NHL Betting Preview - Northwest Division Outlook

NHL Betting Preview – Northwest Division

The Odds

Vancouver Canucks      +140
Calgary Flames             +140
Edmonton Oilers           +450
Minnesota Wild            +1000
Colorado Avalanche     +1800 

The Favorites

The Vancouver Canucks tied up loose end number one by signing goalie Roberto Luongo to a 12-year extension, ending any talk of him leaving Van City at season’s end. Now all they have to do is deal with a month-long road trip in February to accommodate the Olympics. Between Jan. 27 th and March 10 th, the Canucks will play 13 road games and lease out their home arena to the IOC. It is impossible to believe that won’t have an effect on Vancouver’s play. It will be essential for the Sedin twins and company to have a fast start to balance out the inevitable mid-season swoon.   

The Calgary Flames have been perennial underachievers since reaching the Cup Finals in 2003. There is all-world talent on the Flames squad, starting with Jarome Iginla and Mikka Kiprusoff, but the team still falls short when it matters. However with the addition of Jay Bouwmeester and the luxury of having Olli Jokinen for a full season, the Flames should be able to make it over the hump and become a dangerous late season threat once again.  

The Sleeper

The Edmonton Oilers were a sleeper pick last year, but failed to make the playoffs for the third straight season. The Oil replaced aging Dwayne Roloson in net with the aging Nikolai Khabibulin. Despite Khabibulin’s strong play last season, he is not the long-term answer the Oilers need to become a playoff team once again. There are talented players like Sam Gagner, Andrew Cogliano and Denis Grebeshkov that Edmonton can build around, but many things need to go right for this team to have a legit shot for Stanley Cup play.   

The Long Shots

The Minnesota Wild had a complete makeover in the offseason, and it will be interesting to see how the team responds. Gone is defensive-minded coach Jacques Lemaire, replaced by Todd Richards, who preaches offensive aggressiveness. Gone is oft-injured Marion Gaborik, replaced with oft-injured Martin Havlat. The Wild are a team in transition, and there isn’t enough talent to overcome that and make a strong post-season push.  

The Colorado Avalanche are in desperate need of an identity. For the first time since 1988 the Avalanche/Nordiques franchise will open the season without Joe Sakic playing center. The Avs finished in last place last season for the first time since moving to Colorado in 1995. There aren’t any high-powered prospects in the Avalanche system ready to make the jump into the NHL this year. It will be a long, long season for Avs fans. 

Outlook

Vancouver improved in the offseason, but the outside factors will no doubt have a toll on how the Canucks play late in the season. The Flames should be able to take advantage of this and win their first division title since 2006. Edmonton is a long shot to win the division, but a developing youth core could provide an 8 th place finish in the conference. The Wild have a good team, but not good enough for the playoffs. The Avalanche will compete with Phoenix for the first overall pick in 2010.  

Pick: Calgary Flames +140