Flames Stanley Cup Odds Shorten to +1600 After Signing Nazem Kadri in Free Agency
- The Stanley Cup odds of the Calgary Flames have shortened to +1600 from +2000
- On Thursday, the Flames signed unrestricted free agent center Nazem Kadri
- Calgary most recently won the Stanley Cup during the 1988-89 season
When Nazem Kadri, the newest member of the Calgary Flames, gets his day with the Stanley Cup later this month, his intent is to take Lord Stanley’s mug to the London, Ontario mosque where his family worships.
Can Kadri bring Stanley Cup days back to long-suffering Calgary fans? Oddsmakers are thinking his addition gives the Flames a better chance at the title. However, they aren’t willing to go all-in on Calgary as an elite contender for the Cup.
News on Thursday that unrestricted free agent Kadri and the Flames were agreeing to terms on a seven-year, $49-million contract was causing an uptick in the Stanley Cup odds on Calgary. Calgary opened the day at a betting line of +2000 to win the Cup. After the Kadri news broke, the line on the Flames shortened to +1600.
2023 NHL Stanley Cup Odds
| Team | Odds |
|---|---|
| Colorado Avalanche | +425 |
| Toronto Maple Leafs | +800 |
| Florida Panthers | +900 |
| Carolina Hurricanes | +1000 |
| Tampa Bay Lightning | +1200 |
| Calgary Flames | +1600 |
| Edmonton Oilers | +1600 |
| Minnesota Wild | +1800 |
| New York Rangers | +1800 |
| Pittsburgh Penguins | +1800 |
| Vegas Golden Knights | +1800 |
| Boston Bruins | +2800 |
| St Louis Blues | +3000 |
| Los Angeles Kings | +3500 |
| Dallas Stars | +4000 |
| New York Islanders | +4000 |
| Washington Capitals | +4000 |
| Detroit Red Wings | +5000 |
| Nashville Predators | +5000 |
| Ottawa Senators | +5000 |
| Vancouver Canucks | +5000 |
| New Jersey Devils | +6600 |
| Winnipeg Jets | +6600 |
| Buffalo Sabres | +8000 |
| Columbus Blue Jackets | +8000 |
| Anaheim Ducks | +10000 |
| Philadelphia Flyers | +10000 |
| Seattle Kraken | +10000 |
| Montreal Canadiens | +15000 |
| San Jose Sharks | +15000 |
| Arizona Coyotes | +50000 |
| Chicago Blackhawks | +50000 |
Odds as of August 18th at BetMGM Sportsbook. Use this BetMGM Sportsbook promo code before wagering
Calgary most recently played for the Stanley Cup in 2003-04. The Flames lost in seven games to the Tampa Bay Lightning. Darryl Sutter, Calgary’s current coach, was also the coach for that Stanley Cup run.
Calgary won its only Stanley Cup in 1988-89. The Flames defeated the Montreal Canadiens in six games.
Flames Stanley Cup Betting Trends
At odds of +1600, the Flames are left with an implied probability of winning the Stanley Cup of 5.88%, so it’s not like they are an overwhelming choice to win it all. A $10 bet on the Flames would return a payout of $170 where they to be the team hoisting the Cup aloft come next spring.
Not only were the Flames at +2000 prior to the Kadri signing, they were the 11th betting choice to capture the Cup. While the odds on Calgary are only shortening to +1600, it’s enough movement to situate the Flames in a tie for sixth in the Stanley Cup betting line at BetMGM. Calgary is the seventh betting choice at DraftKings at +1800 and eighth overall in the odds from Barstool Sportsbook, also at +1800.
Nazem Kadri to the Flames on a 7-year deal! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/xdywEVn4h3
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) August 18, 2022
Turning to the Western Conference odds, Calgary is the fourth choice at +850 in the Barstool Sportsbook NHL conference odds. Both DraftKings (+800) and BetMGM (+700) like Calgary as the third choice in this betting market. As far as Calgary’s chances of winning the Pacific Division title, DraftKings is rating Calgary at a betting line of +240 in the NHL division odds. That’s behind only the Edmonton Oilers (+200). Barstool also has the Flames as #2 in this market, but at odds of +275.
One online betting site that doesn’t appear to be sold on the Kadri move is Caesars Sportsbook. Caesars is showing Calgary as the co-ninth betting choice to win the Stanley Cup, still at odds of +2000. They’ve got the Flames as the sixth pick to win the Western Conference at +1400.
Kadri A Complimentary Piece
Credit Calgary GM Brad Treliving for taking a seemingly untenable situation and turning it into opportunity. Losing two of his top-six forwards in Johnny Gaudreau (UFA) and Matthew Tkachuk (trade), he is replacing them on the roster with Kadri and Jonathan Huberdeau.
Still, it does seem as though the Flames are treading water. Calgary isn’t any worse than last season’s club. At the same time, are the Flames better?
That’s debatable.
Kadri, 31
Markstrom, 32
Huberdeau, 30
Backlund, 33
Tanev, 32
Coleman, 30
Toffoli, 30Calgary's recovered extremely well, but with the 30+ talent they have (and no U24 core pieces), Flames have a 2-3 year window before they run into trouble
— Harman Dayal (@harmandayal2) August 18, 2022
It’s always dangerous policy to invest in a player coming off a career year like Kadri. His 87-point campaign was 26 better than any of his previous seasons. But it’s also wise to remember that Kadri was a complimentary piece for the Cup champion Colorado Avalanche.
He’s also 31, one of seven Flames on the other side of 30. Calgary is in win now mode.
Kadri’s arrival makes the Flames at least as good as they were. And that hasn’t been good enough to get them past the second round of the playoffs over the past 17 seasons.
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An industry veteran, Bob literally taught the course on the history of sports at Elder College. He has worked as a Sports Columnist for Postmedia, appeared as a guest on several radio stations, was the Vice President of the Society For International Hockey Research in Ontario, and written 25 books.
