Your odds-on favourites to win the Stanley Cup in 2013 right now

With a hockey fan’s version of the Stanley Cup Hangover slowing us down right now, it’s hard to find much of anything from this past season that we haven’t covered here already.

But it’s never too early to start looking ahead to next season, and what the odds look like for who will be crowned 2013 Stanley Cup champions one year from now.

Here are those odds, as updated as I could find them:

Pittsburgh Penguins 7/1
Los Angeles Kings 11/1
St. Louis Blues 12/1
Vancouver Canucks 12/1
Chicago Blackhawks 12/1
Detroit Red Wings 12/1
New York Rangers 12/1
Philadelphia Flyers 14/1
Boston Bruins 14/1
Nashville Predators 18/1
San Jose Sharks 22/1
Tampa Bay Lightning 25/1
Washington Capitals 25/1
Anaheim Ducks 25/1
Buffalo Sabres 25/1
New Jersey Devils 30/1
Toronto Maple Leafs 35/1
Florida Panthers 35/1
Colorado Avalanche 40/1
Dallas Stars 40/1
Ottawa Senators 40/1
Phoenix Coyotes 40/1
Winnipeg Jets 40/1
Calgary Flames 50/1
Carolina Hurricanes 50/1
Edmonton Oilers 60/1
Montreal Canadiens 60/1
Columbus Blue Jackets 75/1
Minnesota Wild 75/1
New York Islanders 75/1

A few things stand out to me. First off, the defending champs, who looked mighty dominant during their Cup run and will return virtually the same team next season, are already not getting enough respect. Having said that, assuming the Penguins are actually healthy for the majority of a season and post-season, there’s nothing wrong with listing them as favourites (imagine a Cup Final of a healthy Pens team versus this Kings team?).

Secondly, the Maple Leafs were a 60-1 longshot when the original futures were released on Tuesday morning. While having the Leafs listed as ninth-best odds in the East isn’t necessarily that crazy, the major move in their line is. Think about it, enough people have been betting on Toronto to win the Stanley Cup next season over the last 48 hours to move their odds from 60-1 to 35-1. God bless us Leafs fans! (Sidenote, and I’m not even joking about this, a “psychic” woman or card reader or something once walked in to my aunt’s place of work, and for shits and giggles, they all asked her when the Leafs would win the Cup, to which she responded 2013. This happened a couple of years ago, and my aunt still brings it up to this day).

Thirdly, this is all assuming the Stanley Cup is awarded in 2013. #lockout #buzzkill

Now here are your morning links:

• After the Kings ended a long drought, which team is next? (The Cheap Seats). Just look at where people are laying their money down…it’s obviously the Leafs!
• The NHL has reportedly rejected the four-year deal agreed upon between the Bruins and Chris Kelly (theScore.com).
• Ilya Kovalchuk played hurt (NorthJersey.com). “It’s a bad excuse. I don’t think one guy on the ice was 100 percent healthy.”
• Goldwater Institute sues to invalidate Glendale council’s vote on Phoenix Coyotes lease agreement (Canada.com). I feel like the only time something Coyotes-related should even be considered news anymore is if it actually entails them moving in the right direction…so basically, never.
• Martin Brodeur will make his final decision by free agency deadline (Bettor.com).
• Jonathan Quick’s contract a top priority for Kings this off-season (Sporting News). Quick is set to become an unrestricted free agent after making $1.8 million in 2012-2013. Think a slight raise is coming?
• Would Alex Kovalev like to return to Montreal? (Dave Stubbs on twitter).
• Gelinas to rejoin Flames as assistant coach (Calgary Herald).
• Dustin Penner’s epic playoff beard shaved down to epic handlebar mustache (Puck Daddy).
• ‘Free’ entry to Staples Center rally selling for king’s ransom (San Gabriel Valley Tribune).