NHL archive

New Jersey should keep Zach Parise.

The NHL has come down hard on the New Jersey Devils in retaliation of their blatant attempt to circumvent the league's salary cap. The team will forfeit their third-round draft pick in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft and give up one of their first-round picks in one of the next four drafts at their discretion.

The team will also pay a $3 million fine.

Earlier this summer the Devils attempted to sign Russian superstar forward Ilya Kovalchuk to a 17-year, front-loaded contract that would see him make $92 million over the first 10 years, and just $7 million over the last seven. Given the way the current CBA is set up, a contract such as this would mean that the yearly cap hit is only $6 million dollars. Nearly two-thirds of what Kovalchuk would be making in his first years with the team.

The penalty is a necessary step for the league in order to discourage other teams from exploiting such a critical loop hole in the league's current agreement.

After being traded from the Atlanta Thrashers to the New Jersey Devils partway through the 2009-10 season, the Devils made it clear that they wanted Kovalchuk back on their roster. Last season he finished with 85 points. It was the fifth time in the last six years that he has finished with 85 or more points.

With Kovalchuk back for the foreseeable future, New Jersey will hope the combination with him and Zach Parise will lead to satisfying results. At least better than last post-seasons first-round flame out against the seventh-seeded Philadelphia Flyers.

Think the league made the right decision? Does it really matter if you're the New Jersey Devils? The Devils still have 15/1 odds to win the 2011 and with Martin Brodeur between the pipes, those could improve.

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After a mid-season trade last year that saw the Minnesota Wild deal Eric Belanger to the Washington Capitals, the 10 year vet is on the move once again, this time to the Phoenix Coyotes.

For a moment this summer, it looked as though Belanger would resign with the Capitals. At least that's what Team Belanger thought, going so far as to enroll his daughters in a D.C. school.

A one-year $1.85 million contract was all but signed between the two parties under the assumption that the team would free up cap space with a forthcoming trade, but that trade never happened and the Capitals had to withdraw from their verbal commitment? The result? A $750,000 contract between Belanger and the Coyotes.

Not only did Belanger end up taking the involuntary pay cut, it also jeopardized his chance of making noise in the playoffs. The Washington Capitals have 13/2 of winning the 2011 Stanley Cup. The Phoenix Coyotes come in at 40/1.

When Belanger suits up in Arizona, it will be for his sixth team in six years. In 2009-10, he set a career high with 41 points in 77 games between the two teams. Consistently throughout his career Belanger has finished with between 30 and 40 points.

Though the Phoenix Coyotes squeezed into the post-season last year, they'll be hard pressed to repeat the performance. With the veteran leadership of Belanger, it might come slightly easier.

The regular season kicks off on Oct. 7 when the Minnesota Wild and Carolina Hurricanes debut in Finland. For all your NHL betting needs, check out the Bodog Sportsbook.

(NHL futures, team odds and props are available so bet now)

Two seasons ago the New York Rangers acquired former Ottawa Senators defenseman Wade Redden with the hopes of bringing his offensive consistency to the Empire State. On Friday the project was officially terminated as Redden (and his six-year $6.5 million contract) was waived by the franchise.

Now the 33-year-old defenseman has the choice of either accepting an AHL gig or searching for an NHL job elsewhere. Given what's certain to be a vastly-reduced price tag, it's quite likely that Redden could catch on with another club looking to add a final piece to their puzzle.

The Rangers, with 40/1 odds of winning the Stanley Cup according to the Bodog Sportsbook, will instead benefit from the salary cap relief inherent with Redden's departure.

That general manager Glen Sather was able to cut his losses after just two years of such a lengthy contract, shows his commitment to developing the Rangers franchise. The move was no doubt made easier given the promising rookie campaign of Michael Del Zotto.

The Rangers will have their work cut out for them in the Eastern Conference, but when the 2010-11 NHL season kicks off on Oct. 7, fans will get behind a team that shot out of the gates with abandoned just last season. Though they failed to make the playoffs in 2010, any team with a potentially healthy Marian Gaborik is a safe bet to contend for a playoff spot.

