Playoff Odds Say the Detroit Red Wings are Only Better than Five Teams

The gambling industry believes there are 25 NHL teams, including the expansion Seattle Kraken, with a better chance to make the playoffs than the Detroit Red Wings.

Detroit is listed at 10/1 odds on betonline.com’s opening playoff odds. The Red Wings haven’t qualified for the NHL playoffs since 2015-16 when they lost in five games in the opening round to the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Betonline.com lists the Arizona Coyotes (16/1)  and Anaheim Ducks  (16/1) with the longest playoff odds, followed by the Buffalo Sabres (14/1), Ottawa Senators (12/1), Columbus Blue Jackets (11/1) and the Red Wings.

In case you are wondering, the Kraken are at 20/27 or -135, meaning you’d have to beat  $135 to win $100.

If you believe the Red Wings have a chance, the 10/1 odds has its reward. That’s $1000 payoff on a $100 bet. If you look at the bottom six teams,  the Red Wings might have the best potential to be a surprise. The Ducks still don’t have much scoring. The Blue Jackets don’t have a true No. 1 center. The Sabres have traded away Sam Reinhart and Rasmus Ristolainen. Plus they are working on moving Jack Eichel. The Senators have some impressive young talent, but the team is probably two years away. The Coyotes’ strategy seems to be to trade away their best players.