It’s the fundamental question facing the Nashville Predators this season – are they good enough to return to the playoffs for the eighth time in ten seasons?
We’ve talked previously about Bovada’s 18:1 odds for the the Preds to capture the Central Division, and today, the sports book released their odds covering both the over/under for individual NHL team’s regular season point totals, and their chances of making the postseason. In recent years, it has taken anywhere from 88 to 93 points to make the cut.
UPDATE: It’s also worth noting that The Hockey News weighed in today, expecting the Preds to miss the playoffs.
In this first table, you can click on the column headers to sort by team name or projected point total:
| Team | Point Total |
|---|---|
| Anaheim Ducks | 90.5 |
| Boston Bruins | 102.5 |
| Buffalo Sabres | 83.5 |
| Calgary Flames | 74.5 |
| Carolina Hurricanes | 84.5 |
| Chicago Blackhawks | 105.5 |
| Colorado Avalanche | 86.5 |
| Columbus Blue Jackets | 85.5 |
| Dallas Stars | 86.5 |
| Detroit Red Wings | 97.5 |
| Edmonton Oilers | 89.5 |
| Florida Panthers | 75.5 |
| Los Angeles Kings | 98.5 |
| Minnesota Wild | 94.5 |
| Montreal Canadiens | 94.5 |
| Nashville Predators | 84.5 |
| New Jersey Devils | 79.5 |
| New York Islanders | 89.5 |
| New York Rangers | 98.5 |
| Ottawa Senators | 93.5 |
| Philadelphia Flyers | 92.5 |
| Phoenix Coyotes | 85.5 |
| Pittsburgh Penguins | 108.5 |
| San Jose Sharks | 94.5 |
| St. Louis Blues | 99.5 |
| Tampa Bay Lightning | 88.5 |
| Toronto Maple Leafs | 96.5 |
| Vancouver Canucks | 95.5 |
| Washington Capitals | 93.5 |
| Winnipeg Jets | 82.5 |
Next, we have the listing of odds for each team and whether or not they will qualify for the 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs:
| Team | Make Playoffs | Miss Playoffs |
| Anaheim Ducks | -160 (5/8) | +130 (13/10) |
| Boston Bruins | -900 (1/9) | +550 (11/2) |
| Buffalo Sabres | +275 (11/4) | -350 (2/7) |
| Calgary Flames | +475 (19/4) | -700 (1/7) |
| Carolina Hurricanes | +220 (11/5) | -280 (5/14) |
| Chicago Blackhawks | -1000 (1/10) | +600 (6/1) |
| Colorado Avalance | +180 (9/5) | -225 (4/9) |
| Columbus Blue Jackets | +250 (5/2) | -325 (4/13) |
| Dallas Stars | +180 (9/5) | -225 (4/9) |
| Detroit Red Wings | -700 (1/7) | +475 (19/4) |
| Edmonton Oilers | -130 (10/13) | EVEN (1/1) |
| Florida Panthers | +400 (4/1) | -600 (1/6) |
| Los Angeles Kings | -900 (1/9) | +550 (11/2) |
| Minnesota Wild | -250 (2/5) | +200 (2/1) |
| Montreal Canadiens | -175 (4/7) | +140 (7/5) |
| Nashville Predators | +275 (11/4) | -350 (2/7) |
| New Jersey Devils | +275 (11/4) | -350 (2/7) |
| New York Islanders | -140 (5/7) | +110 (11/10) |
| New York Rangers | -800 (1/8) | +500 (5/1) |
| Ottawa Senators | -140 (5/7) | +110 (11/10) |
| Philadelphia Flyers | -175 (4/7) | +140 (7/5) |
| Phoenix Coyotes | +240 (12/5) | -300 (1/3) |
| Pittsburgh Penguins | -1100 (1/11) | +625 (25/4) |
| San Jose Sharks | -550 (2/11) | +375 (15/4) |
| St. Louis Blues | -800 (1/8) | +500 (5/1) |
| Tampa Bay Lightning | EVEN (1/1) | -130 (10/13) |
| Toronto Maple Leafs | -220 (5/11) | +175 (7/4) |
| Vancouver Canucks | -700 (1/7) | +475 (19/4) |
| Washington Capitals | -280 (5/14) | +220 (11/5) |
| Winnipeg Jets | +375 (15/4) | -550 (2/11) |
What’s your take on the numbers above? Are the oddsmakers underrating the Predators again, or does Nashville have more work to do before the rest of the hockey world takes them seriously as contenders? For my money, I think this might undervalue the team slightly but not enough for me to raid the piggy bank and place my bet. There are questions up and down the roster as we look ahead to the upcoming season, but things are also pretty much wide open in the Central Division once you get past Chicago & St. Louis.
More from On the Forecheck:
- Thursday’s Dump & Chase: Happy Birthday Craig Smith!
- Nashville Predators Rookie Camp: Don’t Blink!
- New at the OTF Store: Get Your “Let’s Go Perds” T-Shirt!
- Should the Nashville Predators Trade David Legwand?
- Wednesday’s Dump & Chase: Rookies Report Today!/
Will the Nashville Predators make the 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs?
| No | 32 |
| Yes | 124 |