Islanders Were the Best Moneyline Team in NHL Last Season; Who Else Was in the Top-5?

• The 2019-20 NHL season begins Wednesday, October 2nd
• Which teams provided the greatest return on investment on moneyline bets last year?
• Can you expect those clubs to be as profitable again this season?

If you were to wager moneyline bets on the New York Islanders and Tampa Bay Lightning last season, you’d have been a very happy (and profitable) person. Those two teams were money in the bank for bettors for the 2018-19 NHL campaign.

What other teams were the most productive and who were the ones to stay clear of? Taking a deeper dive into SBD Sharp will help you analyze sports data and bet like you’re investing.

Most Profitable NHL Teams for Bettors in 2018-19

Follow SBD Sharp for betting results for all NHL teams in 2018-19 and see their projected O/U point totals here.

New York Islanders

Last year, the New York Islanders stunned the hockey world after they were projected by nearly everyone to miss the postseason following the departure of long-time captain and superstar John Tavares. However, under the leadership of new head coach and reigning Stanley Cup champion Barry Trotz, they were a top-five NHL team, making the second round of the playoffs.

They finished last year with a whopping 103 points. But regression is a realistic possibility because breakout netminder Robin Lehner left in free agency and was replaced with the unpredictable Semyon Varlamov. Their O/U point total is set at 92.5 so even if they win five fewer games, they’d hit the over.

Key Additions – Semyon Varlamov, Derick Brassard
Key Departures – Robin Lehner, Valtteri Filppula

Pick: Over 92.5 points for Islanders

Tampa Bay Lightning

Last year Tampa Bay was absolutely dominant, finishing 21 points ahead of the next best teams – Calgary and Boston – before shockingly being swept in the first round by Columbus. Don’t expect there to be much of a hangover for a club that has recorded at least 108 points in three of their last five seasons (O/U point total set at 108.5)

They lost a couple of solid pieces but nothing earth shattering and they’re the class of the NHL. There would have to many injuries to keep this team down (a club that historically has been very good at withstanding injuries to captain Steven Stamkos and other key contributors).

Key Additions – Kevin Shattenkirk, Patrick Maroon, Curtis McElhinney
Key Departures – Anton Stralman, J.T. Miller, Ryan Callahan

Pick: Over 108.5 points for Lightning

St. Louis Blues

It’s insane that the Blues authored up the greatest regular-season comeback from worst in the league in early January to Stanley Cup champion, registering 99 points along the way. Their O/U is 96.5 this year, and a hangover of sorts is likely to be expected.

Was goaltender Jordan Binnington a one-hit wonder or will he continue to be top notch?

They acquired defenseman Justin Faulk from Carolina giving them an enviable blue line, but let’s not forget they were the worst team the first three months last season. In an ultra-competitive Central Division, expect St. Louis to find it hard to replicate their success.

Key Additions – Justin Faulk
Key Departures – Joel Edmundson

Pick: Under 96.5 points for Blues

Columbus Blue Jackets

The Blue Jackets went all-in for the trade deadline last season in an attempt to finally get over the playoff hump, resulting in a stunning series victory against Tampa Bay. In doing so, they put their chips in the table, dealing away lots of future draft picks, and saw their prized acquisitions in Matt Duchene and Ryan Dzingel leave, plus two huge pieces of their core in Sergei Bobrovsky and Artemi Panarin.

Things could get ugly very early for Columbus in a top-heavy Metropolitan Division, and even though their points O/U is 14.5 less than in 2018-19, don’t bank on John Tortorella getting everything he can out of this roster.

It wouldn’t be a complete surprise to see him lose the team and end up receiving his pink slip from GM Jarmo Kekalainen mid-season.

Key Additions – Gustav Nyquist
Key Departures – Sergei Bobrovsky, Artemi Panarin, Matt Duchene, Ryan Dzingel

Pick: Under 84.5 points for Blue Jackets

Boston Bruins

Boston came oh-so-close to tasting victory yet again in the Stanley Cup Final, only to lose a heartbreaker in game seven to the Blues. The roster largely remains intact so potentially they’ll be back to being a dominant top-two team in the league again.

Their core is aging with the likes of Zdeno Chara, Patrice Bergeron, Brad Marchand, David Krejci and Tuukka Rask getting longer in the tooth, so this is a difficult call whether they can keep up their strong play, but expect the veteran squad to keep the good times rolling in Beantown.

Key Additions – N/A
Key Departures – Marcus Johansson

Pick: Over 101.5 points for Bruins