Chicago Blackhawks the early favorite for 2016 Stanley Cup

The Stanley Cup has been won by Chicago Blackhawks! And now … the countdown begins to next season with Stanley Cup odds for 2016 provided by Bovada.

What salary cap issues for the Hawks? As long as they have the core of Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane and Duncan Keith, Vegas thinks they’ll be solid and the early favorite for next season.

Look at how Vegas rates the Edmonton Oilers – higher than the Calgary Flames? Connor McDavid clearly has that impact.

But Jack Eichel doesn’t on Buffalo – a team that Vegas believes will still look tankerific.

Also, the Oilers have the same Cup odds as the Red Wings, who made the playoffs and took the Tampa Bay Lightning to seven games in the first round. We’ll call this ‘The Babcock Effect,’ which didn’t really play with Toronto, who is at 66-1 to win the Cup.

Lastly, the Los Angeles Kings have better odds than four Western Conference teams that made the playoffs in 2015.

Chicago Blackhawks 7/1

New York Rangers 8/1

Anaheim Ducks 10/1

St. Louis Blues 12/1

Tampa Bay Lightning 12/1

Los Angeles Kings 14/1

Minnesota Wild 14/1

Montreal Canadiens 14/1

Pittsburgh Penguins 14/1

Boston Bruins 16/1

Nashville Predators 16/1