After Singing Ferland & Myers, Canucks Stanley Cup Odds Still +4000

• Canucks GM Jim Benning handed out a pair of long term contracts in free agency to Tyler Myers and Micheal Ferland
• The Edmonton Oilers fired GM Peter Chiarelli and replaced him with Ken Holland
• Connor McDavid finished 2018-19 second in points and should contend for the Art Ross again next year
  

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Vancouver made two big signings in free agency, inking both Tyler Myers and Micheal Ferland to multi-year deals.  Despite the moves, the Canucks’ odds for winning the Stanley Cup remain unchanged.

2020 Stanley Cup Odds Among Western Conference Teams

*Odds taken 07/10/19

Things are looking up in Vancouver, but that doesn’t make them a contender to win it all. In fact, I don’t expect to see much movement in their Stanley Cup Odds at all this season. Elias Pettersson and Brock Boeser are nice pieces, but at this stage in their careers they aren’t enough to get the Canucks to a playoff spot, never mind a championship.

OFFICIAL: #Canucks sign forward Micheal Ferland to a four-year contract. https://t.co/lFETLqxNuC

— Vancouver #Canucks (@Canucks) July 10, 2019

There is however, another team offering the same +4000 odds that I believe could be worth some action thanks to their great value and high upside going into next season.

Which Oilers Will We See in 2019-20?

The Edmonton Oilers have been a bit of an afterthought in the Western Conference the last couple of seasons and that led to the firing of GM Peter Chiarelli. They now have Ken Holland at the helm and he’s one of the most respected hockey minds in the game. Slowly but surely, he’s helping rebuild the roster.

"We're excited to get a 6-foot-3, puck-moving, puck-transporting defenceman." GM Ken Holland weighs in on #Oilers first-round selection of Philip Broberg pic.twitter.com/qCtmhrGQgy

— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) June 22, 2019

The team is still saddled with a couple bad contracts, none worse than Milan Lucic’s deal, but things are looking up. Out goes Cam Talbot and in comes Mike Smith between the pipes, which is a sizable upgrade. That move more than any other should immediately shuffle the Oilers into playoff contention.

Connor McDavid Gives Edmonton a Chance

Connor McDavid finished second to Nikita Kucherov in points and is a threat to win the Art Ross again this year. His outstanding skill regardless of the talent surrounding him on the ice has been something to watch, but as the Oilers slowly improve so too will his opportunities to rack up points.

#TuesdayThoughts

Hockey needs to come back already. ? pic.twitter.com/CAuA51qiqf

— NHL (@NHL) July 9, 2019

In 2017 McDavid, with the help of Leon Draisaitl, lost in Game 7 of the Western Conference Semifinals. A team that was one game from the final four clearly has enough high-end skill to compete. They simply need to avoid the slow start out of the gate that has hurt them the last two years.

The Final Verdict

The Oilers are deservedly listed as a longshot, but if you’re looking for big-time value you could do much worse than betting on the best player in hockey who is now paired with a top tier general manager.

If the St. Louis Blues could win the Cup while entering 2019 dead last in the league, surely the Oilers could make up the ground and snag a playoff spot, and once they’re in it’s anyone’s guess how far they will go.

Pick: Edmonton Oilers (+4000)