With Del Zotto, Gaborik and goaltender Henrik Lundqvist all playing up to expectation in 2010-11, things could be looking up for the Rangers who fresh off of snapping what was a four-year playoff berth streak.

For all your NHL futures, team odds and props, bet with Bodog Sportsbook

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The 2010-11 NHL regular season is finally upon us, and what better way to look to the future than by taking a look at the best of the next generation. The Bodog Sportsbook has officially released Calder Trophy odds, giving rookie experts something to weigh in on.

Think you know how certain players will develop? Put your money where your predictions are now, up until and during the regular season.

When talking about NHL rookies, we have to start at the top. The top of the first round specifically, with Edmonton Oilers rookie Taylor Hall. Hall has proven himself to be a leader, leading his Windsor Spitfires to consecutive Memorial Cups. Will that success translate over into the NHL? Probably, but the better question is when.

The Bodog Sportsbook gives Hall a league leading 7/2 chance of taking home the Rookie of the Year.

Joining Hall, not only on the Oilers but in a select group or first year players with the potential to make a significant impact, is Jordan Eberle. Eberle currently has 8/1 odds of winning the trophy.

Trailing only Hall are a pair of rookies, tied for second in terms of Calder Trophy odds. Montreal defenseman P.K. Subban and Washington Capital prospect John Carlson. Each with 11/2 odds, the two players will look to step in and contribute to teams that don't necessarily need them at this point in time. Subban, with the advantage of playing deep into the playoffs yet still being eligible to win the award, will play on the blue line for the Canadiens while Carlson looks to squeeze in some opportunities to score for the already stacked Capitals.

Also in the discussion for league's top rookie is Boston Bruins second overall pick Tyler Seguin. Yeah sure, he could have been suiting up for the Maple Leafs had Brian Burke not traded the pick (and others) for Phil Kessel, that's no longer an issue. Seguin will suit up for the competitive Bruins who might not need much of a contribution from their stud prospect just yet. However, in the absence of Marc Savard, they may have more of an opportunity to use him than they originally thought.

The season is finally here, so why wait, check out Bodog Sportsbook for all your NHL futures, team odds and props. Nothing impresses chicks more than an ability to call the league's next best up and comers.

The New Jersey Devils will host the Pittsburgh Penguins in a battle of legitimate Eastern Conference contenders on Monday, hoping that forwards Ilya Kovalchuk and Zach Parise can lead the squad to their first win of the season.

The Penguins, with a league-best 6/1 shot of winning the Stanley Cup according to the Bodog Sportsbook, will also be searching for their first win of the season after a winless opening week.

Heading into the 2010-11 season, both the Penguins and Devils are considered formidable threats in the East. The Devils, with 15/1 odds of winning the Stanley Cup, will look to justify the questionable approach taken in signing Ilya Kovalchuk over the off-season.

If the Devils fail to produce in the twilight of goaltending legend Martin Broduer's career, the rule-bending contract that the club tried to pull in order to get Kovalchuk will be all for naught.

Throughout the first two games of the Penguins' season, superstar forwards Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin have been limited to just a single point each. That will have to change if the club hopes to return to the level they were at when they took home the Stanley Cup in 2008.

In net for Pittsburgh will be Marc Andre-Fleury who awkwardly enough will don his trademark goalie mask, complete with the images of his goaltending heroes; Brodeur included.

Think the Penguins will be able to show that their 2008 title was no fluke? Or will Kovalchuk silence critics while leading the New Jersey Devils to victory.

For all your individual game odds, team props and NHL futures, be sure to check out Bodog Sportsbook

The NHL's unbeaten club of 2010 was cut to one on Monday night, when the Dallas Stars and Toronto Maple Leafs fell in their pursuit of a fifth consecutive win. The Leafs, however, managed to take the New York Islanders to overtime, earning at least one point in the affair.

Now atop the league with nine points, the Leafs are tied with only the Chicago Blackhawks. The Hawks, however, have taken seven games to do so compared to Toronto's five.

