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In what could prove to be the most lopsided series of the play-in round, the Montreal Canadiens will lean heavily into the hope that all-world goaltender Carey Price rediscovers his once dominant form against a Pittsburgh Penguins team with eyes on making another run at the Stanley Cup.

Can the Habs catch lightning in a bottle, or will the Pens take the first step in their bid to hoist another championship?

The case for Pittsburgh

For all the uncertainty surrounding the return to play, Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin feel like a safe bet. The pair have 326 games of playoff experience between them, and there isn't a situation that will have them fazed.

Their running mates aren't bad, either. The team traded for Jason Zucker when Jake Guentzel was presumably lost for the season, but Guentzel is back, and now this forward group is among the best and deepest heading into the playoffs. Bryan Rust was enjoying a breakout campaign, Conor Sheary has been reunited with Crosby, and Patric Hornqvist and Patrick Marleau provide invaluable veteran savvy.

Adding insult to injury for opposing teams, the Pens also boast two legitimate options in goal. Tristan Jarry was nothing short of spectacular during the regular season, and while Matt Murray endured somewhat of a down campaign, he's proved capable of elevating his play in the postseason. There are few holes in this team, which makes this series feel like little more than an appetizer ahead of the main course.

The case for Montreal

Just think of the chaos. The Canadiens were 10 points out of a playoff spot with 11 games remaining and already booking April tee times at Club Saint-Raphael when the season was suspended. They're playing with house money, and Price with a freeroll is a dangerous proposition.

Price's body of work this season wasn't quite up to the standards we've come to expect, but spells of dominance - including a .950 SV% and 1.6 GAA during a 10-game run from Jan. 11 to Feb. 8 - suggest there's still plenty of reason to fear the former Vezina winner. It wouldn't be the first time a Habs goalie got hot and bounced the Pens from the playoffs.

If there's any team that will face the Penguins head-on, it's the Canadiens. They're an excellent puck-possession squad that can skate circles around opponents, and with all those young legs, Montreal won't be lacking in energy when the series gets going. Jonathan Drouin and Jesperi Kotkaniemi are healthy and have plenty to prove, while the likes of Nick Suzuki and Max Domi will be champing at the bit for their first taste of postseason hockey. Speaking of Domi, his decision to rejoin the team has morale sky-high at Habs camp. The Canadiens are a young, hungry team with nothing to lose and will expect to make life difficult for their illustrious opponents.

The pick

Montreal Canadiens (+180)

The Penguins definitely should win this series, but following such a long layoff and with so much uncertainty heading into these unprecedented play-ins, I simply can't justify backing any team with a -220 price tag, regardless of the talent gap. At +180 I'm willing to find out just how wacky these playoffs are going to get.

(Odds source: theScore Bet)

Alex Moretto is a sports betting writer for theScore. A journalism graduate from Guelph-Humber University, he has worked in sports media for over a decade. He will bet on anything from the Super Bowl to amateur soccer, is too impatient for futures, and will never trust a kicker. Find him on Twitter @alexjmoretto.

Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

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The NHL's two winningest active coaches take center stage in this series as Barry Trotz's New York Islanders face off against Joel Quenneville's Florida Panthers.

Which future Hall of Fame bench boss will help his team navigate its way out of the play-in?

The case for New York

The Islanders would hold a significant coaching edge against just about any other Eastern Conference play-in opponent. The gap is reduced with Quenneville behind the Florida bench, but Trotz's impact on the Islanders has far exceeded what Quenneville's managed in his first year with the Panthers. The Islanders likely aren't a playoff team in either of the last two seasons without him.

Trotz has transformed the Isles into a defensive juggernaut, and that's a great blueprint for playing hockey deep into the summer. Scoring is an issue for this team, but there are few better remedies for a struggling offense than facing a porous defense - and the Panthers had just that this season, ranking 28th in goals against per 60 minutes.

