Blackhawks Stanley Cup Odds Fade, But Defense Gets Boost with de Haan Trade

• The average odds of the Chicago Blackhawks winning the 2019-20 Stanley Cup adjusted from +3000 to +3300
• Chicago’s Stanley Cup odds were recently as short as +2500
• The Blackhawks recently traded for veteran defenseman Calvin De Haan

The Chicago Blackhawks are the epitome of what a dynasty looks like in the NHL’s salary cap era. They are also living proof of the lyrics to the Blood, Sweat & Tears hit song Spinning Wheel. What goes up, must come down.

Chicago and the Los Angeles Kings, winners of five Stanley Cups between them from 2010-15, both have bottomed out. In Chicago’s case, none of the major sportsbooks are anticipating a bounce back season from the Blackhawks in 2019-20.

Over a cross-section of leading sportsbooks, Chicago’s 2019-20 Stanley Cup odds adjusted on average from +3000 to +3300.

2019-20 NHL Western Conference Stanley Cup Odds

*Odds taken on 06/27/19.

The chances of the Blackhawks winning the Cup were recently as short as +2500.

No One to Come to Blackhawks’ Defense

The Blackhawks netted 272 goals last season. That was fourth-best in the Western Conference and eighth overall in the NHL. Patrick Kane scored 44 goals. Alex DeBrincat potted 41 goals and Jonathan Toews tallied 35 times.

Keeping the puck out of their own net was what did in the Blackhawks. Chicago allowed 292 goals. Only the Ottawa Senators (302) saw the red light go on behind their goaltenders more often. Chicago games frequently resembled throwbacks to the wild west NHL of the 1980s, when 6-5 and 8-7 outcomes were commonplace.

The Blackhawks went end-to-end, trading chances with teams. That style doesn’t lead to long-term success in today’s NHL. Despite a 36-34-12 record, Chicago showed a minus-22 goal differential. Among teams with winning records, only the Minnesota Wild (minus-26) were worse.

The Blackhawks made moves to shore up the defense, trading with the Carolina Hurricanes to add veteran Calvin de Haan and getting Olli Maatta from the Pittsburgh Penguins. They’ll certainly help, but let’s face facts – they aren’t Bobby Orr and Nicklas Lidstrom. These two won’t solve Chicago’s defensive problems all by themselves.

A Plan Is in Place

Though the core of Chicago’s three Cup winners remain, they are growing long in the tooth. Kane is the baby at 29. Toews is 30. On defense, former Norris Trophy winner Duncan Keith is 35 and Brent Seabrook is 33.

The Blackhawks invested heavily in their future over the past two NHL entry drafts. Defensemen Adam Boqvist and Nicolas Beadin were 2018 first-round picks and both are skilled, offensive-minded rearguards. This year, top pick Kirby Dach is a big, strapping center who could ultimately take over Toews’ role as the main man in the middle.

Blackhawks GM Stan Bowman made a shrewd move to add forward Dylan Strome last season in a deal with the Arizona Coyotes. Strome had struggled as an NHLer but he and DeBrincat were dynamite on a line together in junior with the Erie Otters. They found that same chemistry when reunited in Chicago.

Don’t Invest in Chicago Futures Market

Now is not the time to be backing the Blackhawks. The Central might be the NHL’s toughest division. Making any sort of headway this season is unlikely.

The moment @kdach77 was called to the stage by Stan Bowman and the @NHLBlackhawks: pic.twitter.com/0EaUBvijz0

— Blackhawks Talk (@NBCSBlackhawks) June 22, 2019

Chicago is headed along the right path but the team is still in the early stages of that journey.

If you want to invest in a Western Conference team to win the Cup next season, the Colorado Avalanche are a much wiser play.