Maple Leafs Stanley Cup Odds Unchanged After Acquiring Jake Muzzin; Are They a Good Bet?

• The Toronto Maple Leafs’ Stanley Cup odds have stayed steady at +800
• The Lightning, Flames, and Sharks still have better odds to with the Stanley Cup
• Does Jake Muzzin give the Leafs enough to put them over the top?

The Toronto Maple Leafs made a big splash this week by acquiring Jake Muzzin in a trade with the Los Angeles Kings. Muzzin should be no stranger to NHL fans as he was a big part of those Kings teams that won the Stanley Cup in 2012 and 2014.

Current 2019 Stanley Cup odds still have the Leafs sitting fourth even after the Muzzin trade. Should you jump on them now while their odds are this long? Or is there better value elsewhere?

2019 Stanley Cup Odds

Muzzin Adds Depth to Leafs Defense

Muzzin is a great addition to a defense and a good deal at $4 million a season, but this is a complimentary deal in comparison to when San Jose landed Erik Karlsson and already had Brent Burns. The Leafs did address a serious need on their defense though as Muzzin is a tough guy to play against who always takes the body and makes teams work to get in front of the net.

The @MapleLeafs get the defenseman they wanted and needed! Jake Muzzin is a great piece to that roster. Great 2 way defensemen who can move the puck up the ice quickly. Good addition! #LeafsNation

— Jeremy Roenick (@Jeremy_Roenick) January 29, 2019

Muzzin slots in on the top pairing with the Leafs and pushes 38-year-old Ron Hainsey down on the Leafs depth chart on defense. Hainsey did win a cup with Pittsburgh in 2017, but a guy who is eight years younger and has more Stanley Cup Final experience is bound to make Mike Babcock’s job an easier one.

Mike Babcock (probably) tomorrow on acquisition of Jake Muzzin:

“Real good pro, knows how to win, Stanley Cup winner, has a ring, knows how to dig deep, plays heavy, 6’3″ every time he steps on the ice.”#LeafsForever

— Nick Alberga (@thegoldenmuzzy) January 29, 2019

Lightning, Flames, and Sharks Still Look Formidable

The smart money is still with the Tampa Bay Lightning, Calgary Flames, and San Jose Sharks.

Curious to note is these three teams have a stronger defense and premier defensemen in Hedman, the 2018 Norris Trophy winner, Karlsson the 2012 and 2015 Norris Trophy winner, and Mark Giordano who at 35 may win his first Norris Trophy with the Flames.

⚡️ “2019 #NHLAllStar Game”https://t.co/BKn9J2Uioe

— San Jose Sharks (@SanJoseSharks) January 27, 2019

The San Jose Sharks have the best one-two punch in Erik Karlsson and Brent Burns. The Sharks have come close to the Cup in the past with their 2016 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins and that was before they had Karlsson. Their window for the Cup may be a short one as Karlsson is a free agent and could leave San Jose at the end of the season.