Weekend Sports Gambler: Golden Knights Far Down The List In 2024 Futures Market
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By Dan Behringer, LVSportsBiz.com Sports Betting Writer
The frenzy’s over, the hats have been scooped from the ice at T-Mobile Arena and the unhinged hysteria in the media over the Vegas Golden Knights winning the Stanley Cup has subsided. A little, at least.
But what are you going to do with your winning ticket on the Golden Knights? You know, that one for Game 5 in which you parlayed the VGK with the Over. Or the one on the puck line at +160. Both were easy winners when Foley’s Finest steamrolled to a 9-3 victory over the Florida Panthers to win the Cup. Or maybe the one on the series at a reasonable -132. You only had to wait five games for that to be a winner.
You could save it as a souvenir. But there’s another option: Reinvest on the Golden Knights to win the 2024 Stanley Cup. If you’re ready to cash and reinvest on the hometown heroes, brace yourself for perhaps surprising news. The Golden Knights are not at the top of the list to win next year’s Cup. In fact, there are several teams ahead of them.
FanDuel has the Colorado Avalanche with the shortest odds at +800. The Toronto Maple Leafs and Edmonton Oilers are next at +1100. Then comes a five-way logjam with the Boston Bruins, New Jersey Devils, Golden Knights, Carolina Hurricanes and Tampa Bay Lightning all at +1300. The New York Rangers are +1500, the Dallas Stars are +1700 and this year’s runner-up, the Florida Panthers are +2000.
DraftKings has slightly different odds with the Bruins at +800 and the Avalanche at +900. It also has the Golden Knights at +1300, but trailing Edmonton, Carolina and New Jersey.
But a local book, Station Casinos, has markedly different odds. While they have the Avalanche at +600, they have the Golden Knights right behind at +700. The Bruins are next at +900.
On the topic of money, the Golden Knights are standing by to receive their prize money for winning professional hockey’s highest prize. The Knights will collect a cool $3.75 million, according to The Sporting News. And the Panthers will receive $2.25 million for second place. As The Sporting News reports, the payments are part of the NHL’s bonus money pool set aside for the playoffs. Each team can determine how to share the money once it’s awarded.
But is it about the Cup or the money?
Said Golden Knights Mark Stone to NHL.com: “I think (coach Bruce Cassidy) cares so much about winning and that’s why I think he jelled with our group because our team cares so much. We wanted to win the Stanley Cup. He wanted to win the Stanley Cup. He pushed us hard this season. He pushed a lot of buttons to help us get here.
“But I think like you saw, the tears in his eyes, he just wanted to win like the rest of us. I think that’s why he chose to come here.”
Cassidy, who was fired by the Boston Bruins in 2022: “My life changed. It worked out pretty well.”
Regardless, save your ticket or reinvest? You have a choice. Of course, you could also cash out, buy lunch and treat your friends. If you’re thinking Tex-Mex, Hash House A Go Go, or kosher hot dogs, please don’t forget us.
Elsewhere:
— Rrrraiders on the futures market: The Las Vegas Raiders are also out there in the futures market for the Super Bowl trophy in February.
After opening at +4000, the line has ticked up and is now generally in the +6000 to +8000 range. The move came months ago after the Raiders parted ways with Derek Carr and signed Jimmy Garoppolo. In the rankings at Covers.com, that puts them one notch behind the Los Angeles Rams and one peg ahead of the Washington Commanders.
A recent post at Pro Football Focus listed head coach Josh McDaniels as one of five NFL coaches who are on the hot seat this season.
“That they are in a division with the Kansas City Chiefs, Los Angeles Chargers and a Denver Broncos team now under Sean Payton … the Raiders have their backs against the wall, with McDaniels an obvious fall guy should it spiral out of control,” the post noted.
Coincidentally, the Chiefs generally have the shortest odds to hoist the Super Bowl trophy at Allegiant Stadium on Feb. 11, at about +600.
— All Aces: The Las Vegas Aces evened their mediocre ATS mark at 5-5 with a decisive 96-63 win over the Seattle Storm on Thursday. They easily covered -17.5 in the win. They are 9-1 and atop the Western Division of the WNBA.
“Everybody talks about offense, but I want people to start talking about our defense,” coach Becky Hammon told the Las Vegas Review-Journal after the game.
Next up for Las Vegas are the last-place Minnesota Lynx on Sunday at the Michelob Ultra Arena in Las Vegas. The Lynx are 2-7, but 4-5 ATS. No line yet, but the Aces will be heavy favorites.
The Chicago Sky at 7-2-2 ATS remain the point-spread leader in the WNBA.
— UFC Fight Night: Marvin Vettori is favored vs. Jared Cannonier in the featured middleweight bout for UFC Fight Night at Apex in Las Vegas on Saturday.
Vettori, anywhere from -120 to -150, brings a 19-6-1 record to the fight. Cannonier, anywhere from even money +125, is 16-6-0.
Over 4.5 rounds is -210 at Station Casinos, and Under is +175.
The fight is scheduled to start at 9:15 p.m.
