Many are happy that 2020 is in the rearview, but for the Philadelphia Flyers, it was a major year for growth.
New head coach Alain Vigneault and the emergence of goaltender Carter Hart fueled the Flyers to the biggest one-year improvement of any team in the NHL (41-21-7). The Flyers were the third-most bet NHL team by handle at DraftKings for the 2019-2020 season behind the Boston Bruins and Pittsburgh Penguins.
Seeking their first Stanley Cup since back-to-back championships in 1974 and 1975, the Flyers enter the 2021 season with their sights set on the silver chalice.
“Expectations are high. Let’s not kid ourselves,” coach Alain Vigneault told the Philadelphia Inquirer. “Our first goal is to get into the playoffs, and then we are not in this to win one series. We are in this to win the Stanley Cup.”
Pennsylvania online sportsbooks give the Flyers the fifth or sixth best odds to win the Stanley Cup. At BetMGM, the Orange and Black are +1400. Visit the PlayPA NHL betting page for updated odds throughout the season.
Philadelphia Flyers 2021 odds
The NHL won’t be playing “bubble hockey.” When the season paused in March, play resumed in August in two hub cities. That won’t be the case for the 2021 NHL season.
The team’s return to their home rinks but will be playing a 56-game season against teams from regional divisions to reduce travel.
Flyers Stanley Cup odds vary at PA sports betting apps for the season start:
- DraftKings: +1800
- FanDuel: +1700
- Fox Bet: +1400
- BetMGM: +1400
- BetRivers: +1800
- Caesars: +1500
Avalanche and Flyers lead Stanley Cup futures market
At FanDuel, the New York Rangers are the biggest liability in the Stanley Cup Champion market.
The Top Four teams by handle in the Stanley Cup Champion market are:
- Colorado Avalanche (27%)
- Philadelphia Flyers (12%)
- Tampa Bay Lightning (9%)
- New York Rangers (8% of handle with odds between 26/1 and 32/1)
The Top 3 players by bet count in the Hart Trophy Market (MVP) are:
- Nathan MacKinnon (32%)
- Auston Matthews (8%)
- Connor McDavid (7%)
DraftKings NHL betting splits
The Avalanche (35%) are tops at DraftKings for % of handle in the Stanley Cup futures market. The Flyers (10%) have the second highest % of handle.
BetMGM NHL betting
At Pennsylvania’s newest sportsbook, BetMGM, the Colorado Avalanche are seeing a surge. The Avs opened at +1100 to win the Cup and are now the favorites at +700.
Seamus Magee, BetMGM, Sportsbook Trader said:
“A new NHL season begins today and bettors will have plenty of opportunities, with 116 consecutive days of NHL games. We’re already seeing significant action on the Avalanche to win the Stanley Cup.”
BetMGM NHL 2021 betting
Highest handle % to win the Stanley Cup:
- Avalanche (+700) 49%
- Lightning (+900) 10%
- Canadiens (+2800) 6%
- Maple Leafs (+1400) 5%
- Penguins (+2200) 4%
Highest handle% to win the Hart Trophy:
- Nathan MacKinnon (+500) 46%
- Steven Stamkos (+2500) 26%
- Auston Matthews (+1100) 5%
Magee commented on Hart Trophy betting:
“With a season long injury to Nikita Kucherov, BetMGM took a lot of action on Steven Stamkos to win the Hart Trophy. Stamkos opened +6600 and is now +2500 to win the NHL MVP award.”
Flyers and Penguins find backers at BetRivers
At BetRivers, the two Pennsylvania-based NHL teams are getting bettors’ bucks.
Highest handle % to win the Stanley Cup at BetRivers:
- Avalanche (+650) 24.8%
- Penguins (+1800) 13.7%
- Flyers (+1800) 13.3%
- Golden Knights (+800) 11.2%
Flyers find their goaltender
Carter Hart, 22, looks to be the answer to one of the biggest question marks the Flyers have faced over the last few decades. He finished the 2019-20 regular season with a record of 24-13-3/2.42 GAA/.914 SV%.
In the playoffs, he posted a better goals-against-average (2.23), a better save percentage (.926%) and had two shutouts.
Before the start of round-robin play, PA sportsbook apps didn’t even list him as a choice for the Conn Smythe. After a stellar first round (4-1, 1.51 GAA, .949 SV%) against the Canadiens (and his childhood hero Carey Price), sportsbooks had him at +800, second to Nate MacKinnon (+625) to win the prize.
NHL futures betting markets
(Odds via BetMGM)
Stanley Cup winner:
- Colorado Avalanche: +700
- Las Vegas Golden Knights: +800
- Tampa Bay Lightning: +900
- Boston Bruins: +1400
- Philadelphia Flyers: +1400
East Division winner:
- Boston Bruins: +250
- Philadelphia Flyers: +350
- Pittsburgh Penguins: +450
Philadelphia Flyers season specials at BetMGM
Regular season points:
- Over 67.5 (-105)
- Under 67.5 (-115)
To make the playoffs:
- Yes (-250)
- No (+200)
2021 Regular Season top goal scorer:
- Hayes: +300
- Konecny: +325
- Couturier: +325
- Giroux: +350
- Lindblom: +1100
- Van Riemsdyk: +1400
- Full list on app
2021 regular season top point scorer:
- Couturier: +300
- Konecny: +350
- Voracek: +350
- Giroux: +400
- Hayes: +500
- Lindblom: +1100
- Full list on app
NHL 2021 awards futures betting
Hart Trophy winner (MVP)
- MacKinnon: +500
- McDavid: +600
- Panarin: +850
Odds for Flyers:
- Couturier: +5000
- Hart: +5000
- Giroux: +5000
Art Ross winner (points leader)
- McDavid: +300
- MacKinnon: +550
- Panarin: +1200
Odds for Flyers:
- Konecny: +10000
- Couturier: +10000
- Giroux: +10000
- Voracek: +15000
Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy (most goals)
- Matthews: +450
- Ovechkin: +600
- Draisaitl: +800
Odds for Flyers:
- Giroux: +8000
Vezina Trophy (best goaltender)
- Hellebuyck: +700
- Vasilevskiy: +700
- Hart: +900
Calder Trophy (best rookie)
- Shesterkin: +250
- Lafreniere: +300
- Kaprizov: +400
Odds for Flyers:
- Frost: +4000
Norris Trophy winner (best defenseman)
- Hedman: +400
- Josi: +600
- Hamilton: +650
Odds for Flyers:
- Provorov: +4000
Philadelphia Flyers player markets
(Regular season point totals. Must play 48 games.)
Claude Giroux:
- Over 45.5 (-115)
- Under 45.5 (-115)
Sean Couturier:
- Over 49.5 (-115)
- Under 49.5 (-115)
Travis Konecny:
- Over 40.5 (-115)
- Under 40.5 (-115)
Updated 2021 Stanley Cup futures odds at PA sportsbooks
Lead image credit: AP Photo/Matt Slocum