WV Online Sportsbooks Present NHL Futures Ahead Of 2021 Season

Written By Chris Imperiale on October 8, 2021 – Last Updated on March 22, 2025

The commencement of the upcoming NHL season is rapidly approaching. The 2021 campaign is set to kick off on Tuesday, October 12th, and West Virginia sportsbooks are fully prepared for the exciting start.

After a late start due to COVID-19 precautions, last year’s hockey season saw teams playing only 56 regular-season games. However, this season marks a return to normalcy as every team will participate in the usual 82 games.

Additionally, the season appeared somewhat distinct from the usual ones due to the league’s compelled reorganization of divisions. Rather than competing against all teams in the league, each team solely confronted opponents within their assigned grouping.

The creation of this was driven partly by Canada’s travel restrictions, allowing the Canadian squads to remain within the country.

Luckily, this year brings a return to normalcy as teams will once again compete in their well-known divisions within the Eastern and Western conferences.

However, this season brings a new element – the league has expanded once again and is introducing the Seattle Kraken as its latest NHL franchise.

The Pacific division will welcome the Las Vegas Knights, who were recently introduced, as well as the 32nd team in the league.

As tradition dictates, the two teams will convene for a nightcap after the opening evening. Seattle and Vegas will face off after the exciting game between defending champion Tampa Bay and Pittsburgh.

In this analysis, we will delve into the forthcoming NHL season and explore the predicted odds for the future outcomes at online sportsbooks in West Virginia.

Stanley Cup Futures At WV Sportsbooks

The Colorado Avalanche have been named the favorites for this new year by DraftKings WV Sportsbook, despite the Lightning’s victories in the last two Stanley Cup Finals.

A year ago, the Aves were considered one of the top teams based on their odds. However, this season, they have emerged as the undisputed number one team. According to DraftKings, their odds going into the first week stand at +475, highlighting their strong position.

Unfortunately, Colorado’s season came to an abrupt end last year with a six-game loss to Vegas in the second round. It was disappointing that these two teams, who had tied for the most points in the regular season, had to face each other in the playoffs at that stage.

Nevertheless, due to the recent postseason realignment, teams from the same division have been pitted against each other, resulting in this series occurring a bit earlier than anticipated.

Despite being heavily favored, the Knights were unable to progress any further as they suffered defeat against Montreal in the semifinals.

Although they have yet to claim the coveted Stanley Cup, it is evident that they are among the top teams in the NHL. Since their entry into the league in 2017, Vegas has made it to the conference finals in three out of their first four years.

The Golden Knights and Tampa Bay share the second-best odds to win it all at +700, according to DraftKings.

Toronto is the sole team, aside from Montreal, with odds of +1000 or below at +900. Unfortunately, the Maple Leafs once again let down their loyal fans by performing poorly in the playoffs. Despite initially establishing a 3-1 lead, they ultimately succumbed to Montreal in a seven-game series.

The Leafs’ talent is undeniable, yet they have been unable to advance past the first round in the past five seasons.

In the following tier, we have the Bruins and Islanders, both representing the East. Interestingly, these two teams faced off in the second round of the previous season, and the Islanders emerged victorious after a six-game series.

The Boston team is listed at +1300 on the online sportsbook, while the Isles have odds of +1500.

Currently, DraftKings offers odds for several other contenders within range.

Florida Panthers +1800
Edmonton Oilers +2000
New York Rangers +2200
Minnesota Wild +2500
Carolina Hurricanes +2500
Pittsburgh Penguins +2500

Betting On NHL Player Awards

In addition to betting on team futures, there are also numerous options for wagering on player futures.

Bettors at FanDuel WV have the opportunity to place bets on seven different end-of-season awards. Among these, the Hart Memorial Trophy, which is given to the league’s MVP annually, tends to be the most sought-after market.

While anyone has a chance of winning, it comes as no surprise that Connor McDavid from Edmonton is the frontrunner. Currently, FanDuel is favoring him with odds of +250 to secure the Hart trophy.

McDavid emerged as the champion of the previous season and is consistently regarded as one of the top players every year. At the age of 24, he possesses two prestigious Harts and has claimed the Art Ross Trophy, awarded to the player with the highest number of points, an impressive three times. Even in a condensed season, he outperformed all others by amassing a remarkable 105 points.

Despite being the favorite, McDavid faces the challenge of breaking the trend of no repeat MVP winners since Alexander Ovechkin’s back-to-back wins in 2007 and 2008.

According to FanDuel, Colorado’s Nathan MacKinnon is closely following, with odds of +600. His significant contribution is a major factor in making the Avalanche the leading team to potentially win the title.

In the previous season, MacKinnon’s impressive performance of 65 points earned him a spot among the top 10 players.

Although winning the Hart award is not solely dependent on your team’s success, players from average teams typically do not receive this honor. However, having a strong position in the rankings and exceptional statistical performance could increase the chances for players like MacKinnon to be considered.

Another strong contender at FanDuel is Auston Matthews from Toronto. Bettors can wager on him with odds of +900.

The center holds a prominent leadership position in his team, and rightfully so. Matthews has outshined all other hockey players by scoring an impressive 41 goals, and also securing a spot among the top five in points.

Although these three individuals have excellent chances of achieving success, the abundance of skilled players across the NHL makes it uncertain as to who will ultimately claim the trophy.

The contenders for the 2021 Hart Memorial, as displayed on the online sportsbook, are as follows: