As the 2024-2025 NHL season approaches, all eyes are on the usual powerhouses favored to hoist the Stanley Cup. However, after looking at the BetMGM odds board, one underdog team has emerged as a sleeper pick with the potential to defy the odds.
With a combination of rising talent, strategic offseason moves, and favorable odds, this team could deliver a shocking Stanley Cup run that few saw coming. Let’s dive into why this sleeper pick might just be the smartest bet of the season. First, here are the teams with the shortest odds:
Edmonton Oilers +850
Florida Panthers +900
Colorado Avalanche +1100
Dallas Stars +1100
New Jersey Devils +1100
My Pick: Ottawa Senators +4000
I have backed the Senators over the previous couple of years, only to get burned by them in back-to-back seasons. So, maybe the third time is the charm?
What has killed them the last couple of years is their horrendous goaltending, which ranked 31st in the league with a combined .884 save percentage last season. They continued to control games at a better than average pace, having more shots for than against for the second straight season. That was not shocking considering the talent that the roster possesses. Now, that talent will be combined with the addition of Linus Ullmark from Boston, one of the premier goaltenders in the NHL.
Those concerns in net have been more than corrected, and with this group, maybe they can finally breakthrough for us. You could do far worse on a 40/1 longshot than Ottawa, and I think this could be the best price you will get on them as the season moves forward.
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