This Stanley Cup Sleeper Is Primed For Takeoff

We have played several months of the NHL season, which has shown us who is legit and who is a fraud. Some teams have been exceeding expectations and maybe have some regression coming their way, while others have been playing well but can't buy wins.

Regression is one of the biggest factors you have to take into account when buying into a team, as a team that is getting outplayed most nights but keeps winning probably is getting lucky. With that, there are a couple of teams to be looking at right now at some large numbers on the futures market that could pay off big at the end of the season.

Let's take a look at one of my favorite NHL future bets on the board right now.

Winnipeg Jets To Win The Stanley Cup (+1500, DraftKings)

For a team that is 29-10-4 at the time of this writing, no one seems to be talking at all about the Winnipeg Jets. Granted, they are a franchise that a lot of people don't even know exists until they start following hockey, but the time has come to give this team the respect that they deserve this season.

Last year, I faded the Jets quite a lot because I didn't believe that their play warranted their record. There are many teams like this, but there are also plenty of teams that deserve better than their record indicates. I've already written articles about the Carolina Hurricanes and how they have been playing far better hockey than their current record indicates. I also gave you a sleeper team in the Philadelphia Flyers, who are playing better than what the market expects them to. Now, I'm placing a bet on the Jets at this 15/1 number.

I was kinda shocked to see them at this long of odds, sitting right with another team I wagered on before the season in the Los Angeles Kings, who have been slumping as of late. As of this writing, the Jets have won four of their last five games and have been playing a really good brand of hockey.

Their offense is legit, and they have been playing great as of late even without their biggest contributor in Kyle Connor, who should be back soon. Winnipeg is averaging 3.33 goals per game and 31 shots on goal per game, both numbers being above the NHL average this year. They are dealing with a lot of injuries right now between Connor, Nikolaj Ehlers, and Mark Scheifele, but when this team is healthy, they have been very good on offense.

Defensively, they have been just as good as they have been on offense. Star defenseman Josh Morrissey has been fantastic both on the defensive side and offensive side, and the defense as a whole is allowing just 29 shots on their netminders per game. That is again a below league average figure that shows just how good they have been on both sides of the ice. Another reason to like them is the play of goaltender Connor Hellebuyck, who has always been one of the better netminders in the league. He's been no different in 2024, owning a 2.19 GA/G and an incredibly good .925 SV% in 32 starts this year.

They are currently leading the Central Division, a single point above the Colorado Avalanche, who are garnering far more attention than the Jets are. At 15/1 odds in a weaker Western Conference, I think they are certainly worth a look right now.

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