Rangers’ 2020 Stanley Cup Odds Get Worse Despite Drafting Kakko, Trading for Trouba

• New Rangers president John Davidson put his stamp on the team by trading for defenseman Jacob Trouba and drafting Kaapo Kakko #2 overall
• The Rangers should benefit from the imminent arrival of top prospects like Vitali Kravtsov, Igor Shesterkin, and Adam Fox, as well
• Yet the Blueshirts’ 2020 Stanley Cup futures have gotten worse

Recently-hired team president John Davidson has wasted no time making his mark on the New York Rangers. In addition to landing teen sensation Kaapo Kakko with the second overall pick in the NHL Draft, Davidson bolstered the Rangers’ blue line by dealing for disgruntled rearguard Jacob Trouba from Winnipeg.

Despite those moves, and the imminent arrival of several of the team’s top prospects, the Rangers have taken a step back on the odds to win the 2020 Stanley Cup, where they now lag at +6600, on average, and +6000.

Odds to Win 2020 Stanley Cup: Eastern Conference

*Odds taken on 06/25/19

Rebuild Bearing Fruit in the Big Apple

Davidson has inherited a Rangers squad in full rebuild mode. The team won just five of their final 21 contests this past season and has missed the playoffs in each of the past two.

On the bright side, they have made substantial additions to their prospect cupboard.

Reminder that Vitali Kravtsov, the Rangers second best prospect after Kakko/Hughes, is better than your teams #1 prospect pic.twitter.com/sPT7fxbch7

— t1mp4 (@t1mp4x) June 18, 2019

Kakko, who is coming a spectacular breakthrough campaign in Finland, is expected to be joined by a pair of top Russian prospects: forward Vitali Kravtsov and goaltender Igor Shesterkin, while rearguards Adam Fox and Yegor Rykov are expected to battle for jobs on a Rangers’ defense that ranked 24th in the NHL this past season in goals allowed.

[W]hile the Rangers are clearly moving in the right direction, they will likely not be ready to compete against Metropolitan Division rivals taking steps to win right now

But while the Rangers are clearly moving in the right direction, they will likely not be ready to compete against Metropolitan Division rivals taking steps to win right now.

Devils, Flyers Making Bold Moves to Win Now

The New Jersey Devils made the boldest move over the NHL Draft weekend by acquiring defenseman PK Subban from the Nashville Predators. The Devils also added budding star Jack Hughes with the top pick in the draft.

They were just a 31-win team in 2018-19, but remember that they were a surprise playoff qualifier the year prior, with Taylor Hall claiming the Hart Trophy as NHL MVP.

The Devils’ acquisitions have led to their Stanley Cup odds vaulting past the Rangers to +4000, well ahead of their +6800 pre-draft odds.

Last four days in the New York hockey landscape:

Rangers acquire Jacob Trouba.

Devils draft Jack Hughes.

Rangers draft Kaapo Kakko.

Devils trade for P.K. Subban.

Wow.

— Rob Taub (@RTaub_) June 22, 2019

The Philadelphia Flyers have also made gains following a busy week that included the signing of free agents Kevin Hayes and Travis Sanheim, and the acquisition of veteran defensemen Justin Braun and Matt Niskanen.

The Flyers failed to make the postseason for the fourth time in seven years, and have failed to win a playoff series since 2012. In addition, the lack of a bona fide starting goaltender remains a massive issue for the long-suffering Flyers.

However, that has not dampened their modest rise on the Stanley Cup odds to +3000. Hopes are high that Carter Hart (16-13-1; .917 SV%; 6.97 GSAA) can turn a solid rookie season into an even better sophomore performance.

Capitals Remain Team to Beat

With the Devils and Flyers ahead of the Rangers in their bids to return to playoff contention, at least for the moment, the massive challenge remains keeping pace with the five teams from the Metro that reached the postseason this spring.

While the Columbus Blue Jackets could be poised to take a step back after rolling the dice at the trade deadline, both the Carolina Hurricanes and New York Islanders are teams on the rise, each providing intriguing value as +3000 Stanley Cup bets.

And with forward Niklas Backstrom and goaltender Braden Holtby both entering contract years, the battle-hardened Washington Capitals must once again be considered as the top Cup contender in the division.

It’s not too early to talk about Nicklas Backstrom and Braden Holtby’s next contracts https://t.co/zsIZXaURBr

— Isabelle Khurshudyan (@ikhurshudyan) April 30, 2019

There is plenty of reason for Rangers fans to feel good about the future. But it’s premature to be planning a parade route through Manhattan.

When it comes to the Metro Division, reserve your Stanley Cup wagers for the Washington Capitals, who remain a relative bargain at +2000.

Pick: Capitals to win Stanley Cup (+2000)