After Acquiring Toffoli, Canucks’ Stanley Cup Odds Improve to +1800

• Tyler Toffoli has been traded to the Vancouver Canucks for Tim Schaller, Tyler Madden & a 2020 second round pick
• Vancouver’s 2020 Stanley Cup odds have improved to +1800
• Are the Canucks now worth betting to go on a Stanley Cup run this postseason?

Vancouver’s Stanley Cup odds have gone from +2000 to 1800 after they acquired Tyler Toffoli from the Los Angeles Kings on Monday. Toffoli is a proven goal-scorer who adds to an already strong Vancouver offense.

Does acquiring Toffoli make the Canucks a good long shot bet to win the Stanley Cup this season?

2020 Stanley Cup Odds

Odds taken Feb. 17

The Canucks have 69 points in 59 games, which is just one back of the division-leading Oilers. Vancouver’s plus-11 goal differential is tops in the Pacific.

Toffoli to Vancouver

The Canucks acquired forward Tyler Toffoli from the Los Angeles Kings on Monday in exchange for Tim Schaller, prospect Tyler Madden and a 2020 second-round draft pick. Toffoli is a former 30-goal scorer who has 18 goals and 34 points through 58 contests for LA this season.

Very happy with the Tyler Toffoli @tytoff16 deal. Great addition to our group.

— Francesco Aquilini (@fr_aquilini) February 18, 2020

Toffoli is a big get for a Canucks team that has been looking for a scoring winger to play with Bo Horvat. Toffoli is expected to play on the second line with Horvat and former Los Angeles line mate Tanner Pearson.

The Canucks already have one of the best offenses in the NHL, and now have a great second line behind Elias Pettersson and Brock Boeser by acquiring Toffoli.

Injuries Hit Canucks

The Canucks trading for Toffoli comes on the heels of some big injury news. The team announced Monday that Boeser will be out at least three weeks, while Michael Ferland has been ruled out for the remainder of the season. Josh Leivo remains sidelined with a fractured kneecap.

Injury Update from #Canucks GM Jim Benning: pic.twitter.com/y4BxbxPk4B

— Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks) February 18, 2020

Trading for a goal scorer like Toffoli certainly helps soften the temporary loss of Boeser, but the Canucks issues this season haven’t been on offense. Vancouver ranks 24th in shots against and 25th in scoring chances allowed. To put it simply, they’ve been relying on their goalie to win games.

Jacob Markstrom has been one of the best goaltenders in the NHL this season with a .918 save percentage. Any defensive issues have been masked by Vancouver’s offense and Markstrom’s superb play. While Markstrom has never played an NHL playoff game, a hot goalie is a perfect recipe for a long playoff run.

West Is Wide Open

One reason the Canucks are likely going “all in” this year is because the Western Conference is wide open. There isn’t one specific team that seems destined to reach the Stanley Cup Final. The Canucks currently trail the conference-leading Dallas Stars by only five points.

Moment of truth: #Canucks go all-in with splashy acquisition of Tyler Toffoli: https://t.co/ji8lYTFG8J

— Thomas Drance (@ThomasDrance) February 18, 2020

The Canucks would have a decent shot at reaching the Western Conference Final if they make the playoffs due to how weak the Pacific Division is this year. To put it into perspective, if the playoffs started today, not a single team in the Pacific would make the playoffs if they were in the Eastern Conference.

The Blues have been a mess since the All-Star break, losing eight of 10 games, while Colorado just lost superstar forward Mikko Rantanen to an upper-body injury.

Vegas is a team that has given Vancouver problems, but with starting goalie Marc-Andre Fleury struggling all year, it’s not out of the question that the Canucks could knock them off in a playoff series.

Betting Analysis 

There are some very strong teams in the Eastern Conference this season, but when it comes to the West, there isn’t one specific team that seems like a surefire bet to reach the Final.

With the trade for Tyler Toffoli, the Canucks are thinking “Why not us?”. With one of the top offenses in the league and a great starting net-minder, the Canucks are a solid longshot bet to take advantage of a weak division and go all the way in 2020.