Devils’ 2020 Stanley Cup Odds Take Big Jump After Drafting Hughes, Trading for Subban

• The odds of the New Jersey Devils winning the 2020 Stanley Cup improved dramatically following the 2019 NHL Entry Draft
• New Jersey selected Jack Hughes first overall and traded for PK Subban on draft weekend
• The average odds of the Devils winning the Cup went from +6800 to +5200

The New Jersey Devils picked up a generational talent and traded for a Norris Trophy-winning defenseman during the 2019 NHL Entry Draft.

They selected USA Hockey National Team Development star Jack Hughes first overall. Then they traded to get defenseman PK Subban from the Nashville Predators.

Yeah, you could say it was a beneficial weekend for them.

The sportsbooks certainly saw it that way. Across a number of leading books, the average Stanley Cup odds on the Devils dipped from +6800 down to +5200.

2020 NHL Stanley Cup Odds

Odds taken 06/25/19. 

New Jersey missed the Stanley Cup playoffs last season for the sixth time in seven seasons.

Norris Trophy Bump

Don’t discount the value of adding a Norris Trophy winner to a team’s blueline.

When Nashville acquired Subban from the Montreal Canadiens in 2015-16, the Predators went to the Stanley Cup final for the first time in franchise history. Last season, the San Jose Sharks traded for Erik Karlsson and reached the Western Conference final.

#NewProfilePic pic.twitter.com/eAWZJR2e7C

— P.K. Subban (@PKSubban1) June 22, 2019

In 2005-06, the Edmonton Oilers traded for Chris Pronger and went to the Cup final for the first time since 1990. The following season, the Oilers traded Pronger to Anaheim and the Ducks won the Stanley Cup.

Could Devils Be Next Season’s Blues?

The St. Louis Blues went from missing the playoffs in 2017-18 and last overall in the NHL as late as January 3rd last season, to Stanley Cup champions. Now everyone is scouring Stanley Cup future books seeking out the next candidate that equates to the St. Louis model.

The Devils are a good fit.

https://twitter.com/NJDevils/status/1142526348860252163

St. Louis made a bold trade at the 2018 draft, adding Ryan O’Reilly. The Devils made a bold trade for Subban at this year’s draft. He’ll bolster what was already a decent back end.

New Jersey has a Hart Trophy winner in Taylor Hall and two first overall draft picks in Hughes and Nico Hischier.

They might even have their version of Jordan Binnington in MacKenzie Blackwood. He still qualifies as an NHL rookie after appearing in 23 games last season and posting a team-leading .918 save percentage for a club that was 28th overall in the NHL in save percentage (.901).

The final part of the equation could come July 1st. The Blues improved their depth via free agency last summer, adding forwards Tyler Bozak, Patrick Maroon and David Perron.

With just under $26 million in cap space available, will New Jersey look to do likewise?

It’s a Longshot

New Jersey has done this before. In 2010-11, the Devils missed the playoffs. In 2011-12, they went to the Stanley Cup final.

https://twitter.com/NJDevils/status/1143298736187043840

Then again, it’s probably asking a lot for the Devils to go from tied for 29th in the NHL with 31 wins to a Cup triumph.  For one thing, the analytics don’t add up. New Jersey was 24th last season in Fenwick (48.24) and 27th in Corsi (47.49).

If you’re thinking about a small play on the Devils, we can’t say that’s a terrible idea. But if you’re looking to back a team with a legitimate Stanley Cup pedigree, put your money on the Colorado Avalanche.