First some odds.
Less than 24 hours after the Chicago Blackhawks clinched the Stanley Cup on Wednesday, we received the 2011 Stanley Cup champion odds, courtesy of Bodog.com. Get ’em while they’re hot:
Chicago
Blackhawks 11/2
Pittsburgh
Penguins
6/1
Washington
Capitals
13/2
San
Jose
Sharks
9/1
Detroit
Red
Wings
12/1
Vancouver
Canucks 15/1
Philadelphia
Flyers
15/1
Buffalo
Sabres
Boston
Bruins
20/1
New
Jersey
Devils 20/1
Ottawa
Senators
Phoenix
Coyotes
25/1
Calgary
Flames
25/1
Los
Angeles
Kings 25/1
Nashville
Predators
28/1
New
York
Rangers 28/1
Montreal
Canadiens
30/1
Colorado
Avalanche 30/1
Columbus
Blue
Jackets 40/1
Dallas
Stars
40/1
Minnesota
Wild
40/1
Anaheim
Ducks
40/1
St.
Louis
Blues
45/1
Florida
Panthers
50/1
Atlanta
Thrashers
Carolina
Hurricanes 50/1
Tampa
Bay
Lightning 60/1
Edmonton
Oilers
75/1
New
York
Islanders 75/1
Toronto
Maple
Leafs 75/1
Now some ends:
By defeating Philadelphia, Chicago denied Anaheim a conditional third-round selection in the 2010 Entry Draft that the Flyers would have sent the Ducks had they won the Cup.
The good news, as it relates to the Ducks’ draft? They’ll draft 29th, not 30th. Chicago gets the last pick in the first round, while Philadelphia cedes the second-to-last pick, which the Ducks acquired in the Chris Pronger trade.
There aren’t many Ducks connections on this Blackhawks squad. There’s Nick Boynton, who the Ducks waived at midseason and was snapped up by the ‘Hawks when their defense was depleted by injury. Boynton appeared in three Finals games and will have his name engraved on the Cup for the first time his 11-year NHL career.
Jassen Cullimore is a bit of a stretch, but you might recall the defenseman was in Anaheim briefly on a pro tryout contract during training camp. After he was released by the Ducks, Cullimore latched on with the Rockford IceHogs, Chicago’s AHL affiliate, and was called up to the “reserve squad” for the playoff run. He didn’t appear in a game and won’t have his name engraved, but hopefully got to taste some champagne in the locker room last night.
If you’re looking to mine the two Finals contenders for impending free agents, it’s not difficult. Including players who ended the season in the minors Chicago has 25, most notably center John Madden, forward Adam Burish, defenseman Kim Johnsson, goalie Antti Niemi and winger Andrew Ladd. Niemi and Ladd are restricted free agents, meaning that if the Blackhawks submit either player a qualifying offer, they’ll be able to match any offer sheet tendered by another team after July 1.
Philadelphia has 26 impending free agents. The big names are Michael Leighton, Arron Asham, Lukas Krajicek, Braydon Coburn, Daniel Carcillo, Ryan Parent and Darroll Powe. Coburn, Carcillo, Parent and Powe are RFAs.