The break came at a good time for New York, and you can bet Trotz will be on his team to make the most of the fresh start. The Islanders were bleeding before the season was suspended, losing 10 of 12 and trending toward missing the playoffs entirely. Having been granted a reset, they'll be looking to live up to their reputation as fast starters, posting a 16-3-1 record to start this season and a 29-15-4 mark to begin the last.

The case for Florida

A second chance for the Panthers could spell trouble for the rest of the Eastern Conference. Had the season not been suspended, Florida would have likely missed the postseason for a fourth successive campaign despite entering the year with lofty ambitions. A trendy underdog heading into the season, the Panthers started with just one win from their first five games and were forced to play catch-up.

But the restart will act as a blank canvas for this incredibly talented Florida team. Led by superstars Aleksander Barkov and Jonathan Huberdeau, the Panthers are loaded up front, ranking sixth in the NHL in goals per game this season. They have an All-Star-caliber goalie in Sergei Bobrovsky and one of the league's best coaches overseeing the entire operation. They've struggled defensively but have the luxury of easing back into things against an Islanders team that struggles to generate shots and high-danger scoring opportunities.

The question remains: Which Bobrovsky will show up for this series? His poor playoff record had followed him for some time, but he exorcised those demons last season, posting a terrific .925 postseason save percentage against the Tampa Bay Lightning and Boston Bruins. If he plays even close to his capabilities, the Islanders' often anemic offense will struggle to find answers.

The pick

New York Islanders (-120)

This is one of the toughest series to call, but it's impossible to overlook the impact that Trotz has made on the Islanders; the whole is greater than the sum of its parts and this entire roster has bought into his system. The team's ability to quickly get off the mark is a testament to his coaching, and Bobrovsky's typical early-season struggles should be a big boost for the Isles' offensive inefficiencies. The Panthers netminder has posted save percentages of .873 and .882 in October of the last two seasons, and Florida simply can't afford another slow start here if it's to have any chance in this series.

(Odds source: theScore Bet)

Alex Moretto is a sports betting writer for theScore. A journalism graduate from Guelph-Humber University, he has worked in sports media for over a decade. He will bet on anything from the Super Bowl to amateur soccer, is too impatient for futures, and will never trust a kicker. Find him on Twitter @alexjmoretto.

Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

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A popular Cinderella pick to make waves in the postseason, the New York Rangers face perhaps the toughest test of the qualifying round against the Carolina Hurricanes.

Can the Rangers flourish in the underdog role, or will the Hurricanes rain on New York's playoff chances?

The case for Carolina

The Hurricanes arguably have the NHL's best defensive core thanks to an embarrassment of riches on the back end. Brady Skjei and Sami Vatanen were acquired at the deadline, Dougie Hamilton has recovered from his injury, and Brett Pesce is targeting a mid-August return. Add Jaccob Slavin, Joel Edmundson, Jake Gardiner, Trevor van Riemsdyk, and Haydn Fleury to the mix, and the Canes will have to scratch a pair of defensemen that would be top-six locks on most other teams. That's a good recipe to quell a Rangers offense that ranked fifth in the NHL in goals scored this season.

Coaching is also a real strength for Carolina. Rod Brind'Amour developed a successful game plan to stifle a high-powered Washington Capitals offense in the team's first-round upset last season, and with an improved roster, you have to feel confident he can do so again versus New York.

Offensively, there's every reason to believe the Hurricanes can keep up with the Rangers. Carolina - led by dynamic youngsters Sebastian Aho, Teuvo Teravainen, and Andrei Svechnikov - has both the star power and the forward depth to provide plenty of support for its loaded blue line. And while New York scored a bunch of goals this season, the team allowed a ton as well, becoming one of just nine clubs to concede more than 220 tallies.

The case for New York

Those who firmly believe that good goaltending leads to playoff success will be strong advocates of the Rangers in this series. New York's depth in goal is equal to Carolina's on the back end, as either Alexander Georgiev, Igor Shesterkin, or Henrik Lundqvist could get the nod between the pipes. All three inspire more confidence than the Hurricanes' Petr Mrazek or James Reimer, who combined for a miserable .836 save percentage against the Rangers this season.

