NHL Futures

Sugar's Top 5 NHL Bets You Need to Make

It's that time of year we all love (and hate) once again.  Summer is over, the leaves are changing, the temperature is dropping, there's annoying people holding signs for politicians that have entirely failed to do their job, baseball is ending, and hockey is starting.  Last year was our inaugural season here at Dirty Picks.  In my first year making hockey picks I established a level of excellence unparalleled.  My 172-110-4 record equates to a win percentage of 60.1%. This year I'm looking to continue to roll and make you some money.  To start this season off I have 5 hockey future picks that you would be stupid not to bet on. 

#1 Detroit Red Wings Regular Season Points - OVER 91.5 (-125)

Yes I like the Wings. However, this is as sure a bet as there ever was.  Last season the Red Wings were decimated by injury.  A total of 418 man-games were lost, setting a franchise record.  Even with the statistically worst year in terms of injury, the Wings still finished the season with 93 points.  Except for the shortened season due to the lock out, the wings have finished with at least 100 points 3 out of the last 4 seasons.  They will very easily go over 91.5 this year. 

#2 Will the NY Islanders Make the Playoffs? - NO (-115)

The Islanders will not be in the top 8 of the Eastern Conference in April, that is a fact.  I expect the top 8 to be the same teams as last year minus Columbus with Washington moving up to a playoff spot.  Regardless, the NY Islanders don't  have a lot going for them right now.  Their organization isn't great and has never been able to develop players.  They won't be as bad as Buffalo but it's going to be a long season for islander fans.

#3 "Snipe Show" Stamkos to win the Maurice "Rocket" Richard - 2/1

Stamkos suffered a broken leg midway through last year. At the time he was leading in goal scoring and continued to lead the league for about three weeks without playing a game.  This man is a goal scoring machine.  Call me crazy but I firmly believe Stamkos could go down as the greatest goal scorer to ever play the game.  He has more goals than any NHL player since he was drafted, he trains like a psycho in the offseason, and he's 24 years old. Stamkos is sick and the scary thing is, he's still young and going to get even better.  I predict that at some point in his career, Stamkos will accomplish the daunting task of scoring 50 goals in 50 or less games.  A stat only held by 2 men in NHL history: Mike Bossy and Wayne Gretzky.  This very well could be that year. Regardless, Stamkos wins the Rocket Richard for leading goal scorer in the league by a long shot. 

#4 Who Will Win the Stanley Cup? - An Original 6 Team (+200)

Okay so for the Cup were talking who will win the East and who will win the West.  Personally I think Chicago wins the West and wins the Cup.  For you amateurs out there the OG 6 are: Montreal, Boston, Chicago, NY Rangers, Detroit, and Toronto.  I think the East comes down to Detroit and Boston with Chicago winning the West.  Chicago is in a unique spot with a chance to win a 3rd Cup in 5 years.  It's not very often players are presented a chance to cement a spot in hockey history as being part of a dynasty and Chicago has that chance.  I expect Chi town to take the Cup and if they don't I expect the East to win, meaning Hockeytown (Detroit) or those bitch ass Bruins from Boston.  Regardless, the OG 6 win the cup and you win.

#5 Washington Capitals to Make the Playoffs? - YES (-130)

I don't like the Caps at all. Actually I think they're a fuckin joke.  They basically have a manual for what excuse to use when they fail to do anything notable with one of the best rosters in hockey.  "Oh we missed playoffs because we don't have goaltending".  Detroit won a Stanley Cup with fucking Chris Osgood. The Caps are a joke.  But there's no way those jokes in our nations capital miss the playoffs again.