Opening Odds to Win 2021 NHL North and East Divisions

• Odds are out predicting the outcomes of the races in the NHL North and East Divisions
• The Boston Bruins are +250 favorites to win the East Division
• In the all-Canadian North Division, the Toronto Maple Leafs open as the +150 chalk

Last season, the Boston Bruins and Toronto Maple Leafs were housed in the same NHL division. During the upcoming NHL campaign, both teams are picked to win their new realigned divisions.

The Bruins are the +250 favorite to win the East in the opening NHL divisional odds. Meanwhile, in the all-Canadian North, it’s the Leafs who are +150 chalk to win it all.

Last season, the Bruins finished second in the Atlantic Division. Toronto ended up third in the Atlantic.

East Division Odds

All odds as of Dec. 22

Four of the top seven teams in the NHL in 2019-20 in terms of points are housed among this group. That would be the Bruins, Capitals, Flyers, and Penguins.

As 2020 winds down, we have high hopes for 2021.

Here's what GM Jim Rutherford had to say about the upcoming season: https://t.co/pE5Q1U9Z0M pic.twitter.com/ZwKXL84R5g

— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) December 21, 2020

Considering that there’s only four postseason spots up for grabs, it’s going to make the sledding tough for teams looking to break through and become a playoff club.

With Pittsburgh-Philadelphia, Rangers-Islanders, and Capitals-Penguins, there’s plenty of traditional rivalries to fuel the fires. The entire 56-game regular season will be played within the division, adding to that heat.

Question Marks Abound

Three of the top teams in the odds enter the season with question marks next to them. The Capitals have already lost goaltender Henrik Lundqvist (heart condition), their big offseason addition, for the season.

We. Can't. Wait.#NHLBruins pic.twitter.com/i5Gk3bOZCs

— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) December 20, 2020

Boston is still deciding whether to bring back captain Zdeno Chara. Meanwhile, two-thirds of the Bruins’ top forward line – Brad Marchand and David Pastrnak – may miss the start of the season after undergoing offseason surgery.

Opting to ship two-time Stanley Cup-winning goalie Matt Murray to Ottawa, the Penguins are rolling the dice that last season’s sensation Tristan Jarry is the real deal.

Flyers Return Relatively Intact

The one team that looks intact and ready to roll is the Philadelphia Flyers. Carter Hart is the NHL’s best young goalie. His 2.42 GAA was second-best among NHL goalies who played at least 40 games.

The Flyers list seven defensemen who played 40 NHL games last season. They were seventh in the NHL in goals per game (3.29).

Be excited. Stay excited. pic.twitter.com/QRcf8ZvAEv

— Philadelphia Flyers (@NHLFlyers) December 21, 2020

On top of that, they’ll welcome back forwards Oskar Lindblom (cancer) and Nolan Patrick (migraines). Patrick missed all of 2019-20. Lindblom was tied for the team lead with 11 goals when he was diagnosed with bone cancer a year ago.

Pick: Philadelphia Flyers (+325)

North Division Odds

Is there a more wide-open division in the NHL this season than the great white North? It’s easy to make a case for any of six teams winning this group (sorry Sens. Not you).

The Buds are back#LeafsForever pic.twitter.com/QNu56KlNf1

— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) December 17, 2020

The Leafs are loaded with high-end talent in Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, John Tavares, William Nylander, and Morgan Rielly. The offseason addition of veteran playmaker Joe Thornton should boost the skill level even further.

Oilers Will Fill The Net

With a 1-2 punch of Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitil, both of them Hart and Art Ross Trophy winners, scoring goals won’t be an issue in Edmonton. But the Oilers did nothing to address their goaltending issues. As well, steady defender Oscar Klefbom (shoulder) is done for the season.

✅Art Ross Trophy
✅Hart Memorial
✅Ted Lindsay Award
✅Germany's Sportsman of the Year

Congratulations to Leon Draisaitl, who recently added to his year's hardware collection as the second team-sport athlete to ever receive the prestigious 🇩🇪 honour!

📸: @EdmontonOilers pic.twitter.com/J13xL0b2cY

— NHLPA (@NHLPA) December 22, 2020

Vancouver’s young stars made plenty of noise last season, reaching the Stanley Cup final four. Can Elias Pettersson, Quinn Hughes and Bo Horvat do it again? Will Braden Holtby and Thatcher Demko work as a goalie tandem?

Habs Got Deeper

Montreal added depth in forwards, Tyler Toffoli, Josh Anderson, defensemen Joel Edmundson and Alexander Romanov, and goalie Jake Allen. The Habs should be better in all aspects of the game.

Winnipeg can score and has Vezina winner Connor Hellebuyck between the pipes.

#IsItJanuaryYet pic.twitter.com/LJLz0DBN4d

— Calgary Flames (@NHLFlames) December 20, 2020

The team to beat, however, is the Calgary Flames. A first-place club two seasons ago, the Flames were among the NHL’s hottest teams in last season’s second half. Jacob Markstrom provides elite netminding and Chris Tanev deepens a solid defensive corps.

Pick: Calgary Flames (+650)