The Chicago Blackhawks are an intriguing team to gamble on in 2021. After trading forward Brandon Saad to Colorado and opting not to re-sign two-time Stanley Cup champion goaltender Corey Crawford in the offseason, the Blackhawks publicly announced that they would be rebuilding their roster in hopes of getting back to the top of the mountain. AKA, the next few years are going to be rough, but A LOT of young players will get an opportunity to prove themselves. The goal is no longer solely about winning games, but effectively developing prospects into core pieces that can help rebuild a dynasty in Chicago.
As for how this affects the Blackhawks and their gambling odds, well, they are not going to be the favorite in many games this season. Nor will they be expected to qualify for the postseason. On most nights, the Hawks will be the underdog, which will make for friendly payouts if they are able to pull off an upset. Although, with numerous key players out of the lineup, it’s hard to have confidence in this team to get the job done. All in all, the Blackhawks are the definition of a gamble in 2021.
Blackhawks Odds To Win The Stanley Cup
Come here, let me share a secret with you. Pssst. The Chicago Blackhawks aren’t winning the Stanley Cup in 2021. Okay, okay, that wasn’t really much of a secret, but it’s just a reminder not to go and blow your money on this team. Their Stanley Cup window has closed and will not open again for years to come.
At the moment, the Blackhawks are roughly +10000 ($10 to win $1,010) to win the Stanley Cup, according to most betting sites. Only the lowly Detroit Red Wings and Ottawa Senators are listed with worse odds, and there is a reason for that. The Blackhawks are in the midst of a rebuilding phase, and a couple of key pieces of their roster are out for the rest of the season. No Toews, no Dach, no Seabrook. Plus, all three of their goaltenders have little to no NHL experience. Nothing about this team should make you want to go out and place a wager down on them. Even with a number as enticing as +10000 (or better), there are much smarter bets out there than the Blackhawks taking home the Stanley Cup for the first time since 2015. Give it three or four years.
The current favorites to win the Stanley Cup are the Avalanche (+750), Golden Knights (+750), Lightning (+800), and Maple Leafs (+900). Aside from those top teams, Boston (+1200), St. Louis (+1800), and Washington (+2000) are great value bets from the middle of the pack.
Blackhawks Odds To Win The Western Conference
Winning the Western Conference is seemingly just as monumental of a task for the Blackhawks as taking home the Stanley Cup: Nearly impossible. The Western Conference is loaded with top-end teams like the Colorado Avalanche, Vegas Golden Knights, and St. Louis Blues. Not to mention the reigning Conference champion Dallas Stars. As for the Blackhawks, they are simply not on the same level as those teams and are currently on a different path. Of course, reaching the Stanley Cup (and winning) is always the final goal and the purpose of every season, but that just is not a realistic expectation for this club.
At the moment, the Blackhawks are listed around +7000 ($10 to win $710) to reach the Stanley Cup Final by most gambling sites. Once again, only Detroit (+22500) and Ottawa (+25000) have worse odds. While the potential payout may be tempting, the Blackhawks are not among the elite teams in the NHL anymore and do not belong in the conversation for the Stanley Cup in 2021. Sure, Patrick Kane is still doing his thing, but he cannot singlehandedly carry the Blackhawks back to the promised land. Without Toews and Dach (and even Alex Nylander, for that matter), the offense is an enormous question mark. The defense has been shaky AT BEST in the last five years, and the goaltending position is an open competition. Not exactly a recipe to winning the Western Conference. Another pass on the Blackhawks here, even at +7000.
Currently, the favorites to reach the Stanley Cup Final are Colorado (+325), Vegas (+325), Tampa Bay (+350), and Boston (+550).
Blackhawks Odds To Win The Central Division
Reaching the Stanley Cup Final is out of the question for the Blackhawks in 2021, and they are not expected to put up much of a fight in the Central Division, either. Even with the NHL forced into division realignments this season as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Blackhawks still have a tough road ahead of them. While the Dallas Stars and Nashville Predators also remain in the Central, the defending Stanley Cup champion Tampa Bay Lightning have joined the division, as have the Carolina Hurricanes, Columbus Blue Jackets, Detroit Red Wings, and Florida Panthers. According to most trusted sources around the NHL, the Blackhawks are projected to finish at the bottom of the division along with the long-time rival Red Wings. It’s safe to say the Blackhawks are a longshot to win the Central Division in 2021.
With the Hawks committed to developing their young prospects going forward, it’s not a surprise to see them listed with the second-worst odds to win the Central Division at +6000 ($10 to win $610). After all, they have not finished higher than sixth in their division in each of the last three years. And that was with ‘Captain Serious’ leading the charge. In addition to the youth movement, the amount of injuries the team is facing makes it challenging to picture competing in this division. Even at +6000, it is probably wise to stay away from this bet. The Blackhawks just do not have all of the pieces to the puzzle at this point.
The current favorites to win the Central Division are the Lightning (+120), Hurricanes (+255), and Stars (+475). With the majority of Tampa Bay’s Stanley Cup roster returning once again this season, it seems pretty likely that they will win the division. However, Carolina has a lot of young talent and can compete with any team in the NHL. Dallas is also just a year removed from the Stanley Cup and is looking to prove that they were not a one-trick pony.
