The Colorado Avalanche have the shortest odds to win the 2021-22 Stanley Cup Finals at +600.
And yet, they're the largest liability to win it all this season at BetMGM.
The Avalanche also have the most money and bets on them to win their first Stanley Cup since Ray Bourque lifted the trophy in 2001.
Bettors are expecting the best offense in the NHL to finally get over the hump after they've lost in the second round of the playoffs the past two seasons.
And they've shown it with their dollars. Colorado is by far the most popular preseason bet at BetMGM.
The Avalanche have over 23% of the total bets on the Stanley Cup market at BetMGM. Compare that to the second-best mark of over 10% for the New York Islanders.
Colorado has just under 30% of the total money in the market. Second-best are the back-to-back champion Tampa Bay Lightning, which have over 23% of the total.
Much of the Lightning's total money at the sportsbook can be attributed to one big bet.
One bettor at the sportsbook dropped $10,000 on the Lightning at +750 to win it all this season, a representative at BetMGM said. That bet would net $75,000 if Tampa pulls it off.
The Lightning's line has moved to +700 since that wager was made.
After the Avalanche, the Islanders and Lightning have the largest liabilities at the sportsbook to lift the trophy.
The Avalanche have won or reached overtime in at least 74% of their games since the 2019-20 season for an average of about .74 points per game — the second-best mark in the NHL.
Compare that mark to the back-to-back champions in Tampa, who have put up about .69 points per game over that same timeframe.
