2019-20 NHL Predictions, Odds & Live Stream
The 2019-20 NHL season took a strange course when it was hit by the COVID-19 pandemic in early March, 2020. The regular season began on October 2, 2019 and was suspended indefinitely on March 12, 2020 and later it was announced that the regular season would not be finished.
Later in May, the NHL and NHLPA agreed to a framework for the resumption of play, it saw the remainder of the regular season scrapped. The top 12 teams in each conference were scheduled to compete in a modified and expanded Stanley Cup playoffs.
The NHL plans to hold the games in two centralized hub cities – Toronto’s Scotiabank Arena and Edmonton’s Rogers Place, with no spectators and only essential staff present.
NHL Outright Odds
The outright odds for all the NHL teams to win the Stanley Cup 2020 is listed below with the top teams that have better chances of lifting the Cup this season.
| No. | Team | Odds |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | COL Avalanche | 8.00 |
| 2 | VGS Golden Knights | 8.00 |
| 3 | TB Lightning | 9.00 |
| 4 | BOS Bruins | 13.00 |
| 5 | TOR Maple Leafs | 14.00 |
| 6 | PHI Flyers | 16.00 |
| 7 | PIT Penguins | 17.00 |
| 8 | WAS Capitals | 18.00 |
| 9 | DAL Stars | 19.00 |
| 10 | STL Blues | 19.00 |
| 11 | NY Rangers | 21.00 |
| 12 | EDM Oilers | 21.00 |
| 13 | CAR Hurricanes | 21.00 |
| 14 | NY Islanders | 23.00 |
| 15 | VAN Canucks | 26.00 |
| 16 | NAS Predators | 26.00 |
| 17 | WIN Jets | 29.00 |
| 18 | CAL Flames | 29.00 |
| 19 | MON Canadiens | 31.00 |
| 20 | CLB Blue Jackets | 36.00 |
| 21 | FLA Panthers | 36.00 |
| 22 | ARZ Coyotes | 46.00 |
| 23 | CHI Blackhawks | 51.00 |
| 24 | NJ Devils | 51.00 |
| 25 | SJ Sharks | 51.00 |
| 26 | BUF Sabres | 51.00 |
| 27 | MIN Wild | 56.00 |
| 28 | ANA Ducks | 67.00 |
| 29 | LA Kings | 71.00 |
| 30 | OTT Senators | 76.00 |
| 31 | DET Red Wings | 151.00 |
Suspension of the regular season due to COVID-19
As the COVID-19 pandemic spread across the globe, large crowds at sporting events were prohibited by the US and Canadian Governments as it would spread the virus. In early March 2020, the NHL suspended media access to the locker rooms, stating that only official personnel would be allowed to limit person to person contact.
On March 12, the morning practice sessions and media access for all teams were cancelled. Shortly after, the NHL and NHLPA announced that the 2019-20 season had been paused, until further notice. It was the biggest challenge for authorities and posed a threat to regular NHL season games since the 2012–13 NHL lockout. Henceforth, all players and hockey staff were asked to self-quarantine in their home cities until further notice from NHL.
Return to play with modified playoff format
The league and the NHLPA agreed on a basic framework to stage a 24 team playoff tournament on one condition, to play behind closed doors. The seeds were to be based on each club’s points percentage from the time when the season paused on March 12. The top 4 seeds in each conference would get a bye, while the next 8 seeds in each conference would play in a best of 5 series.
On May 26, Bettman formally discussed aspects of the “Return to Play Plan”, including the proposed 24-team playoff format and modifications to the procedures for the Draft Lottery. Aspects of the format were still being negotiated, but it was stated that the conference finals and Stanley Cup Finals would still use a best of 7 series.
In early July, the NHL confirmed that it had sanctioned agreements with the NHLPA to begin the playoffs on August 1. With games being hosted at Edmonton for the Western Conference early rounds, conference finals and Stanley Cup finals, whereas Toronto would host the Eastern Conference early rounds.
2020 NHL Draft Lottery Results
The Draft lottery was won by a team involved in the Return to Play plan, which means there will be a Phase 2 drawing featuring the 8 losing teams from the Qualifying Round. Those teams will each have a 12.5% chance to the top pick in the drawing, which will be held between the Qualifying Round and the First Round.
- Placeholder team
- Los Angeles Kings
- Ottawa Senators (via San Jose)
- Detroit Red Wings
- Ottawa Senators
- Anaheim Ducks
- New Jersey Devils
- Buffalo Sabres
If the COVID-19 pandemic forces the NHL to pull the plug on playing games the lottery would then include only the 8 lowest teams by inverse of their regular season points percentage. Evidently it states that Arizona, Chicago Columbus, Florida, Minnesota, Montreal, New York Rangers, and Winnipeg would be in the running for the No. 1 pick.