New York will take solace from its 4-0 record against Carolina this season, as well as the fact that its superstar forwards feasted on the Hurricanes' shaky goaltending. Artemi Panarin, the Eastern Conference's leading scorer, had three goals and six assists in four games against Carolina this season, while Mika Zibanejad recorded four goals and three assists in three games.

Panarin is the best player in this series, and his burden is lightened by a dynamic second line of Zibanejad, Chris Kreider, and Pavel Buchnevich. That offensive firepower, combined with the Rangers' significant edge in net, makes them incredibly attractive at the current price.

The pick

Carolina Hurricanes (-135)

Mrazek and Reimer have both had up-and-down seasons, but goaltending can be streaky. Mrazek came through for the Canes last postseason, and with the quality of the team in front of him, he'll have all the support he needs to catch fire and help Carolina make a deep run. The Rangers' lack of a clear starter in net could prevent any of their goalies from getting into a groove, and in order to pull off the upset against a loaded Hurricanes roster, New York's margin for error is razor-thin.

(Odds source: theScore Bet)

Alex Moretto is a sports betting writer for theScore. A journalism graduate from Guelph-Humber University, he has worked in sports media for over a decade. He will bet on anything from the Super Bowl to amateur soccer, is too impatient for futures, and will never trust a kicker. Find him on Twitter @alexjmoretto.

Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

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After diving into the mini-tournament for the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs, we'll now look at the Western Conference.

The format

The teams that ranked first through fourth in their conference at the end of the abbreviated regular season will play each other in a round-robin tournament to determine seeding in the 16-team playoff bracket. The clubs will all play each other once at a neutral venue, with the overall winner claiming the conference's top playoff seed.

St. Louis Blues (+180)

The defending Stanley Cup champions are the favorites to claim the top seed in the West, and while there's a case to be made for them as the best team in the conference, the Blues have to be avoided at such a short price. There is too much volatility that exists in a three-game round robin, especially one played on neutral ice following a lengthy layoff.

The Blues have very few holes and are a well-coached team, but they play with a certain tenacity that will be lacking as teams get their legs under them. There's just not enough evidence to suggest the Blues would flourish in low-intensity hockey to feel comfortable backing them at these short odds.

Vegas Golden Knights (+275)

As mentioned above, it's safe to say the start of this seeding tournament will lack the usual intensity and ferocity of playoff hockey due to the extended hiatus.

Less intensity means less hitting and fewer penalties. That doesn't bode well for a Knights team that often relies on a physical brand of hockey - Vegas was fourth in the NHL in hits per game - and benefited from a top-10 power play. At +275, the Knights wouldn't be my first choice.

Colorado Avalanche (+280)

Instead, my first choice would be the Avalanche. This round-robin tournament feels like the perfect storm for Colorado. The Avs have by far the youngest core of the four teams involved - with all of their top players aged 26 years old or younger - meaning they will likely be the least impacted by the long layoff.

They'll also benefit from the lack of intensity and dependence on special teams. This season, the Avalanche were tied for the most five-on-five goals in the NHL, had the least efficient power play of the four clubs involved, and were near the bottom of the NHL in hits per game. Give me all the Colorado stock I can buy at +280.

Dallas Stars (+500)

At first glance, there also appears to be some value with the Stars, a team that's suited for a dull, grind-it-out brand of hockey. Dallas relies heavily on defense and has allowed the second-fewest five-on-five goals in the NHL this season.

However, in that regard, the Avalanche and Blues are a very close third and fourth, respectively. Additionally, both teams score a ton more than the Stars, who have managed the second-fewest five-on-five goals scored, only ranking ahead of the Detroit Red Wings.

Alex Moretto is a sports betting writer for theScore. A journalism graduate from Guelph-Humber University, he has worked in sports media for over a decade. He will bet on anything from the Super Bowl to amateur soccer, is too impatient for futures, and will never trust a kicker. Find him on Twitter @alexjmoretto.

Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Find line reports, best bets, and subscribe to push notifications in the Betting News section.

As the NHL prepares for its 24-team postseason, sportsbooks are releasing more and more odds for the uniquely formatted event.

After breaking down odds for each of the highly anticipated play-in series, let's dive into the four-team battles for each conference's top seed. We begin with the Eastern Conference:

The format

The teams that ranked first through fourth in their conference at the end of the abbreviated regular season will play each other in a round-robin tournament to determine seeding in the 16-team playoff bracket. The clubs will all play each other once at a neutral venue, with the overall winner claiming the conference's top playoff seed.

Boston Bruins (+130)

This format can't be pleasing to Bruce Cassidy and the Bruins, who were eight points ahead of the Lightning, 10 points above the Capitals, and 11 points up on the Flyers when the league halted play. Their impressive 70-game performance could now be undone in the span of three contests. It might feel a cruel fate for Boston, but does it really matter?

The top seed won't get home-ice advantage throughout the playoffs, which are expected to take place at neutral venues. The top-ranked team will get some advantages, such as last change, but the usual benefits are significantly mitigated. The top four teams' respective opponents will also be determined by the results of the play-in series, so the first seed isn't even guaranteed the easiest draw.

Given all of those factors - not to mention the lengthy layoff - expect these round-robin games to lack intensity; they'll be glorified exhibition contests, which certainly doesn't play to the strengths of a Bruins team that prefers an in-your-face approach. In a three-game sample following roughly five months of inaction, I can't possibly justify taking the Bruins at such a short price.

Tampa Bay Lightning (+250)

After recovering from a miserable start to the season, the Lightning were on a warpath over the second half of the campaign, climbing their way up the conference standings. They were even pushing the Bruins for the top seed, though they would have had a tough time closing the distance with just 12 games remaining.

This is a second chance for the Bolts, who have a real point to prove after last year's humiliating playoff exit. Tampa's versatile roster can adapt to any style of hockey, which should be a boon in an unfamiliar round-robin format.

The Lightning entered the pause ranked first in the NHL in five-on-five goals and seventh in the league in hits per game - ahead of the Bruins. They also boasted a top-five power play, and they'll return to the ice armed with one of the world's best goaltenders in Andrei Vasilevskiy. In a format rife with uncertainty, the Lightning might be the safest bet to claim the Eastern Conference's top seed.

Washington Capitals (+500)

The Capitals could be the biggest beneficiaries of low-intensity hockey, though that isn't to say they're incapable of playing a physical game. Should these round-robin games lack intensity, penalties should be unusually infrequent. That would play perfectly into the hands of a Capitals team that had the least efficient power play among these four clubs in 2019-20 and owned a middle-of-the-pack penalty kill.

Fewer man advantages would also be another reason to fade the Bruins, who had the NHL's third-best penalty kill and second-best power play this season, yet were 18th league-wide in five-on-five goals. I'd feel much better taking the Capitals at 5-1.

Philadelphia Flyers (+500)

No team was hotter than the Flyers when the NHL announced its shutdown. It will be interesting to see how the long layoff impacts Philadelphia's momentum, but the team has the firepower and the goaltending to match any of these clubs in a brief round-robin affair. Carter Hart is the youngest of the four starting goalies and could thus be the netminder least impacted by the break. If the 21-year-old can be the quickest to find his rhythm between the pipes, the Flyers are a terrific value bet to claim the top seed.

Alex Moretto is a sports betting writer for theScore. A journalism graduate from Guelph-Humber University, he has worked in sports media for over a decade. He will bet on anything from the Super Bowl to amateur soccer, is too impatient for futures, and will never trust a kicker. Find him on Twitter @alexjmoretto.

Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

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We might get playoff hockey, after all.

The NHL took a giant leap toward completing the 2019-20 season when the NHLPA voted to approve a 24-team, conference-based tournament format. The details are still being ironed out but, essentially, the top-four seeds in each conference would get a bye to the standard 16-team playoff, with the remaining squads engaging in shorter play-in series.

