would rely on Binnington playing at his best for the entire playoffs, and I'm not ready to bank on that.
I think it's Tampa's year though (really going out on a limb there...) so I'm not going to go too crazy with cup bets. You can get some good value with series bets on teams you think will win the series but get down either 0-1 or 1-2.
I think it's Tampa's year though (really going out on a limb there...) so I'm not going to go too crazy with cup bets. You can get some good value with series bets on teams you think will win the series but get down either 0-1 or 1-2.
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