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It's easy to point to teams like the Boston Bruins and Tampa Bay Lightning as Stanley Cup favorites, but the margins are razor-thin heading into an unprecedented NHL postseason.

If there was ever a time to throw a few darts in the futures market, it's now.

Carolina Hurricanes (+4000)

Not having Dougie Hamilton or Brett Pesce for a difficult play-in series with the New York Rangers isn't ideal for the Hurricanes, but Carolina is loaded defensively after acquiring Brady Skjei and Sami Vatanen at the deadline and can absorb losses in the back end. Should the Canes get by the Rangers, the returns of Hamilton and Pesce will give them an unrivaled blue line.

Carolina also has the talent up front to match. The Hurricanes strike a great balance with the young, dynamic top line of Sebastian Aho, Andrei Svechnikov, and Teuvo Teravainen, and a veteran trio in Justin Williams, Jordan Staal, and Nino Niederreiter. Martin Necas, Warren Foegele, Ryan Dzingel, and Vincent Trocheck also provide excellent depth scoring. There's not a single hole on this roster.

That's exemplified by the Canes leading the NHL this season in expected goals for and high-danger scoring chances per 60 minutes while ranking third in shots for percentage. They also excel on special teams - Carolina has the fourth-best penalty kill and the eighth-ranked power play - and with a bit of help from Petr Mrazek, there's no one they can't beat.

Columbus Blue Jackets (+6000)

Don't sleep on a Blue Jackets team that is among the league's best when healthy.

Oliver Bjorkstrand, Cam Atkinson, and Alexander Texier are back for Columbus, which had the most man-games lost in the regular season. Josh Anderson will also return soon to help boost a deep forward group, while a healthy Seth Jones will solidify the Jackets' defense, which had the fewest expected goals against per 60 minutes this season.

Columbus also possesses one of the league's most formidable goaltending tandems in Elvis Merzlikins and Joonas Korpisalo, with either capable of getting hot and leading the team on a deep run. It was because of them that the Jackets led the NHL in five-on-five save percentage prior to Jones' injury in February.

This team is also built for the playoffs. Columbus plays stout defensive hockey, is aggressive on the forecheck, and is both deep and physical throughout the roster. We saw just how much the postseason suits the Jackets when they swept the first-place Tampa Bay Lightning last year; now, there's no excuse for being caught off guard by Columbus.

Florida Panthers (+6000)

I'm not nearly as sold on the Panthers as I am the Hurricanes and Blue Jackets, but maybe I should be. Florida has all the makings of a Cup team: a pair of superstars up front, skill and experience on the blue line, a two-time Vezina recipient in net, and a three-time Stanley Cup winner behind the bench.

Few teams will be more grateful for this second chance than the Panthers, who couldn't put it all together this season despite high expectations. This club is built to take advantage of a clean slate.

Sergei Bobrovsky's career-worst statistical season in the NHL held this team back. He's an incredibly accomplished goaltender, though, and entirely capable of taking over a series as he did in Columbus' sweep of the Lightning last year, when he posted a .932 save percentage. If he gets hot, the Panthers have both the scoring and coaching required to make a deep postseason run.

(Odds source: theScore Bet)

Alex Moretto is a sports betting writer for theScore. A journalism graduate from Guelph-Humber University, he has worked in sports media for over a decade. He will bet on anything from the Super Bowl to amateur soccer, is too impatient for futures, and will never trust a kicker. Find him on Twitter @alexjmoretto.

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Mike Babcock has found his next coaching gig.

The former Toronto Maple Leafs coach will join the University of Vermont men's hockey team for the 2020-21 season as a volunteer adviser to the coaching staff, the school announced Wednesday.

"Mike and I have been connected for over 15 years (winning a gold medal together at the 2004 World Championship) and our network goes back even further to our McGill University experience," said Vermont head coach Todd Woodcroft. "He is a premier coach across any athletic platform and as a coaching staff we are very fortunate to be able to draw from his experiences. Mike's knowledge, his network, and, above all else, the modern lens he uses to look at the game of hockey will help accelerate the progression of our entire program."

The Maple Leafs fired the veteran coach early in the 2019-20 season after a lackluster start to the campaign. Babcock will not take a salary with the University of Vermont, but his contract with Toronto runs through the 2022-23 season with an average annual value of $6.25 million, according to CapFriendly.com.

Babcock has coached 1,301 NHL games and won a Stanley Cup with the Detroit Red Wings in 2008. He's also coached Team Canada at various international tournaments, winning gold medals at the Olympics, IIHF World Junior Championship, and IIHF World Championship.

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The four members of the Colorado Avalanche and Minnesota Wild who are racial minorities made a statement Wednesday.

