Updated Odds to Win 2021 Stanley Cup After NHL Draft – Canadiens Improved, Lightning Worsened

• There was slight movement in the Stanley Cup odds of a few teams following Tuesday’s opening round of the NHL entry draft
• The Montreal Canadiens, New York Rangers, and Columbus Blue Jackets were among teams that saw their odds shorten
• See the analysis of the 2021 Stanley Cup odds following the end of the 2020 NFL Draft below

When it comes to shaking up the Stanley Cup odds, the NHL entry draft does not make the impact that is often created by its NBA or NFL cousins.

In terms of being a difference maker, in the vast majority of cases, the NHL entry draft’s importance to a team won’t be accurately measured until 3-5 years down the road.

Following Tuesday’s first round of the draft, there was only slight movement made by teams in the Stanley Cup odds. Expect bigger movement to happen in the line once free agency season begins in two days.

Still, that doesn’t mean that there weren’t teams that drew benefits from Tuesday’s activity. The New York Rangers, Montreal Canadiens, and Columbus Blue Jackets were among teams seeing their Cup betting lines shorten.

2020-21 NHL Stanley Cup Odds

Odds taken Oct. 7 at FanDuel

The reigning Stanley Cup champion Tampa Bay Lightning saw their odds lengthen, going from +800 to +950.

Winning The NHL Lottery

The Rangers were guaranteed to enjoy a successful draft the moment that they won the NHL Draft Lottery and the right to pick first overall. The Blueshirts added Rimouski Oceanic forward Alexis Lafreniere to a pool of young talent that already includes forwards Filip Chytil, Pavel Buchnevich and Kappo Kaako, defensemen Adam Fox, and Anthony DeAngelo and goalie Igor Shesterkin.

It also shortened their Stanley Cup odds from +2750 to +2600.

With the first pick in the 2020 NHL Draft

the New York Rangers are proud to select

from Rimouski Oceanic

Alexis. Lafrenière. pic.twitter.com/MlykPSmGTU

— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) October 6, 2020

Factor in veteran forwards Artemi Panarin, Mike Zinanejad, and Chris Kreider and defenseman Jacob Trouba, and this team is situated to be very good for a long time. It’s not difficult to envision the Rangers as a worthwhile value play to win the 2021 Stanley Cup.

As well, the Rangers cleared salary cap room by moving veteran defenseman Marc Staal to the Detroit Red Wings. That will enable them to go and get more talent when the NHL free-agent signing period begins Oct. 9th.

Habs Fill A Need

The movement in Montreal’s betting line that saw the odds of the Canadiens winning the Stanley Cup shorten to +4700 from +5175 was more to do with their overall day on Tuesday. Prior to the start of the draft, the Habs traded forwards with the Blue Jackets.

Montreal got Josh Anderson from Columbus in exchange for Max Domi and a third-round draft pick. On paper, seeing that injuries limited Anderson to 1-3-4 totals in 26 games last season, alarm bells sound.

Since September 2nd, #Habs have acquired:
Jake Allen
Joel Edmundson
Josh Anderson
7th round pick 2022

In return for:
Max Domi
3rd round pick 2020 (x2)
5th round pick 2020
7th round pick 2020

I’d say that’s pretty good work by Bergevin. #GoHabsGo

— Etienne Ferland (@EtienneFerland) October 7, 2020

However, in the three seasons prior, Anderson scored 17, 19, and 27 goals. In terms of size, his 6-foot-3, 222-pound frame will be a welcome addition.

Even without Domi, Montreal lists Nick Suzuki, Philip Danault, and Jesper Kotkanimei on the depth chart at center.

Blue Jackets Also Upgrade

Can both teams win a trade? It does happen on rare occasions and this one may be an instance of that. Columbus desperately needed a second-line center to play behind Pierre-Luc Dubois.

The Blue Jackets and Canadiens make the first trade of NHL Draft day. 👀 🚨 pic.twitter.com/FpHaOOWBXJ

— theScore (@theScore) October 6, 2020

Domi’s numbers dipped last season in terms of productivity, dropping from 28-17 goals and 72-44 points but his analytics remained strong. It could be that 2019-20 was just an outlier for him.

Stanley Cup Champs Sliding

It’s hard to defend a title in the NHL and the Lightning are already becoming aware of that factor.

Faced with an $81.5 million salary cap, the Lightning have $5.33 million to fill out the roster.

The Lightning are looking to move Johnson and Killorn. Two middle six forwards that the Lightning would be trading as a cap dump, to resign RFAs including Sergachev and Cirelli.

— NHL Headline (@HeadlineNhl) October 5, 2020

Mikhail Sergachev, Anthony Cirelli, and Erik Cernak, Mitchell Stephens, and Carter Verhaeghe are all restricted free agents.

That math doesn’t work. Something dramatic will have to happen. That’s why the Lighning’s Stanley Cup odds have already lengthened from +800 to +950.