Odds a Canadian Team Wins 2021 Stanley Cup Set at +500; Leafs (+1200) Given Best Chance

• Odds have been released on the country of the 2021 Stanley Cup winner
• The Stanley Cup has not been won by a Canadian franchise since 1993
• Each conference has one intriguing Canadian team with a chance to snap the slump

The streak that dates back to 1993 continues.

With Dallas and Tampa Bay meeting in the 2020 Stanley Cup final, the trophy will remain in the United States, leaving the 1993 Montreal Canadiens as the last team north of the border to win the Cup.

Can a Canadian team snap the streak in 2021? Oddsmakers have set the early betting line at -900 for “No” and +500 for “Yes”, with the Toronto Maple Leafs sporting the shortest odds of the seven Canadian teams.

2021 Stanley Cup Odds

Odds taken Sep. 18th.

There’s little to no value in betting on an American team to win the Stanley Cup at -900, which has an implied probability of exactly 90%.

There are two Canadian teams, in particular, that should scare bettors away from those short odds.

Could Leafs Snap 54 Year Slump?

The Toronto Maple Leafs haven’t won the Stanley Cup since 1967. They are listed as Canada’s best bet to win it all in 2021 and for good reason. The team has its flaws but they also have superstar talent up front. Auston Matthews finished with 80 points in 70 games and missed out on the Rocket Richard trophy by only one goal. Mitch Marner also recorded more than a point per game, while captain John Tavares and William Nylander had 60 and 59 points, respectively. This is all to say that the Leafs can score in bunches.

#NHL21 can’t come soon enough 🔥👀 @easportsNHL pic.twitter.com/sFBJfsdOw4

— Auston Matthews (@AM34) August 24, 2020

Toronto’s major flaw has long been on the back end. When looking at the teams in the Stanley Cup final, you’ll notice players like Victor Hedman and Miro Heiskanen. Toronto simply does not have top-end talent like that on defense. It’s something the organization seems desperate to address in the off-season. They have made moves to clear cap space and are likely to make more. Alex Pietrangelo is set to become an unrestricted free agent and could be the target.

If the Leafs add an elite defenseman to this roster, they could definitely contend for a title in 2021.

Canucks Building Contender Out West

Think of the pillars you would want with a team going on a playoff run. A top-end goaltender, an elite defenseman, and a superstar scorer on offense. Check, check and check for the Canucks, if they are able to resign free-agent goalie Jacob Markstrom. With Thatcher Demko as a reliable backup, Vancouver would have one of the best goaltending tandems in the league.

Winners of the five remaining regular-season trophies will be announced during “2020 NHL Awards presented by Las Vegas,” a 30-minute show that will air at 6:30 p.m. ET on Monday, Sept. 21 (NBCSN, Sportsnet and TVA Sports).

Details: https://t.co/cW2KG9g5ji #NHLAwards pic.twitter.com/1gEB8pkCcU

— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) September 18, 2020

As for the other two areas, the Canucks are more than set. Rookie defenseman Quinn Hughes recorded 53 points in 68 games and is nominated for the Calder Trophy. Despite his age, Hughes is already capable of putting up big minutes playing elite hockey at both ends of the ice. Most teams in the league would love to have him as their number-one defenseman for the next ten years.

Elias Pettersson is the best offensive weapon on Vancouver. He tallied 66 points in 68 regular-season games before flashing more brilliance in the playoffs. With an established player at all three core positions, it’s absolutely possible the Canucks make a deep playoff run.

Bet Canadian Team to Win Stanley Cup at +500

In addition to the Maple Leafs and Canucks, the Edmonton Oilers also have a chance. Any team with two MVPs (Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl) needs to be taken seriously. Instead of trying to zero in on which of these teams has the best shot, take the whole lot of them at +500.

Pick: Canadian Team (+500)