Sportsbooks have updated their Stanley Cup odds to reflect the new format, with the top seeds sitting at significantly shorter prices.

The eight teams with the shortest odds are the top-four seeds in each conference, and they'll avoid the play-in series. That's been baked into their prices, sapping much of the value from their lines.

Regardless of whether they avoid the play-in, winning four best-of-seven series to capture the Stanley Cup is an incredibly tough task, so you won't find me investing in the likes of the Lightning, Bruins, or Golden Knights at the short price of 6-1. The Avalanche don't offer any value at 8-1, either.

The 2018 and 2019 Stanley Cup champions, the Blues and Capitals, are a bit more reasonably priced at 10-1, with the Flyers (12-1) and Stars (14-1) rounding out the top seeds.

However, these odds don't reflect the fact that teams that win the play-in series could be significantly sharper than those with byes after the long layoff, as those clubs won't have played for close to four months.

Rounding out the upper tier are the Penguins (16-1), who are the only non-top-four seed with shorter than 30-1 odds and will be considered large favorites over the Canadiens (100-1) in their play-in series. Pittsburgh will also have Jake Guentzel back from injury.

There is then a large drop-off on the oddsboard before getting to the Maple Leafs (30-1), who are the first true value play on the board should they get past the Blue Jackets (80-1). The winner of this series will see its odds slashed in half - at the very least - following the play-in round.

The same applies to every team involved in the play-in series. If you're looking for the best value, hop on board before the action returns. Waiting to see which teams win the first-round matchups to qualify for the playoffs will only result in the value being sucked out of their current prices.

Among the play-in teams that jump out to me as great value bets are the Hurricanes (50-1), Canucks (50-1), Panthers (80-1), and Rangers (80-1).

Carolina and Vancouver will be fully healthy following the break, and both possess the sort of elite young players who should be least impacted by this hiatus, while the Panthers and Rangers have a healthy blend of scoring and goaltending that makes them very dangerous late seeds.

The Blackhawks (100-1) and Canadiens (100-1) are interesting if only because of Patrick Kane and Carey Price, who possess the kind of star power that can send their respective teams on a deep run should they get hot at the right time.

Alex Moretto is a sports betting writer for theScore. A journalism graduate from Guelph-Humber University, he has worked in sports media for over a decade. He will bet on anything from the Super Bowl to amateur soccer, is too impatient for futures, and will never trust a kicker. Find him on Twitter @alexjmoretto.

Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Find line reports, best bets, and subscribe to push notifications in the Betting News section.

Our way-too-early look at next season began earlier in April with a look at three teams that could make for good fades.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, there are teams that underachieved for whatever reason - or simply weren't as good as advertised - this season and should be offered to bettors at a significant discount in 2020-21.

These are three teams that you will likely find me betting on early and often next season, as I believe big things are in store.

New York Rangers

The run the Rangers put together in January and February is a harbinger of things to come. Those on the bandwagon ahead of this season were a year too early, but the team should be capable of competing with the best the Metropolitan Division has to offer in 2020-21.

The Rangers' best players - Artemi Panarin and Mika Zibanejad - have just entered their prime, and there's an almost overwhelming amount of young talent that's only set to get better on the team. Guys like Pavel Buchnevich and Kaapo Kakko up front, Tony DeAngelo and Adam Fox on defense, and Igor Shesterkin and Alexandar Gorgiev in goal are reason enough to believe this team is in line for a massive step forward.

All the key contributors on this team fall between the ages of 18-28, with the bulk of them on the lower end of that range. General manager Jeff Gorton has a terrific core to work with, as well as some decent salary-cap flexibility this offseason.

Minnesota Wild

There is plenty to like about the way Bill Guerin is turning things around in Minnesota. Since taking over as Wild GM a little over eight months ago, the Massachusetts native has instilled a much-needed culture change at Xcel Energy Center. Guerin's no-nonsense approach has won the respect of his players.

