The NHL’s seven Canadian teams have been cooped up quite a while. In fact, only one has crossed onto American soil since March 2020, when the pandemic hit. That will change, finally, this season. What will it mean for fans of NHL betting?

The Canadian teams all played within the same division in 2020-21, and only the Montreal Canadiens were allowed to play games in the U.S., in the final two playoff rounds against Vegas and Tampa Bay. We’re back to a new normal, but there are a ton of new bettors out there, including at Canada sports betting sites now that single-event betting is legal.

When it comes to NHL futures odds on your betting apps, there’s a ton to sort through. Which Canadian teams should bettors lay down some decent futures coin on right now? Let’s take a look.

Toronto Maple Leafs To Win Stanley Cup

The odds:

The sportsbooks have made the Maple Leafs the favored Canadian team to win it all, which in their case would be the first time since Lyndon B. Johnson was President in 1967. (Or, in this case, since Lester B. Pearson was Prime Minister of Canada - the man whose name is on the trophy given to the NHL’s best player in a season, as judged by his peers).

The Leafs are the favored team, despite having flamed out of the playoffs the last three years in the first round. But there’s just too much talent here to overlook them. Auston Matthews is the real deal as a hockey player, and others, such as Mitch Marner and William Nylander, are pure point producers. You’re just naturally nervous betting on the Leafs for a Stanley Cup, but the talent is there to make it happen. There will be plenty of action on this team at Ontario sports betting sites.

CHECK OUT: Stanley Cup Odds From Top Betting Sites

Edmonton Oilers to Win Stanley Cup

The odds:

Why do I think the Edmonton Oilers are overpriced at these NHL odds? Because the defense and goaltending still aren’t good enough. The Oilers have a premium front end, with Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, and kind of a cheap, patchwork back end still.

The Oilers will win their share of games, but put your futures money elsewhere – unless you are hometown fans on Alberta sports betting sites and want to take a flier. You can’t win a Stanley Cup with mediocre defense and goaltending.

Montreal Canadiens To Win Stanley Cup

The odds:

I absolutely advise you to put more money on the Canadiens possibly winning the next Stanley Cup than on the Oilers, despite the longer odds at betting sites.

Montreal, still far and away the NHL’s all-time leader with 24 Stanley Cups, made the Cup Finals this past spring, giving Quebec sports betting fans quite a thrill. They suffered a loss with the likely season-ending injury issues with defenseman Shea Weber, and goalie Carey Price is also recovering from offseason surgery. But there is still very good infrastructure in place for another run.

Cole Caufield is the favorite to win the Calder Trophy, and a newcomer such as Mike Hoffman could thrive as a goal-scorer. I like this team and think +3000 is an attractive futures price. Grab it at Caesars.

Calgary Flames To Win Presidents’ Trophy

The odds: +6500 at TwinSpires

This is a good longshot pick. Calgary had the best regular-season record in the Western Conference in 2017-18. A lot of the players who were there then are still there now. Calgary seemingly has had some chemistry/locker room issues the past couple of years, but there has been some turnover in all areas and I like the general makeup of this team.The Flames are on my list of potential surprise teams for the season. They still have a lot of talent up front, led by Johnny Gaudreau and Sean Monahan. Grab them at TwinSpires.

Vancouver Canucks to Win Pacific Division

The odds:

The Vancouver Canucks are kind of caught in an in-between stage of their development, it would seem. Like Edmonton, they have a lot of good offensive talent, but there are too many questions on defense and in goal. Vancouver’s goaltending was a mess last year, with Braden Holtby flaming out in his one year there. Things aren’t looking much better moving forward.

Vegas is the best team in this division still, and I expect them to cruise to the title. Don’t waste your money on the Canucks, even at these odds at FanDuel.

Ottawa Senators to Win Eastern Conference

The odds: +10000 at FOXBet

I don’t quite understand why Ottawa is ranked with a couple other teams as least likely to win the Eastern Conference, but I get it, too. Ottawa hasn’t been a winner for many years. It has erratic ownership and arena problems, which are anathema to challenging for serious hockey honors.

Yet, the Senators have some very good young players and a good coach in D.J. Smith. I think Ottawa is actually a team on the rise, even if the odds don’t show it. No, don’t bet the ranch on these guys for anything. But I think they are better than the bookies are projecting, and may be worth a small flier at FOX Bet.

Winnipeg Jets to Win Central Division

The odds:

At this price, the Jets are a very good longshot pick here. I don’t think there is a ton separating Winnipeg from Colorado, at +250, to win this division. Yet, the Jets DO have a history of underachievement the last couple of years. So, I get why the bookies are fading them some here.

But this is still a good hockey team, with a former Vezina Trophy winner in goal in Connor Hellebuyck. It kind of feels like this is the Jets’ last shot, with their current core, but sometimes a team on their last breath is the most dangerous team. I like this price for a division underdog at DraftKings.