How to Bet on the NHL: Part 2 – Props & Futures

by OddsShark (@OddsShark | https://twitter.com/oddsshark)

When bettors first get started wagering on NHL hockey they usually begin with bets on the winners or totals of individual games. These types of bets are excellent options for short term events, but hockey fans looking to make some money on long term events can take advantage of NHL season prop bets and futures bets.

NHL Prop Betting

Before the season begins, every team is given a projected number of wins or points. This line is referred to as the “season wins” or “season points” prop bet. As the bettor, you can decide whether a team will go OVER or UNDER the projected number.

Let’s use the season points prop as an example. Say that the Tampa Bay Lightning are coming off of a strong season of 54-23-5 for 113 points and have kept their core together over the offseason. It stands to reason that their total points projection will be set high again for the upcoming season, perhaps at 108.5 points.

With the line set at 108.5 points, preseason bettors can wager on Tampa Bay to go OVER 108.5 points or UNDER 108.5 points. A strong showing of 52-20-10 would yield 114 points and pay out the OVER 108.5 bettors while a disappointing 42-26-14 campaign would be 98 points and pay the UNDER 108.5 tickets. These bets last the entire season and are graded at the end of the regular season.

In addition to team props there are also player props available throughout the season. These include odds on players to win individual awards such as the Calder Trophy for the rookie of the year, the Vezina Trophy for the goaltender of the year, and the Art Ross Trophy for the league’s top scorer.

NHL Futures Betting

Futures betting refers to events that take place over a long period of time such as who will win the Stanley Cup, the Eastern Conference, and the Western Conference. Some sportsbooks offer futures odds on teams to win their respective divisions as well.

NHL futures odds change throughout the season, but the price that you bet them at remains locked in. For example, before the season begins, the Washington Capitals may be going off at 12/1 (or +1200) on the odds to win the Stanley Cup. This means that a bet of $100 would pay out $1200 if the Capitals were to win the Stanley Cup while a bet of $20 would pay out $240.

As the season progresses, these odds will change. If the Capitals are running away with the top spot in the division or they make a big trade for a superstar player, their odds might improve to 7/1 or 8/1 to win the Stanley Cup. On the other hand, a long slump or an injury to a star player could force their odds to drop down to 18/1 or 20/1.

Regardless of what stage of the season it is, bettors can lock in futures bets on teams that they believe will win the championship or conference. Bettors looking for big payouts can wager on slumping longshots in hopes that they turn things around, and bettors looking to ride the hot hand can jump on a team surging at the right time.

Check out OddsShark on Twitter and Instagram or head to YouTube for analysis on this week’s top games. As well, the OddsShark Computer serves up daily NHL picks for bettors.