Minnesota was consistently improving during his first season in charge. The Wild were on an 8-3 run - and on the verge of a playoff spot - when the season was suspended.

There are some good pieces on this team, including breakout star Kevin Fiala, and with around $15 million to spend this summer, we can expect the Wild to continue their upwards trajectory.

Montreal Canadiens

After narrowly missing out on a playoff spot in 2018-19, the Canadiens took a step back this season. Injuries certainly played a role - most notably the long-term absence of Jonathan Drouin, who'd gotten off to a torrid start - but an inability to win close games was the biggest issue for Claude Julien's team. Excluding empty-net goals, 27 of Montreal's 40 losses were in one-goal games. There's simply too much variance in close games to expect that to continue next season.

There is so much young talent on this Canadiens team that a down year shouldn't come as such a shock. A rebound in 2020-21 shouldn't, either. Getting Drouin back and healthy will be huge - many forget he just turned 24 years old - and there's reason to believe young forwards Max Domi and Jesperi Kotkaniemi should take a step forward after experiencing some growing pains this year. Nick Suzuki was impressive as a rookie and should only get better, while adding Alex Romanov should provide a boost on defense.

GM Marc Bergevin has to re-sign Domi and Victor Mete, but that should still leave him with over $15 million in cap space (more if the cap rises as high as some expect) to make a splash in free agency or via the trade market, bringing in some much-needed star power up front.

Alex Moretto is a sports betting writer for theScore. A journalism graduate from Guelph-Humber University, he has worked in sports media for over a decade. He will bet on anything from the Super Bowl to amateur soccer, is too impatient for futures, and will never trust a kicker. Find him on Twitter @alexjmoretto.

Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

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Amid developing news of the NHL aiming to resume the 2019-20 season in July, odds have been released for potential playoff series should the league jump straight into the postseason.

Let's take a closer look.

Boston Bruins (-350) vs. Columbus Blue Jackets (+280)

Before the injury bug swept through Columbus, the Blue Jackets were one of the league's hottest teams. With a healthy Seth Jones and Oliver Bjorkstrand, and the exploits of Elvis Merzlikins between the pipes, Columbus is an incredibly dangerous eighth seed. The Blue Jackets beat the Bruins twice this season, and they'd offer a ton of value at this price.

Tampa Bay Lightning (-240) vs. Toronto Maple Leafs (+200)

A fascinating series between two teams with something to prove before we can truly buy-in. It's hard to lay the juice with the Lightning after last season's catastrophic first-round sweep, though they again look like the team to beat in the Eastern Conference. I'd rather take a stab with the Leafs here at this price, even if their playoff resume hardly inspires confidence.

Washington Capitals (-200) vs. Carolina Hurricanes (+175)

This is a rematch of last season's first-round matchup the Hurricanes won in double overtime of Game 7, and expect another fiercely competitive series. The Capitals were reeling before the campaign was suspended, so perhaps they'll benefit from the break. But I can't pass up the Hurricanes at +175 because they'd be getting blue-liners Dougie Hamilton and Brett Pesce back.

Philadelphia Flyers (-110) vs. Pittsburgh Penguins (-110)

The battle of Pennsylvania is a coin flip, and it might be the series to watch in Round 1. The Flyers were close to untouchable in the month leading up to the season being suspended, and the hiatus could negatively impact that momentum. The Penguins were trending in the opposite direction, but getting Jake Guentzel back for the postseason might just be the difference. Take the grizzled vets in Pittsburgh by a hair.

St. Louis Blues (-180) vs. Nashville Predators (+160)

The Predators are 4-0 against the Blues this season, but St. Louis is just so much stronger all over the ice. The Blues also hold a significant edge behind the bench, are battle-tested, and they would be getting a healthy and rested Vladimir Tarasenko back from a shoulder injury that's kept him out since August. I'm laying the chalk here.