Jordan Greenway, Nazem Kadri, Matt Dumba, and Pierre-Edouard Bellemare stood side by side before the exhibition game between the two clubs.

J.T. Brown, a Black player who played this season with the Wild's AHL affiliate in Iowa, showed his appreciation for the gesture.

Brown raised his fist in the air during the national anthem when he was with the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2017.

Numerous NHL clubs have expressed solidarity with the Black community since the league's exhibition games began Tuesday. Those who have already played have stood together during the anthems, while the Boston Bruins and Columbus Blue Jackets pledged to lock arms before their game Thursday.

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The Boston Bruins and forward Anders Bjork agreed to a three-year extension worth $4.8 million on Wednesday, the team announced.

Bjork's entry-level deal was set to expire at season's end, and he would have become a restricted free agent.

The Bruins selected the soon-to-be 24-year-old in the fifth round in 2014. He spent three seasons at Notre Dame afterward, then bounced between the NHL and AHL before carving out a permanent role with Boston in 2019-20.

Bjork appeared in 58 games this season, registering nine goals and 10 assists while averaging just under 13 minutes per contest.

With him extended, there are two remaining RFAs the Bruins will need to secure before the start of the 2020-21 campaign: forward Jake DeBrusk and defenseman Matt Grzelcyk.

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The Chicago Blackhawks will no longer permit fans to wear headdresses at team events or the United Center, the team announced Wednesday.

"As we prepare to return to play and represent you in the Stanley Cup Qualifiers in Edmonton, we want our fans to be very clear on what it means to be part of the Blackhawks family, regardless of whether we can be together in the arena. We have always maintained an expectation that our fans uphold an atmosphere of respect, and after extensive and meaningful conversations with our Native American Parters, we have decided to formalize those expectations," the statement read.

"Moving forward, headdresses will be prohibited for fans entering Blackhawks-sanctioned events or the United Center when Blackhawks home games resume. These symbols are sacred, traditionally reserved for leaders who have earned a place of great respect in their Tribe, and should not be generalized or used as a costume or for every day wear."

The Blackhawks released a statement earlier in July regarding their team name and logo, stating the organization will keep their name, but make a concerted effort to "expand awareness" toward the contributions of Native Americans.

Chicago has worn numerous variations of the same logo since the club's inception in 1926. The name was tweaked from "Black Hawks" to its current form in 1986.

The NFL's Washington Football Team and CFL's Edmonton Football Team recently announced they'd undergo name changes after previously sporting monikers offensive to Indigenous people. The MLB's Cleveland Indians have stated they're open to discussing a name change as well, but haven't done so to this point.

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While the exact reason for John Chayka’s ugly split from the Arizona Coyotes remains foggy, it was reported that an unknown NHL team owner approached him about a job opportunity. Coyotes owner Alex Meruelo initially denied the request to speak with Chayka before eventually granting permission.

The New Jersey Devils were the team that made the approach, sources told ESPN’s Greg Wyshynski.

Chayka interviewed for a role in which he would oversee aspects of the other sports teams in the owner’s portfolio. Devils owners Josh Harris and David Blitzer own the Philadelphia 76ers, Crystal Palace FC, an eSports team, and several minor-league teams.

Coyotes ownership reportedly insists that Chayka’s breach of contract doesn't allow him to serve as GM or president of hockey operations for any NHL team until his deal is over (three more years after this season).

In a release, the organization said he “quit” on the team, and the Coyotes are “disappointed” in him.

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Four of the NHL's top six teams will battle for playoff seeding in the Eastern Conference round-robin portion of the league's expanded postseason.

The Boston Bruins, Tampa Bay Lightning, Washington Capitals, and Philadelphia Flyers won't have to worry about elimination at this stage, but these are by no means mere tuneup games. Given the stakes and the talent of the teams involved, these contests should be nearly as competitive as the playoffs themselves.

Schedule

Boston Bruins

How they stack up

Season recap

The Bruins remained a powerhouse in 2019-20, boasting virtually the same roster that came within one game of a championship last spring.

Boston finished the abbreviated regular season with the NHL's best record and was the only club to hit the 100-point plateau in the standings, recording eight more points than the second-best Lightning while playing the same number of games.

David Pastrnak made the leap to superstar status, tying for the league lead with 48 goals and ranking third with 95 points while playing all 70 contests. Tuukka Rask was voted a Vezina Trophy finalist after leading the league in 5-on-5 goals saved above average (19.69) and placing second among qualified NHL goalies with a .929 save percentage.

This club is extremely well-rounded, icing arguably the best line in hockey, a top-10 overall offense, an elite defense, stellar goaltending, and exceptional special-teams units.