Despite their excellent start, not all experts are convinced that the Leafs have actually improved. The Bodog Sportsbook gives them 40/1 odds of winning the Stanley Cup. The New York Islanders – who, thanks to John Tavares, played spoilers – have odds of just 100/1.

After picking up a goal in his first game back following a concussion, Tavares scored another and this time added an assist.

The Dallas Stars, looking for a fifth consecutive win of their own were stifled by the Tampa Bay Lightning. They almost managed to rally but were eventually denied, falling 5-4. With odds of 50/1 the Dallas Stars aren't exactly playoff locks, but their 4-1 record is a solid way to start the year.

The Lightning, at 4-1, haven't exactly had a rough start either.

With the Leafs' prospect of an 82-0-0 season now shot, focus will shift to how long they can go unbeaten. Will Toronto be able to keep up their early success long enough to drastically improve their odds of making the playoffs?

For all your NHL betting needs, from individual game odds to team futures, check out Bodog Sportsbook

The Minnesota Wild took the Vancouver Canucks to school on Tuesday, in an ongoing attempt to disprove critics who claim that they have no shot of contesting for a playoff spot in the Western Conference.

On home ice, the Wild routed the Canucks by a score of 6-2 behind three points from defenceman Marek Zidlicky, the win bumped their record to a respectable 2-2-1. Given Vancouver's success of late and lofty aspirations for this year, such a convincing victory most bode well for Wild morale.

The club saw somewhat of a return to form for 23-year-old winger Guillame Latendresse who struggled early after arriving to training camp out of shape. On Tuesday Latendresse tallied a goal and an assist while rejoining Martin Havlat on a line after working his way back into conditioning on the fourth line.

The Bodog Sportsbook currently gives the Minnesota Wild 100/1 odds of winning the Stanley Cup, hardly optimistic chances after a forgettable 2009-10. The Canucks on the other hand have odds of 8/1.

This year, with the addition of Latendresse for a full year (he came over from Montreal midseason in 2009-10) and veteran forward Matt Cullen, things are looking considerably improved.

The winning goaltender on the night was Minnesota's Niklas Backstrom who stopped 24 of the 26 shots he faced.

The Los Angeles Kings may potentially be without star defenseman Drew Doughty for the next little while , after he left Wednesday night's game in the first period with what appeared to be an upper-body injury. Though the Kings would go on to defeat the Carolina Hurricanes 4-3, Doughty did not return.

Five games into the 2010-11 campaign, the Kings have enjoyed relative success, with a record of 4-1 heading into a forthcoming five-game road trip.

Although the 20-year-old blue liner has only registered one assist in his five games with the Kings, his presence will surely be missed if the team decides to sit him out. Doughty, selected for Team Canada's Olympic team last February, factors significantly into the long and short term plans of the Kings franchise.

Currently the Kings have 16/1 odds of winning the Stanley Cup, not bad considering the young foundation on which the team is built. If Doughty can return to health soon, and Anze Kopitar continues to lead the attack on offense, the Kings could have one of the most desirable lot of youthful assets of any team in the NHL.

Though the Kings squeezed by the Hurricanes on Wednesday, they may not have such luck when the team hits the road, especially without Doughty. The challenge, however, will be a true test of what this team might be capable of. Besides, it makes NHL betting all the more exciting.

The Boston Bruins have made it four in a row thanks to goaltender Tim Thomas. On Thursday night they defeated the Washington Capitals for the second time in one week.

The 4-1 win was not just Boston's fourth in a row, but also Thomas', as the 36-year-old former Vezina Trophy winner is making an excellent case for the No. 1 spot on the Bruins.

Over the course of the 2009-10 season it had become apparent that the primary goaltending spot was Tukka Rask's to lose. Well, the 23-year-old on the heels of an excellent breakout season hasn't so much lost the spot as Thomas has taken it. Through four games Thomas has posted four wins, one shut out, a GAA of 0.75 and a save percentage of 0.978%.

For lack of a better word, those stats are bloody insane.

Rask hasn't played since Boston's debut almost two weeks ago now.

