The recent Stanley Cup odds are out from Vegas, and the Dallas Stars are even higher up than before. Let’s take a look at how they stack up against the other odds.
“May the odds be ever in your favor.”
Whether read The Hunger Games books, seen the movies, or done neither, chances are you have heard this saying somewhere. It’s a common expression with an obvious meaning. It’s a wish that you will achieve the greatest level of success and avoid any pitfalls or danger.
The odds were definitely against the Dallas Stars during the 2016-17 season. Injuries and inconsistent play took a team with Stanley Cup aspirations and turned them into a bottom-ten team in the standings.
The Stars turned in the second-worst record in franchise history and missed the playoffs by 15 points. It was an ugly endeavor and gave Dallas a lot to think about heading into the offseason.
It was a bit of an awkward spot for the Stars. They had been to the playoffs in two of the past four years but had yet to do anything significant in the postseason. With the 2016-17 season wasted, everyone got a year older and the team needed some significant change.
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So Jim Nill did what any sensible GM would do and took the reins of the NHL offseason. He brought in some of the best talent across the board and quickly upgraded his team. He improved the goaltending by adding Ben Bishop, the defense by adding Marc Methot, and the forwards with the additions of Martin Hanzal and Alexander Radulov. They also upgraded the entire scheme with the addition of Ken Hitchcock.
And now the Dallas Stars are once again one of the favorites to make some serious noise this season. But it still remains to be seen whether they will be able to live up to the hype or not.
Is Dallas set to make a run at the Stanley Cup this season? Were the offseason moves enough? We will have to wait until Oct. 6 to get a first glimpse, but the Vegas casinos seem to think that the Stars are in good hands.
According to Bovada’s recent Stanley Cup odds release, the Stars have 12/1 odds to take the Stanley Cup in the 2017-18 season. Those odds have them tied for third on the list with the Chicago Blackhawks. The only teams higher are the Pittsburgh Penguins and Edmonton Oilers.
Latest Stanley Cup odds from Bovada: pic.twitter.com/jpOQh3t867
— Mark Stepneski (@StarsInsideEdge) September 11, 2017
This is a better projection than the initial one made back in June when the Stars were set at 16/1 odds. The projection is pretty astounding considering the Dallas Stars did not even qualify for the playoffs last year.
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It’s a significant jump and just goes to show how much the Stars did to improve this offseason.
As you look down the list, it’s clear that there is little wiggle room between the teams. It’s fair to say that the top 17 teams all have a realistic shot odds-wise at the Cup. The NHL is definitely stacked in a different way this year, and no game is going to be easy.
The Dallas Stars have a tough road to navigate through the Central and an even tougher journey through the Western Conference. There’s plenty of competition in the league this year and surprise teams always make an appearance.
There is a lot to watch in the 2017-18 NHL regular season, and the Dallas Stars seem to be at the forefront. Everyone is waiting to see what they are capable of.
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The NHL regular season kicks off on Oct. 4, with the Stars getting started on Oct. 6. Are they ready to meet the expectations that are set for them? Or is this another season destined for disappointment? We’ll have to wait and see, and we all know that waiting is the hardest part.