Key player to watch

Patrice Bergeron

Pastrnak and Brad Marchand are must-watch players in their own right, but no one does more for the Bruins - or for most other teams, for that matter - on both sides of the puck than Bergeron. The four-time Selke Trophy winner was recently named a finalist for the 2019-20 award, and for good reason.

Even at age 35, Bergeron remains nearly unparalleled when it comes to the 200-foot game. His versatility will once again be critical when Boston faces the rest of the Eastern Conference's best squads.

Biggest question mark

Can the Bruins pick up where they left off at the pause, justify their status as the Presidents' Trophy winners, and avenge last year's crushing loss in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final? After coming so close one season ago, nothing short of a title will do this time around.

Tampa Bay Lightning

How they stack up

Season recap

Considering the shockingly premature conclusion of their 2018-19 campaign, the Lightning responded well this season. Tampa Bay posted the NHL's second-best record and authored a plus-50 goal differential that only the Bruins surpassed.

The Lightning's multiple offensive weapons produced at their usual high levels, Andrei Vasilevskiy turned in another excellent campaign in the crease, and veteran addition Kevin Shattenkirk proved to be one of the most cost-effective acquisitions in the league.

Key player to watch

Nikita Kucherov

Kucherov didn't duplicate the 128-point campaign that netted him the Hart and Art Ross trophies in 2018-19, but the electric winger had a strong follow-up season with a team-leading 33 goals and 85 points in 68 games.

He's still one of the league's most dangerous offensive talents, and one of the most fun to watch.

Biggest question mark

Tampa Bay captain Steven Stamkos missed time with an injury prior to the pause and sat out on-ice sessions at the start of training camp, but he's since returned to practice and is expected to suit up in the round-robin stage.

With Stamkos on track to play, the Lightning's primary concern remains the same as it's been since last April: Putting the humiliation of the Columbus Blue Jackets' first-round sweep behind them once and for all. Can this team do it?

Expectations are lower for the Lightning after they lacked the historic regular-season dominance they displayed one campaign prior. Regardless, Tampa Bay will be looking to fully quell any remaining doubts.

Washington Capitals

How they stack up

Season recap

The well-oiled Capitals machine kept rolling in 2019-20, buoyed by its superstar captain, a talented supporting cast of forwards, and a standout season from its best defenseman.

John Carlson led all NHL rearguards with 75 points this season - 10 more than Nashville Predators captain Roman Josi, who finished second. The Washington blue-liner was rightfully named a Norris Trophy finalist for his efforts, along with Josi and Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman.

The Capitals claimed the Metropolitan Division title by a single point, and though the team was less than spectacular in several areas, Washington was once again one of the league's most dynamic clubs.

Key player to watch

Alex Ovechkin

Ovechkin continues to defy Father Time, tying for the league lead with 48 goals at the age of 34. He reached that tally in two fewer games than Pastrnak, with whom he'll share the Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy. It's the ninth time Ovechkin has secured the award - no one else has won it more than twice since its introduction in 1998-99.

The Russian sniper turns 35 in September but showed no signs of fading down the stretch. He buried eight goals over the last 10 games before the pause and netted a remarkable 24 markers across the final 25 contests. Only four of those 24 goals - and just 13 of Ovechkin's 48 on the campaign - came on the power play.

Biggest question mark

The Capitals' most pressing issue is goaltending. Braden Holtby had another mediocre regular season in 2019-20, and though he's proven he can elevate his game in the playoffs, Washington's No. 1 netminder will be under even greater pressure to do so now that his backup, rookie phenom Ilya Samsonov, is out with an injury.

Holtby, 30, will have very little margin for error. Neither Pheonix Copley nor Vitek Vanecek - his two potential backups - has any playoff experience.

A pending unrestricted agent, Holtby will have to shoulder the load and once again perform at a high level in the postseason if the Capitals are to have any chance of repeating the championship success of 2018.

Philadelphia Flyers

How they stack up

Season recap

The Flyers were the NHL's most pleasantly surprising team in 2019-20, going 9-1-0 over their final 10 games to finish with the Eastern Conference's fourth-best record.

Head coach Alain Vigneault was named a finalist for the Jack Adams Award in recognition of his club's performance, and it wasn't just for the way Philadelphia finished the shortened regular season. The Flyers turned things around following a four-game losing skid that spilled into the first week of 2020, going 19-6-1 from Jan. 8 until the pause.

Travis Konecny led the team in scoring in his fourth NHL campaign, recording 24 goals and 61 points. The 23-year-old set a career high in the latter category and tied his personal best in the former while playing in just 66 games.

Key player to watch

Sean Couturier

Couturier took a big step forward in 2019-20, cementing himself as one of the most underrated players in the league. He finished two points behind Konecny and was selected as a Selke Trophy finalist, with many considering him the clear-cut favorite to be named the league's best defensive forward.

