Edmonton Oilers 2019 Stanley Cup Odds Plummet

• Edmonton’s Stanley Cup odds dropped considerably after the team’s first loss
• What has gone wrong in Oil Country?
• We have the best value picks to hoist Lord Stanley’s Cup

The Edmonton Oilers finally broke out of their decade long malaise in the 2016-17 season, winding up one game away from the Western Conference Finals. They followed that (relatively) successful season with an absolute track wreck last year, finishing with 25 fewer points. After a season opening 5-2 drubbing at the hands of the Devils (who still should be charged for stealing Taylor Hall from the Oilers) oddsmakers aren’t bullish about the City of Champions chances to add another notch on their belt.

2019 Stanley Cup Average Odds: Pacific Division

Edmonton’s average odds to win the 2019 Stanley Cup rose to +2900 on October 9th after being as low as +2000 exactly one month before.

Odds to Win the 2019 Stanley Cup

*follow the link in the table to see all options

Edmonton Oilers Defense Springs Leaky Holes

Goaltender Cam Talbot followed a stellar 2016-17 campaign with an extremely disappointing 2017-18 season. While he wasn’t at his best, a lot can be attributed to the unreliable defence in front of him.

Zajac with his second of the game for a 4-1 lead. pic.twitter.com/cTpKC2UP2E

— NHL GIFs (@NHLGIFs) 6 October 2018

The biggest issue is a lack of a proven backup netminder to pair with Talbot leading to overuse. Do any of the names of past backups Al Montoya, Laurent Brossoit, Jonas Gustavsson, or Anders Nilsson inspire confidence? As Barry Bonds would spew, “Next question because that was stupid.”

Most Games Played In Last Two Seasons

They say the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result. The Oilers’ solution? Sign 30-year old journeyman goalie Mikko Koskinen to a $2.5 million deal. He’s spent the last five seasons in the KHL and has just four NHL games to his credit (way back in 2011.)

Edmonton Oilers Goals Against Last 5 Seasons

Do the Edmonton Oilers have any hope of competing?

Edmonton has arguably the best player on the planet in Connor McDavid so they could outscore their deficiencies at times. However, two years ago the Oil finished in the top eight in scoring for the first time since 1996-97, but then reverted to form dropping to 20th last campaign. There is the potential for an impressive core of young forwards (where have we heard that before?) including Leon Draisaitl, a good-not great Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and recent first rounders Kailer Yamamoto and Jesse Puljujarvi.

The NHL shouldn’t allow Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl to play together… #Nasty pic.twitter.com/k77SNVhhS4

— Bar South N Celly™ (@BarSouthNCelly) 10 November 2017

The team continues to cram square pegs into round holes. The slow footed Milan Lucic blew up in their face last year so this season they’re trying out Ty Rattie on a line with McDavid. The 2011 second round pick has played only 50 career games, posting just 19 points. Count on this experiment going the way of the dodo.

Best Value Picks to Win the 2019 Stanley Cup

1. Winnipeg Jets (+1100): Dynamic young team strong in all areas. Second in goals last season and fifth in goals against.
2. Columbus Blue Jackets (+2500): Poised to break through after never winning a postseason series in the daunting Eastern Conference.
3. Chicago Blackhawks (+4000): Still have stalwarts Toews and Kane and at these odds why not bank on veteran moxy getting it done again in the playoffs?