Ways To Bet On The Blackhawks
Sports betting is now legal in the state of Illinois! What a time to be alive. There are currently several different ways to bet on the Blackhawks, but the secret to finding the best value bets is by checking them all consistently!
In Illinois, the best way to bet on the Blackhawks is through DraftKings, PointsBet, FanDuel, William Hill, and BetMGM.
DraftKings is currently offering a 2021 promo code that you can use to get a deposit bonus of up to $500! DraftKings also offers risk-free bets and daily profit boosts that are very user-friendly. The winnings are instantly paid out into your account and you can withdraw/deposit at any time.
PointsBet is currently offering up to $500 back if you lose your first fixed odds bet, and up to $1,000 if you lose your first PointsBet wager. PointsBet also occasionally offers “no brainer bets”, which is essentially free money. Don’t forget to use the promo code “MOCKERY”.
FanDuel is always having contests for fantasy football, basketball, baseball, or any other sport you may love! Quick payouts and a beautiful layout make the FanDuel App one of the best in sports gambling.
William Hill Sportsbook is currently offering a promotion for a $300 risk-free bet, and the money will be available for an instant withdrawal. William Hill also has a retail location at the Grand Victoria Casino in Elgin, Illinois.
BetMGM is the newest way to bet on sports in Illinois! Sign up for a free account, and you’ll be offered a $600 match bonus with your first deposit! Don’t forget to use the promo code “MOCKERY’.
One way to bet on the Blackhawks is by gambling on their point spread. For each game, a line will be set by the sportsbook to determine the favorite. Most nights, the Blackhawks are +1.5, meaning that the opposing team is favored by 1.5 goals. On the other side, the opposing team will be -1.5 most nights against the lowly Blackhawks. If you feel that the Blackhawks have a good chance of pulling off an upset, +1.5 is a generous cushion.
Another way to bet on the Blackhawks is by gambling on the money line. Basically, the money line is betting on a team straight up to win. No point spread, just to win. Naturally, the Blackhawks are not going to be the favorites on the money line very often, but that also leads to a better payout if you think they can sneak out a win! For example, let’s say the Blackhawks are +160 money line. If you bet $100 on them to win and they do, that would be $160 of profit right there.
The total score is another way to gamble on sports games, which is where you bet either over or under the line. So, if the Blackhawks game tonight had a total scoreline of 6.5, you would have to decide if the total goals scored in the contest will be over or under that number. Tricky, but very fun.
Blackhawks Player Prop Bets
While the Blackhawks are difficult to gamble on as a team in 2021, there are some enticing player prop bets that could make for a nice payout! For example, let’s say that Patrick Kane’s shots on goal prop are set at 2.5 shots for any given game. Well, you can either bet that Kane will record over or under 2.5 shots on goal that night. This is essentially how it works for pretty much all stats in every game, including points, goals, assists, etc.
It is also possible to bet on the number of shots on goal the Blackhawks will allow/register per game as a team. With the defense not exactly being the strong suit of this franchise anymore, the over has hit more times than Blackhawks fans would like in the past couple of years. Vice versa, the Blackhawks have had to claw their way back into the game and have put high shot totals.
Blackhawks Odds FAQ
Is sports gambling fully legal in Illinois?
Yes, it is 100 percent legal to bet on sports in Illinois using DraftKings, FanDuel, PointsBet, William Hill, or BetMGM. Governor J.B. Pritzker signed the bill back in 2019, and on January 1st, 2020, the first legal sports wager in Illinois was placed.
How old do you have to be to gamble in Illinois?
Any person that is at least 21 years of age or older can wager a bet through any of these sportsbooks in Illinois. Legal gambling ages are set by each individual state. In Illinois, the Illinois Gaming Board sets the regulations.
Do I have to be an Illinois resident to bet on the Blackhawks?
You do not have to be a resident of Illinois to bet on the Blackhawks, but you have to be within Illinois state lines to place a wager through these Illinois sportsbooks. Illinois uses geotracking technology to restrict bets just to betters within state lines.
What are the best Blackhawks bets in 2021?
With the Blackhawks expected to struggle in 2021, it may be easiest just to bet against them for the entire season (sad, but true). It will be hard to bet on the Blackhawks with such a depleted roster, but nightly player props will be a fun way to make money off this team!
What are the worst Blackhawks bets in 2021?
I know the potential payouts are tempting but do not go and bet on the Blackhawks to win the Central Division, Western Conference, or Stanley Cup this season. With key players out of the lineup and young prospects getting a look, it’s just smarter to spend your money elsewhere.
Will any Blackhawks be in the Rookie of the Year conversation?
The Blackhawks have a couple of rookies out to strong starts so far in 2021. Pius Suter, Philipp Kurashev, and Kevin Lankinen all have played well early on and are in the middle of the conversation for the Calder Trophy.
Will any Blackhawks players take home awards in 2021?
The best bet is that one of the Blackhawks’ youngsters come away with the Calder Trophy for rookie of the year. At the moment, goaltender Kevin Lankinen likely has the best odds. Besides that, the best bet would be for Patrick Kane to take home the Hart Trophy as NHL MVP.
When will the Blackhawks win the Stanley Cup again?
Ugh, the million-dollar question. Until the Blackhawks have established their next wave of core players, it is not going to be anytime soon. However, Kirby Dach could be on his way to superstardom, and there are plenty of young prospects to help fix this sinking ship!