Colorado Avalanche (-160) vs. Dallas Stars (+140)

Both teams were agonizingly close to the Western Conference Final a year ago, with the Avalanche losing controversially in Game 7 to the San Jose Sharks, and the Blues ousting the Stars in double overtime of Game 7.

Dallas is loaded on the back end, but the Stars would need their big guns up front to step up against an Avs team with very few holes. This series would be a lot closer than the line indicates, but although I don't like the price, I'd still roll with Colorado.

Vegas Golden Knights (-220) vs. Winnipeg Jets (+190)

Goaltending and scoring are both major strengths for the Jets, making them a live 'dog in this spot. While there's certainly a case to be made for Winnipeg, the Knights are just such a complete team, and a chip would be on their shoulder after last season's controversial playoff exit.

Edmonton Oilers (-120) vs. Calgary Flames (+100)

This series would be an absolute treat, and given the bad blood between the Alberta neighbors, the intensity would be unrivaled. That's all we know here though, and the series can essentially be billed as a toss-up. While I'd lean toward the Flames' grit over seven games, that didn't do them much good last season, and their goaltending just doesn't inspire enough confidence to warrant backing.

Alex Moretto is a sports betting writer for theScore. A journalism graduate from Guelph-Humber University, he has worked in sports media for over a decade. He will bet on anything from the Super Bowl to amateur soccer, is too impatient for futures, and will never trust a kicker. Find him on Twitter @alexjmoretto.

Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Find line reports, best bets, and subscribe to push notifications in the Betting News section.

With the 2019-20 campaign likely in the books, there's no time like the present for hockey bettors to take a way-too-early look at next season.

The exact salary cap isn't known for next season, but using the rise from 2018-19 to 2019-20 as a point of reference, we can probably expect something just shy of $85 million, which would be on the lower end of the range given by NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly in March.

With that figure, we can point out some teams facing cap issues that are worth monitoring closely this offseason, as they could become clubs to fade in 2020-21.

Toronto Maple Leafs

Cap issues aside, the Leafs are usually a reliable fade. That's not a knock on the team itself, it's a comment on the brand. Much like the New York Yankees, Dallas Cowboys, and Los Angeles Lakers, sportsbooks are never going to be lacking for Leafs money. That results in inflated lines, with the public quick to bite.

If you had bet against the Leafs in every game in 2019-20, you would have come out ahead. The same goes for 2018-19. With the team keeping its hyped forward core intact, there's every reason to believe the same should be true in 2020-21.

Toronto's defensive issues should be amplified next season with Cody Ceci, Tyson Barrie, and Travis Dermott all impending free agents, while Ilya Mikheyev, Jason Spezza, and Frederik Gauthier also need new deals. With the Leafs being so tight up against the cap, they're likely going to lose at least a handful of these guys, and that's going to hurt this team's depth at both ends of the ice. While none of these names individually shift the needle, that actually helps our cause, as sportsbooks likely won't adjust despite the team getting worse.

Arizona Coyotes

With nearly $75 million invested in 17 players (including two goalies), the Coyotes will likely have under $10 million to re-sign restricted free agents Vinnie Hinostroza and Christian Fischer, leaving them with little money left to bring back, or find replacements for, unrestricted free agents Taylor Hall, Carl Soderberg, and Brad Richardson.

Arizona will have little to no flexibility to improve the roster and it's going to be hard for general manager John Chayka to get creative with Conor Garland and four of the team's top-five defensemen set to be free agents after next season. Playing in such a small market, the Coyotes weren't valued highly by oddsmakers to begin with, but the roster should more fairly reflect their value next season.

Chicago Blackhawks

It's going to be a messy offseason for the Blackhawks and GM Stan Bowman, who is no stranger to a cap crunch. Restricted free agents Dominik Kubalik, Drake Caggiula, and Dylan Strome are in line for considerable raises, while both of the team's goaltenders are impending free agents. With $74 million already tied up, the team will have just over $10 million to re-sign those three and get a pair of goalies under contract. That's not going to happen without Bowman shedding some serious salary.