The team's success so far is not unexpected, as the Bruins have 12/1 odds of winning the Stanley Cup according to the Bodog Sportsbook.

Without veteran star Marc Savard, the fact that they've continued to plead their case as title contenders bodes well. As 2010 second overall draft pick Tyler Seguin continues to improve, the team's ceiling will continue to rise.

Though they may have a tough time deciding how to reintegrate Rask into the fold in net, it's a problem they must be happy to have. For Boston Bruins individual game odds and any other NHL odds, be sure to check out Bodog Sportsbook

The Nashville Predators have made it into the last week of October without registering a regulation loss. A streak capped off most recently with a victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning on Sunday night. The streak is the only one of its kind left in tact in the 2010-11 season.

Now with a record of 5-0-3, the Predators sit atop not just the Western Conference's Central Division, but the entire league. Already ahead of such division rivals as the Detroit Red Wings and Chicago Blackhaws, the Predators will look to continue their streak against the St. Louis Blues on Thursday.

For critics quick to scrutinize the difficulty of their schedule, don't bother. Over the course of their run the Predators have defeated both the Blackhawks and the Washington Capitals. They even managed to draw at least one point out of the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Over the course of the first eight games of the year, Nashville has been led by veteran Steve Sullivan and little known center Cal O'Reilly who just this weekend played his 50th game as an NHL pro. Both Sullivan and O'Reilly have managed six points early on.

Fresh off of their fifth first round exit in the past six seasons, the Predators will finally look to stick around long enough to experience what the Western Conference Semifinals are like. So far the team has quietly proven that this might be the year.

For Nashville Predators Stanley Cup odds, or even just individual game lines, be sure to check out the Bodog Sportsbook.

Vancouver Canucks forward Rick Rypien may be aggressive and borderline crazy, but he is neither stupid or unremorseful, as a Monday apology would prove. He was apologizing for an incident that occurred last week where, following an ejection, the 26-year-old grabbed a Minnesota Wild fan in the crowd by the jersey and shook him violently.

Since the altercation on Oct. 19, Rypien has been serving a six-game suspension.

In his absence, the Vancouver Canucks have fallen in a shoot out to the Chicago Blackhawks and gotten revenge for the 6-2 loss they suffered at the hands of the Wild in the game of the Rypien incident. Will they continue to pick up points despite missing their gritty right winger? Bet on the Vancouver Canucks now with Bodog's online casino.

The Bodog Sportsbook currently gives the Canucks 8/1 odds of winning the Stanley Cup. In order to pull off such a feat, they'll have to take down a solid crop of division rivals. The Calgary Flames and Minnesota Wild have surprised fans with solid starts to the 2010-11 NHL season. The Colorado Avalanche certainly won't be pushovers either.

As weird as it is seeing 34-year-old former All-Star Sheldon Souray lacing it up for the American Hockey League's Hershey Bears, it's even weirder hearing that he disabled himself for two weeks after breaking his hand in a fight. That can't help his campaign to get back into the NHL.

The injury, which came Saturday in a tilt with Adirondack's Matt Clarkson, will keep the defenseman out of the line up for the next few games.

Originally, Souray was assigned to the Edmonton Oilers' AHL affiliate Oklahoma City, but was eventually loaned to Hershey, the affiliate of the Washington Capitals.

The reason he is down there in the first place is because this summer the Oilers and Souray had a falling out, it ultimately got to the point where it made more sense for both parties to split ways. After being placed on and then clearing waivers, Souray agreed to the assignment.

Last year in 37 games with the Oilers, Souray totalled 13 points. It was a far cry from the career high 64 points he logged in his last season as a Montreal Canadien. Lately the blue liner has been plagued by injuries, playing in over 40 games just twice in his three years in Edmonton, so an avoidable injury such as this most recent broken hand, doesn't sit well.

Though things haven't gone exactly as planned for Souray, the Oilers themselves haven't been without their own struggles. The team now sits last in the Northwest Division with four points and 85/1 odds of winning the Stanley Cup according to the Bodog Sportsbook.

