Let’s have a look at the updated NHL Stanley Cup picks.
Colorado Avalanche Favourites to Win the 2021 Stanley Cup
It’s been exactly two decades since the 2000-01 NHL season, the most recent one in which the Colorado Avalanche won the Stanley Cup. They will end their drought this season. The Avs suit up a deep, loaded roster led by one of the NHL’s most talented players in centre Nathan MacKinnon. Colorado has been building toward this moment for the past several seasons and the plan will come to fruition this spring.
- The Colorado Avalanche are 5.00 favourites to win the 2021 Stanley Cup
- Colorado’s last Stanley Cup title was earned in 2000-01
- The Avs also won the Stanley Cup in 1995-96
No matter which online sports betting site you check with, the Colorado Avalanche is the pick to win the Stanley Cup, as it should be. The Avalanche were the NHL’s No. 1 regular-season team, winning the Presidents’ Trophy. They dismantled the 2018-19 Stanley Cup champion, St. Louis Blues, during a four-game sweep in the opening round of postseason play, scoring 20 goals in the process.
| Team |  |  |
|---|---|---|
| Colorado Avalanche | 5.00 | 6.08 |
| Vegas Golden Knights | 6.00 | 6.86 |
| Toronto Maple Leafs | 7.00 | 6.13 |
| Tampa Bay Lightning | 8.00 | 7.71 |
| Carolina Hurricanes | 8.00 | 7.17 |
More than just that, this is a club that has been steadily building toward climbing to the top of the mountain ever since finishing last overall in the league during the 2016-17 season. A combination of astute drafting, wise trades and particular free-agent additions enabled the Avalanche to assemble not only the NHL’s deepest roster but one in which all of the pieces puzzle together nicely in order to facilitate a lengthy playoff run.
The mastermind behind these machinations is general manager Joe Sakic. Sakic was captain for both of Colorado’s prior Stanley Cup wins in 1995-96 and 2000-01, so he knows a thing or two about assembling a winning combination.
The Great Nate
He might not get the same national love as other stars such as Pittsburgh’s Sidney Crosby, Washington’s Alex Ovechkin, Edmonton’s Connor McDavid and Toronto’s Auston Matthews, but Colorado’s MacKinnon is every bit a superstar as all of those players. He’s a perennial contender for the Hart Trophy as the NHL’s most valuable player.
In the playoffs, it could be argued that MacKinnon outdoes them all. MacKinnon has 63 points (26 goals, 37 assists) in 44 career playoff games, the highest points-per-game average (1.43) among active players and the fourth-highest in Stanley Cup Playoff history among players who’ve played a minimum of 25 NHL playoff games.
Building Through The Draft
All NHL teams talk about the need to build a championship core through the NHL entry draft. The Avalanche have actually done it.
Colorado’s top line of MacKinnon, Mikko Rantanen and captain Gabriel Landeskog were all first-round picks. Defenceman Cale Makar was also a first-rounder.
He was the only NHL defender to average a point per game this and is that type of high-end skilled rearguard that all Stanley Cup champions seem to suit up.
The Avs’ roster is dotted with other first-round picks such as defenceman Bowen Byram and forwards Tyson Jost and Alex Newhook.
Filling In The Blanks
Sakic and his staff deftly filled in the missing pieces through wise trades and free-agent signings. Many of these players also arrived in the Mile High City with a Stanley Cup pedigree. Goaltender Philipp Grubauer won a Cup with the Washington Capitals, as did forward Andre Burakovsky. Forward Brandon Saad won a pair of titles with the Chicago Blackhawks and has appeared in a team-high 85 NHL playoff games.
Forwards Joonas Donskoi (San Jose Sharks) and Valeri Nichushkin (Dallas Stars) were free-agent additions who both played with teams that reached the Stanley Cup final.
At this year’s NHL trade deadline, Sakic solved any potential chemistry issues that could be caused by fitting in players so late into the season. Colorado’s pickups – defenceman Patrik Nemeth and forward Carl Soderberg – played with the Avs as recently as the 2018-19 season. They were both familiar faces in the dressing room and well-versed in the way the Avalanche like to play the game.
Where To Bet On The Colorado Avalanche To Win The Stanley Cup
There are a number of leading online sports betting sites that will provide bettors with the chance to place a wager on the Colorado Avalanche winning the Stanley Cup. The best bet you can make is to shop around in advance and seek out the right deal before joining one of these sportsbooks. Check out Sports Interaction and PowerPlay Sports as examples.
The signup bonus offers that are in place at all of these recommended sites will prove advantageous to the bettor. And since you’ll get a good deal wherever you go, why not check out several sites and find the ideal fit for your needs?
Do you want a risk-free first bet as a signup bonus? Perhaps you find a no-deposit bonus to be enticing. Or maybe you simply like the feel of cold, hard cash in your account and you want to go for a matching first deposit bonus. Whatever option you choose, you’re already a winner.
Remember that new players and returning customers are eligible for better bonuses when they deposit using Bitcoin. As well, take advantage of the betting advice offered at these sites to help newcomers acclimatize to sports betting.
See below the top sportsbooks where you can wager online and choose the right one for you:
The No. 8 team in the Eastern Conference plays host to the No. 3 team in the Western Conference on Sunday when the Minnesota Wild travel to face the Washington Capitals. As of this writing, the Wild are the hottest team in the NHL with seven straight wins and an 8-1-1 record over their past 10 games. The Capitals are 6-3-1 in their 10 most recent outings.
As good as the Wild have been playing, it needs to be noted that they are not a particularly strong road team. While Minnesota is 24-7-1 at home, they are 17-13-3 on the road. All the team’s seven straight wins have come at home. The club’s most recent road game was a 3-2 shootout loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets on March 11. Washington has been a better road team than the home team this season. The Capitals are 16-14-5 at home as opposed to 21-7-5 on the road.
Minnesota has the momentum in this matchup.
Pick: Minnesota to beat Washington.
