2019 IIHF World Championship Odds: Canada Listed as Favorites

• Canada has been listed as the early favorite to win the IIHF World Championship in Slovakia
• Can Canada live up to the hype?
• Do any other countries present better value?

The 2019 NHL playoffs were horrendous for Canadian teams, but couldn’t have gone better for Canadian players headed over to the IIHF World Championship. I’m sure they’d disagree and rather be sporting their team colors than country, but the chips fell as they did.

With the Toronto Maple Leafs eliminated on Tuesday, one of the league’s top players in Mitch Marner becomes available, and with San Jose bouncing out Vegas, Marc Andre-Fleury, Mark Stone, and others could now be packing their bags for Slovakia as well.

2019 IIHF World Championship Odds

*Odds taken 04/24/19

Can Canada Pull Out a Win in 2019?

Well, for starters, they’ll have last year’s point leaders Connor McDavid and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins returning. They’ll also have the pick of the litter from every non-playoff club around the NHL. On top of that, with the Maple Leafs, Golden Knights, Jets, Flames, Capitals, and Predators also out early, there’s another great opportunity for some Canadian recruitment.

Canada will have last year’s point leaders Connor McDavid and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins returning.

Now here’s the big ones. With Tampa Bay bowing out early at the hands of the Blue Jackets’ brooms both Steven Stamkos and Brayden Point are also available to sport the red and white overseas. Based on the early exits of the favorites in this rendition of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, Team Canada across the pond may be the strongest squad we’ve seen in years. Not to mention, they’ll be led by new Philadelphia Flyers head coach and former Jack Adams winner Alain Vigneault.

Alain Vigneault said Carter Hart will be one of his goalies for Canada at World Championship, along with Mackenzie Blackwood (NJD), & said Flyers goalie coach Kim Dillabaugh will be on his staff. Also, Couturier will play at Worlds, with Sanheim and Giroux possible

— Adam Kimelman (@NHLAdamK) April 18, 2019

Now, of course, this far out from the tourney, it could be easy to suggest that maybe a player or two will bow out before it’s go-time. If Canada can select a quality squad early though, which they have all the potential in the world to do given recent events, it could entice other players to pick their gear up and head East – namely this guy…

Crosby on if he will be playing with Team Canada in Slovakia: “No, I’m just going to try to make the most of the rest. No significant injuries, but as you get older, there are things that nag you.” pic.twitter.com/ulNIFS6Vwd

— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) April 18, 2019

With Carter Hart and Mackenzie Blackwood rumored to be the tandem in Slovakia, goaltending could be the team’s lone Achilles heel. However, with Marc-Andre Fleury and Brayden Holtby now available to fill the crease, there’s a chance those pre-tourney previews could get a whole lot more noteworthy in the not too distant future.

Which Countries Offer the Best Value?

While we’d love to give the United States a second look, outside of their forwards the team is lacking heavily on the backend and between the pipes. They’re likely sending over a lot of unproven young players on D and goalies that are coming off either down or so-so seasons (Corey Schneider and Thatcher Demko). So we don’t advise a US gamble.

Russia definitely has some appeal thanks to the Capitals’ early exit at the hands of the Carolina Hurricanes. At +350, though, they payout is not going to be extremely high even though they do present some decent value compared to Canada.

Defenseman Dmitry Orlov and forwards Alexander Ovechkin and Evgeny Kuznetsov, all players of the Washington Capitals in the NHL, have been called up to the senior Russian national team. #TeamRussia

— Russia Hockey (@russiahockey_en) April 25, 2019

Now, a little further down the board you’ll the find blue and white of Finland at +800. We really like the Finns in this tournament given the arrival of Pekka Rinne. With his Preds out after the first round, he could be well rested when the call inevitably comes to represent his country.

Along with Rinne, Mikael Granlund and Mikko Koivu out of Minnesota and Aleksander Barkov from Florida will also be available. Perhaps they can each give fellow sniper Patrik Laine a phone call before mid-May to change his mind.

Patrik Laine confirms that he won’t be playing for Finland at the World Championship.

— Sara Orlesky (@saraorlesky) April 22, 2019

With or without Laine, mind you, the Finns will still have an excellent chance, and given their current payout, they are easily the best value pick on the board. With that said, while we love do Canada for the win, you’d be wise to keep an eye on who’s in and out for the Finns in the coming weeks.