As we approach the conclusion of a very tumultuous 2016, there’s a lot of folks wondering what is on the horizon and if the grass will be greener on the other side. Sportsbooks are benefiting from our curiosity and wonderment by offering us props relevant to this 2017 half of the 2016-17 NHL season.
BetWay is among the principal culprits and is offering three intriguing propositions for the second half. I’ve broken these down props and discovered the value for you so that you won’t need to make it the New Year’s resolution to prevent sports betting.
Can an Original Six team win the Stanley Cup?
I don’t love any of these props’ value but this one, I think, has the best chance of cashing. Even the Rangers, Canadiens and Blackhawks are sitting in prime position to complete the season close to the top of their respective branches and the Bruins seem as they could also enter the playoffs if Tuukka Rask keeps up his insane play.
Even if those teams make the playoffs, they’ll be just four of 16 teams vying for the Cup — providing an Original Six team a 25 percent chance to win. If the odds were fair, this prop would be paying 4 to 1. I understand books have to protect themselves but I think they’re being a bit greedy here.Will a goaltender win the Hart Memorial Trophy?
Carey Price achieved this feat from 2015 so it is definitely possible. That said, there is lots of variables this season, going against the bidding for the MVP trophy.
Factor No. 1: There are too many good goalies this year. Multiple crease occupiers like Devan Dubnyk and Sergei Bobrovsky are playing from their heads right now, limiting the value of other goaltenders across the league. Those guys’ numbers are similar to the ones being posted by Cost and Rask this year so unless one of these tendies breaks away from the pack in the second half, it is not going to happen.
Factor No. 2: Sidney Crosby is back. Sid has become the poster boy to the NHL ever since he was drafted back in 2004 and when the league gets a chance to anoint its own prince, it will. This was verified last season when Sid the Kid won the Conn Smythe despite Matt Murray carrying the Pens into the Cup as a rookie. Crosby is now leading the league in goals and has a serious chance to win the Hart, Maurice Rocket Richard and Art Ross trophies.
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