With the NHL realignment for the 2021 season, the West Division features two 2021 Stanley Cup favorites in Colorado and Vegas. The two are the leading favorites to win the West, but they will face a challenge from 2019 Stanley Cup champion St. Louis.
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An eventual Avalanche trip to the NHL semifinals was made much easier when the league placed Dallas in a different division. The Stars went 4-0 against Colorado in the regular season last year. Here’s a look at betting the NHL West Division in 2021.
Top Heavy
Oddsmakers everywhere have pegged the Colorado Avalanche as an early Stanley Cup favorite. Colorado (+135) is loaded with talent and any time Nathan MacKinnon is on the ice you cannot count the Avs out. The line of MacKinnon, Mikko Rantanen, and Gabriel Landeskog is the best in hockey. Cale Makar is an All-Star defenseman and Colorado added Devon Toews in the offseason to boost the defense.
The key for Colorado will be the health of G Philipp Grubauer. He had to bow out of the playoffs last year due to injury.
The Vegas Golden Knights (+150) may have the best goaltending duo in the league with veteran Marc-Andre Fleury and Robin Lehner, who was acquired via trade last season. It’s possible that the Knights will have to trade Fleury though to stay under the salary cap. Still, Vegas is talented enough to capture the division. Remember, the Knights won the Pacific Division twice in the last three seasons.
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Happy Blue Year
If there is a real threat to break the two-team race at the top of the West Division, it’s the St. Louis Blues. They did lose D Alex Pietrangelo to Vegas, but the Blues return enough talent – leading scorer Ryan O’Reilly for example – and enough playoff experience to pull a mild upset.
The Blues are listed at +325 and if you’re looking for value in a team other than Colorado or Vegas, St. Louis is it. Minnesota, listed at +850, has won exactly one division title in franchise history and that was back in 2008. Plus, the Wild gave up the eighth-most goals per game last season.
The Arizona Coyotes are also listed at +850, but like Minnesota has just one division title (2012) in franchise history. The Coyotes are one of the stronger defensive teams in the NHL, but they have trouble putting the puck in the net. Last season, Arizona ranked 23 rd in scoring netting 2.71 goals per game and did little to address its lack of scoring in the offseason.
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California Dreaming
The three California teams – Los Angeles, Anaheim, and San Jose – did not qualify for last year’s postseason tournament. Those three teams have been off the ice since March of 2020. Will all that rest make a difference in 2021?
Probably not. All three teams are longshots and for good reasons. The Kings (+1350) are the best of the bunch, but San Jose (+1550), Anaheim (+1750) and L.A. are all in the same boat. They have young rosters and are a few years away from being competitive. None of the three are likely to earn a playoff berth let alone win the division.
2021 NHL West Division Futures Odds
You can bet on NHL futures and props all season at the BetOnline Sportsbook.
Colorado Avalanche +135
Vegas Golden Knights +150
St. Louis Blues +325
Arizona Coyotes +850
Minnesota Wild +850
Los Angeles Kings +1350
San Jose Sharks +1550
Anaheim Ducks +1750
