Handicapping

The sportsbooks websites already have their odds for the 2011-2012 Stanley Cup champion posted. Some picks are old favorites with the NHL fans, while others are up and coming teams and even surprises. Let’s take a look at the top contenders for the 2011-2012 Stanley Cup championship.

Vancouver Canucks: Stanley Cup Odds: 5/1

Once again, the price per head sports experts give the top odds for winning the Stanley Cup to the Vancouver Canucks. For the last three years, the Canucks have been favored to win the Stanley Cup in the preseason and for the last three years the Canucks have fallen short. However, the Canucks keep creeping closer to achieving their goal. After two years of missing the conference finals, the Canucks finally went to the Cup finals last year before losing to the Bruins. This could finally be the year for the Vancouver Canucks.

Boston Bruins: Stanley Cup Odds: 8/1

The Bruins were a hard-nosed team last year that plowed its way to a Stanley Cup championship. One of the key reasons that the Bruins won the Cup was goaltender Tim Thomas. Even though Thomas is back again this season, the Bruins are not likely to repeat as Cup champions.

Washington Capitals: Stanley Cup Odds: 17/2

Every year for the past three or four years, the Washington Capitals have been a intertops pick to go deep into the playoffs, and every year the Capitals fall well short of its goal. Goaltender Michal Neuvirth has been replaced by veteran Tomas Vokun, and it looks like Washington is finally firing on all cylinders.

Pick: Washington Capitals