But even if he magically finds a way to get rid of some low-impact guys and fit everyone else under the cap, there will be no money remaining to improve the roster. Without reinforcements, a ton of pressure will be on Strome and Alex DeBrincat, who have both had disconcertingly down seasons, as well as Chicago's ageing stars.

The Blackhawks are another popular team that often sees a bit of inflation with their odds, and given the predicament they find themselves in, we should be able to take advantage.

Alex Moretto is a sports betting writer for theScore. A journalism graduate from Guelph-Humber University, he has worked in sports media for over a decade. He will bet on anything from the Super Bowl to amateur soccer, is too impatient for futures, and will never trust a kicker. Find him on Twitter @alexjmoretto.

Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

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With the 2019-20 campaign likely in the books, there's no time like the present for hockey bettors to take a way-too-early look at next season.

The exact salary cap isn't known for next season, but using the rise from 2018-19 to 2019-20 as a point of reference, we can probably expect something just shy of $85 million, which would be on the lower end of the range given by NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly in March.

With that figure, we can point out some teams facing cap issues that are worth monitoring closely this offseason, as they could become clubs to fade in 2020-21.

Toronto Maple Leafs

Cap issues aside, the Leafs are usually a reliable fade. That's not a knock on the team itself, it's a comment on the brand. Much like the New York Yankees, Dallas Cowboys, and Los Angeles Lakers, sportsbooks are never going to be lacking for Leafs money. That results in inflated lines, with the public quick to bite.

If you had bet against the Leafs in every game in 2019-20, you would have come out ahead. The same goes for 2018-19. With the team keeping its hyped forward core intact, there's every reason to believe the same should be true in 2020-21.

Toronto's defensive issues should be amplified next season with Cody Ceci, Tyson Barrie, and Travis Dermott all impending free agents, while Ilya Mikheyev, Jason Spezza, and Frederik Gauthier also need new deals. With the Leafs being so tight up against the cap, they're likely going to lose at least a handful of these guys, and that's going to hurt this team's depth at both ends of the ice. While none of these names individually shift the needle, that actually helps our cause, as sportsbooks likely won't adjust despite the team getting worse.

Arizona Coyotes

With nearly $75 million invested in 17 players (including two goalies), the Coyotes will likely have under $10 million to re-sign restricted free agents Vinnie Hinostroza and Christian Fischer, leaving them with little money left to bring back, or find replacements for, unrestricted free agents Taylor Hall, Carl Soderberg, and Brad Richardson.

Arizona will have little to no flexibility to improve the roster and it's going to be hard for general manager John Chayka to get creative with Conor Garland and four of the team's top-five defensemen set to be free agents after next season. Playing in such a small market, the Coyotes weren't valued highly by oddsmakers to begin with, but the roster should more fairly reflect their value next season.

Chicago Blackhawks

It's going to be a messy offseason for the Blackhawks and GM Stan Bowman, who is no stranger to a cap crunch. Restricted free agents Dominik Kubalik, Drake Caggiula, and Dylan Strome are in line for considerable raises, while both of the team's goaltenders are impending free agents. With $74 million already tied up, the team will have just over $10 million to re-sign those three and get a pair of goalies under contract. That's not going to happen without Bowman shedding some serious salary.

But even if he magically finds a way to get rid of some low-impact guys and fit everyone else under the cap, there will be no money remaining to improve the roster. Without reinforcements, a ton of pressure will be on Strome and Alex DeBrincat, who have both had disconcertingly down seasons, as well as Chicago's ageing stars.

The Blackhawks are another popular team that often sees a bit of inflation with their odds, and given the predicament they find themselves in, we should be able to take advantage.

Alex Moretto is a sports betting writer for theScore. A journalism graduate from Guelph-Humber University, he has worked in sports media for over a decade. He will bet on anything from the Super Bowl to amateur soccer, is too impatient for futures, and will never trust a kicker. Find him on Twitter @alexjmoretto.

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