Much like Bergeron, Couturier isn't overly flashy, and his contributions don't always make the highlight reel. But the Philadelphia center is now the most versatile forward in the NHL, and he's proven he can create offense at a high clip while shutting down opposing teams' best players.

Biggest question mark

Carter Hart played well in his second NHL season, posting a .914 save percentage and 4.47 GSAA in 43 appearances. The netminder was a major reason for the Flyers' late-season surge, going 11-3-0 with a sizzling .929 save percentage over his final 14 games dating back to Jan. 8 when Philadelphia began its rapid climb up the standings.

But the Flyers' goaltender of the present and future is still young - he turns 22 on Aug. 13 - and has yet to play a game in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Hart's response to the postseason spotlight and the pressure that accompanies it will go a long way in determining how far Philadelphia advances.

(Analytics source: Natural Stat Trick)

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The 8-seed Calgary Flames will take on the ninth-seeded Winnipeg Jets in a Western Conference matchup that features a strong cast of talents on each side.

After having their blue line ravaged in the offseason, the Jets look to advance to the round of 16 for the third straight year, while the Flames seek to avenge their subpar campaign. There will be little room for error in a series that's too close to call.

Schedule

Tale of the tape

Season series

The Jets and Flames met just once in 2019-20, and never indoors. The sides faced off at the Heritage Classic on a snowy October night in Regina, Saskatchewan, with Winnipeg storming back to win in overtime on a goal by Bryan Little. Nearly 10 months later, weighing the significance of that outcome to this best-of-five series feels like a lost cause.

Key players to watch

Johnny Gaudreau

After being held to one assist in the club's disappointing first-round loss against the Colorado Avalanche, Johnny Gaudreau was not himself this season. He was on pace for 68 points over 82 games, which would have represented a 31-point drop-off from 2018-19, and his expected goals for percentage of 49.02 at five-on-five was the lowest mark since his rookie campaign.

Gaudreau's game-breaking ability also seemed lacking throughout most of the campaign. The electric winger mustered just 14 multi-point efforts after recording 26 such outings last season.

If the Flames' perennial producer can recapture his form this summer, Calgary has an excellent chance of advancing to the round of 16 for the third time in four seasons.

Kyle Connor

While Mark Scheifele is arguably the Jets' most complete player, Connor has quietly developed into one of the game's premier goal-scorers. The 23-year-old sniper hit the 30-goal plateau for the third straight campaign with a career-best, team-leading 38 tallies this season while sharing the club lead with 73 points.

Connor doesn't rely on power-play time to make an impact, either, as his 28 even-strength goals are tied for fourth in the league. He's also got a knack for making timely contributions - he's tied for fifth with 12 game-winning goals since the beginning of the 2018-19 season. Connor's dominance could afford linemate Patrik Laine more space to operate, bolstering the Jets' attack.

Jets can win if ...

They stay out of the penalty box. Winnipeg has an excellent team save percentage at five-on-five, but its penalty kill is in the bottom third of the league. Calgary's star-studded power play, meanwhile, converted on 21.2% of its opportunities this season, but the Flames finished 20th in even-strength scoring.

Flames can win if ...

They get strong goaltending from either David Rittich or Cam Talbot. Calgary should be able to keep up offensively, but the Flames' duo in goal is going up against one of the world's best in Connor Hellebuyck. It will be awfully hard for Calgary to stay afloat if the team makes a habit of giving up weak goals - especially early in games.

X-factors

Connor Hellebuyck

Hellebuyck has been the Jets' X-factor all year, and they'll need the Vezina Trophy candidate to maintain his level of play despite the lengthy layoff. The club finds itself in the postseason despite ranking last in expected goals for percentage (43.57) and share of high-danger scoring chances (40.38) at five-on-five.

The 6-foot-4 puck-stopper faced more shots than any netminder while ranking second in minutes played. He also led the league with six shutouts and his goals saved above average (22.40) trailed only Tuukka Rask. Simply put, the Jets' season would likely be over if it wasn't for Hellebuyck's heroics.

Matthew Tkachuk

Whether it be through a big goal, hit, or even a fight, Tkachuk can swing the momentum of a game in multiple ways and takes pride in getting under opponents' skin. The 22-year-old winger was one of only three players to record over 60 points and 120 hits this season.

Tkachuk uses his bulky frame to win pucks in the dirty areas of the ice and is often rewarded for his tenacity. He ranked fifth in the league in penalties drawn this season and will play an important role in putting the Jets' subpar penalty kill to work. He also drives possession for the Flames, leading the team with a Corsi For rating of 54.3 at even strength.

(Analytics source: Natural Stat Trick)

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