Yes the predators are doing good but i like my toronto still there doing good so far about time just hope they will make the playoff

The Toronto Maple Leafs will be without the services of 27-year-old winger Colby Armstrong for the next little while, as he recovers from finger surgery. Originally Armstrong sustained the injury in the club's Tuesday night victory over the Florida Panthers.

Just eight games into the season, Armstrong has one goal and a plus minus of -2. Though his contributions on paper may be limited, the Leafs won't be pleased to have to tinker with a set up that has helped them jump out of the gates to a 5-2-1 record so far.

With 11 points through the club's first eight games, they sit second in the Northeast Division. Thanks to their early season success, the Bodog Sportsbook has given the them uncharacteristic 35/1 odds to win the Stanley Cup. Will the absence of Armstrong impact how you bet on the NHL?

The injury is expected to sideline Armstrong for four and six weeks, not the type of news the Leafs wanted to hear after signing the forward to a three-year contract away from the Atlanta Thrashers.

In his place, the Leafs have called up Luca Caputi from the AHL. The former Niagara Ice Dog will look to capitalize on the opportunity after playing 19 games for the Maple Leafs last season. Previously Caputi was in the Pittsburgh Penguins system.

With Armstrong out and the Leafs already slowing down (it's hard not to when you start 4-0-0) how does the NHL betting scene play out in your books? For individual game odds, player props and Stanley Cup futures, check out Bodog Sportsbook

The New York Islanders have made the decision to send 2010 fifth overall draft pick Nino Niederreiter back down to the CHL. After playing a maximum nine games with the club, the 18-year-old will join the Portland Winterhawks of the Western Hockey League.

In his first nine games as a pro, Niederreiter scored once and added an assist, but at times showed his age on the ice. Now having sent their rookie down, the Islanders preserve a year of his eligibility.

Had the Swiss-born right winger played more than nine games with the club, it would have eaten up one of his three years under contract with the club. This also means that the deadline for when Niederreiter is eligible to become an unrestricted free agent is also extended.

So far this season, the Isles have gone 4-3-2, good enough for second place in the Atlantic Division, but it will take a lot more than that to convince the experts of NHL betting. According to the Bodog Sportsbook, the Islanders have just 75/1 odds of winning the Stanley Cup.

With John Tavares back at full strength following an early season concussion, and veterans Mark Streit and Kyle Okposo slowly returning to health, it's not all bad on Long Island. With Niederreiter locked away in the system, it only bodes well for the future.

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The Colorado Avalanche have a lot to look forward to in the coming years with a handful of prominent young forwards that the rest of the league would pay an arm and a leg for, most notably 2009 third overall draft pick Matt Duchene who led all rookies in scoring with 55 points in 2009-10.

The promise, however, doesn't stop there. Over the course of the past few years the club has relied on 2005 second round draft pick Paul Stastny to help aid in the transition from the Joe Sakic era to the next. Since the 2006-07 season, Stastny has recorded 277 points, including 13 points so far this season.

But one of the most vital young assets Colorado has is one that gets lost in the shuffle of Duchene and Stastny; Chris Stewart.

When Stewart records his next point – perhaps this Thursday against Vancouver – it will be point No. 100 in a relatively quiet career, one that has been overshadowed by the success of his peers. At just 23 years of age, though, the third year forward deserves some recognition of his own. Over the course of his career Stewart has put together 48 goals and 51 assists in 141 NHL games, but 16 of those points have come already in 2010-11.

Currently the Colorado Avalanche have 35/1 odds of winning the Stanley Cup where just two years ago they were at the bottom of the barrel. The rapid improvement is a testament to the development of the club's solid young core. After making the playoffs last spring, the team will be hungry to do so again.

Next up for the Avs are the Vancouver Canucks on Thursday night, giving anybody interested in betting on Colorado plenty of time to make their move. It might be tough, but if Stewart can manage to tally his 100th point off of Roberto Luongo maybe fans outside of Colorado will finally start taking notice.

