Oilers second behind only Penguins for 2018 Stanley Cup odds in most recent Vegas update

We aren’t going to see Sidney Crosby and Connor McDavid play together on Team Canada next year, but we might see them face off in the Stanley Cup Final. At least that’s what Vegas oddsmakers are suggesting.

When betting opened for the 2018 Stanley Cup champion back at the beginning of June, Edmonton was tied with Tampa Bay and Washington for the second-best odds at 10-1. Now in the most recent update, they stand alone in second at 9-1 behind only the Penguins, who come in at 6-1.

TEAM                                                                 ODDS

Pittsburgh Penguins                                              6/1

Edmonton Oilers                                                   9/1

Tampa Bay Lightning                                           12/1

Washington Capitals                                            12/1

Chicago Blackhawks                                            12/1

Minnesota Wild                                                    12/1

Toronto Maple Leafs                                            14/1

Nashville Predators                                              14/1

Anaheim Ducks                                                    14/1

Dallas Stars                                                          14/1

Montreal Canadiens                                             16/1

New York Rangers                                               16/1

San Jose Sharks                                                  20/1

Los Angeles Kings                                                20/1

Columbus Blue Jackets                                        25/1

Ottawa Senators                                                   30/1

Boston Bruins                                                       30/1

St. Louis Blues                                                      30/1

Calgary Flames                                                    30/1

Florida Panthers                                                   40/1

New York Islanders                                               50/1

Philadelphia Flyers                                               50/1

Winnipeg Jets                                                       50/1

Buffalo Sabres                                                      60/1

Carolina Hurricanes                                              60/1

Colorado Avalanche                                            100/1

Detroit Red Wings                                               200/1

New Jersey Devils                                               200/1

Arizona Coyotes                                                  200/1

Vancouver Canucks                                            200/1

Vegas Golden Knights                                         200/1

These mid-August odds, of course, are a hell of a lot more telling than the ones done in June. Obviously Edmonton coming in second at the table in June, while the 2017 playoffs were still happening and well before any offseason transactions had been made, aren’t particularity meaningful. But with free agent frenzy finished and the season around the corner, it’s interesting to see the Oilers still close to the top of the table.

This doesn’t mean the Oilers are the second best team in the league and it doesn’t actually mean they’re the second most likely team to actually win the whole thing when it’s all said and done. What it does mean is that people, Vegas people specifically, are buying in on the hype. These odds are built around people putting money on Edmonton, which, regardless of how meaningful it is in the grand scheme of things, is cool.