With the NHL preseason over and the regular season beginning Tuesday, there’s lots of hype surrounding which teams are contenders or pretenders, which goalies are looking to carry their team on their back, and which players are the top of their class. Everyone has their opinions, and while most people are adamant that they’re correct, very few are willing to put their money where their mouth is. We’re here to help you make the most out of your hot takes and find the best bets for NHL futures to make heading into the 2021/22 season.
Jack Adams Award – Coach of the Year
What to look for
- Scrappy, defensive teams, who will their way to the playoffs [ex. Barry Trotz, 2019; John Torterella, 2017]
- Younger teams looking to break out in a big way after seasons of tanking [ex. Patrick Roy, 2014; Rod Brind’Amour, 2021]
- Expansion team, if you believe in that kind of thing happening again
What to avoid
- Teams expected to do well/Stanley Cup favourites
- Teams that have been good for a long time and expected to regress
- Genuinely bad teams competing for the lottery instead of the playoffs
- Whoever won last year
Best Bets
Dave Hakstol +2200
Jeremy Colliton +4000
Alain Vigneault +5000
Dave Tippett +6600
Worst Bets
Bruce Cassidy +900
Rod Brind’Amour +1200
Any of Don Granato, Jeff Blashill, Bob Boughner, or Andre Tourigny at any odds
Hart Trophy – MVP
What to look for
- Player dragging his team to the playoffs against all odds [ex. Taylor Hall, 2018; Carey Price, 2015]
- Win the Art Ross convincingly [ex. Nikita Kucherov, 2019]
- Be Connor McDavid
What to avoid
- Defensemen and goalies in general
- Great players on terrible teams
- Anyone who doesn’t have a history of being great
Best Bets
Connor McDavid +200
Artemi Panarin +1600
Sidney Crosby +2800
Anze Kopitar +4000
Worst Bets
Leon Draisaitl +1600
Andrei Vasilevskiy +2200
Brayden Point +1600
Apparently some sites are listing Tanner Pearson and Evander Kane??? Don’t bet on Tanner Pearson and Evander Kane.
Vezina Trophy – Goalie of the Year
What to look for
- Drag below average team into the playoffs [ex. Sergei Bobrovsky, 2013 & 2017]
- Be among lead leader in games played, GAA, and SV% [ex. Connor Hellebuyck, 2020; Carey Price 2015]
- Be great for a few years and have a career year [ex. Marc-Andre Fleury, 2021; Henrik Lundqvist, 2012]
What to avoid
- Goalies on teams clearly not making the playoffs
- Goalies playing in a platoon or not a clear starter
Best Bets
Andrei Vasilevskiy +350
Darcy Kuemper +1000
Thatcher Demko +1600
Jacob Markstrom +3300
Mike Smith +6600
Worst Bets
Semyon Varlamov +1400
Petr Mrazek +1600
Alex Nedeljkovic +2200
Tuuka Rask or Ben Bishop at any odds
Norris Trophy – Defensemen of the Year
What to look for
- Play over 24 minutes per game and finish top 3 in points in by a defensemen [ex. Essentially every winner in NHL history]
- Be consistently great for a few years and win as a “lifetime achievement” [ex. Drew Doughty, 2016; Victor Hedman, 2018]
What to avoid
- Defensive defensemen, no matter how good they actually are
- Anyone who isn’t going to be the clear #1 d-man on a team
Best Bets
Cale Makar +400
John Carlson +2200
Worst Bets
Adam Fox +700
Jaccob Slavin +1600
Morgan Rielly +1600
Aaron Ekblad +2000
Keith Yandle +6600
Calder Trophy – Rookie of the Year
What to look for
- Lead all rookies in points [ex. Essentially every winner in NHL history]
- Play >18 minutes a night and significantly improve your team [ex. Essentially every d-man winner in NHL history]
What to avoid
- Rookies who might be buried in the lineup or will most likely be a backup goalie
- Rookies who are mainly considered defensive contributors
Best Bets
Trevor Zegras +500
Moritz Seider +1100
Marco Rossi +1200
Jamie Drysdale +1400
Worst Bets
Cole Caufield +225
Spencer Knight +850
Alex Newhook +1100
Nicholas Robertson +2000
Bowen Byram +2000
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