For all Avs odds and odds of the other 29 NHL club's check out Bodog's online sportsbook, it has everything from Stanley Cup futures to player props.

The Los Angeles Kings announced that star defenseman Drew Doughty has been cleared to play as of Tuesday night and is expected to resume his already shortened season when the Kings host the Tampa Bay Lightning this Thursday.

After registering a single assist in the Kings' first five games, Doughty has been shelved for the last six. So far in the 2010-11 season, the Kings have thrived with and without the Olympic gold medalist on the blue line, and currently lead the entire NHL with an 8-3-0 record.

Given Tampa Bay's early season success (7-2-1, first in the Southeast Division) the Kings will be grateful to have their go-to defenseman back in action, especially to thwart the red-hot stick of third-year center Steven Stamkos.

With Doughty and Anze Kopitar at the forefront, the Los Angeles Kings have one of the most desired young cores in the NHL, the fact that they have started to come into their own and win hockey games already is simply a bonus. Currently the Bodog Sportsbook gives the Kings 14/1 odds of winning the Stanley Cup.

Of the 20 NHL teams that have played at least 11 NHL games, the Kings (tied with the Washington Capitals) have allowed the least amount of goals so far this season. With Doughty back in the mix, that number might even improve.

If it seems as though NHL players are dropping like flies this season, it's probably because they are. In this week alone hockey fans have watched as Dion Phaneuf and Zach Parise found out they won't be playing hockey any time soon. Phaneuf not for the next four to six weeks and Parise the next three months.

In keeping with the horrible 2010-11 campaign the New Jersey Devils have set out with over the course of October and early Novemeber, the team found out on Wednesday night that Martin Brodeur may be joining Parise on the shelf for a little while.

Seriously.

Less than one week after losing their leading scorer in the midst of their most disappointing season in years, bad luck has struck the Devils once again. Call it karma for their offseason free agency shenanigans or just plain bad luck, either way, it's not helping the last place team climb out of the Eastern Conference division basement.

On Wednesday night Brodeur left the team's 5-3 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks with a bruised right elbow. Compared to some of the injuries we've seen recently in the NHL ("significant leg laceration" anyone), a bruised right elbow isn't all that bad. Brodeur isn't expected to be out of the line up for long (if at all), but who knows.

According to the Bodog Sportsbook, the New Jersey Devils have 25/1 odds of winning the Stanley Cup. If they keep getting littered with bad news like this, though, those might change. Think the club can deal with all the adversity and make a playoff push? Check out Bodog's online sportsbook for all you need to know about NHL betting.

The St. Louis Blues have played six less games than the reigning Stanley Cup champion Chicago Blackhawks this season yet trail them by a single point in the Central Division standings. It's just one of the many mysterious that have surrounded the Blue to start the 2010-11 season.

Currently on a four-game win streak, the Blues have managed to find themselves amongst the NHL's elite. Just seven teams have managed to accumulate more points this season, yet 28 of them have played more games. Though the Blues have only played nine so far due to an imbalance in schedules, they've made every one of them count, now boasting a 6-1-2 record.

The experts behind Bodog's online sportsbook are starting to hop on the St. Louis bandwagon as well, giving the club 22/1 odds to win the Stanley Cup that they could have only dreamt of this time a month ago. In terms of NHL betting, St. Louis is an intriguing choice. They are, after all, one of the best teams in the best division in professional hockey. If the season were to end today, every single Central Division club would be in the post-season.

But why, all of a sudden, have the Blues become a dominant force in the NHL? Some like to give credit to recently-acquired goaltender Jaroslav Halak who came over from the Montreal Canadiens in a financially justified deal just months after an impressive playoff run where he reached and exceeded Quebec hero status.

Halak didn't waste much time sulking about being dealt though, embracing his new opportunity with the Blues.

So far this season Halak has performed like one of the best goalies in the NHL, positioning himself early on for a possible Vezina Trophy nomination. In eight games started so far, the 25-year-old Slovak has a record of 6-1-1 with a save percentage of .932 and GAA of 1.71. He also has a pair of shut outs.