Hawks, Flyers built for success

Hockey Betting Lines

06/08/2010 - Toronto, Canada (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - No, this is not another tired and circular tirade on the merits of trading draft picks.

Rather, it is a closer look at how the Philadelphia Flyers and Chicago Blackhawks have built championship-caliber teams by picking players with a certain pedigree.

With the success of the Detroit Red Wings over the last 20 years, it is hard to argue that contenders can only be built on a foundation of Canadian passion and American brawn.

Since the fall of the "Iron Curtain", the NHL has diversified significantly and players from across the globe have come together in pursuit of the goal of winning the Stanley Cup.

However, the one common trend among this year's cup finalists is not a player's country of birth, but instead, where they laced up before cracking the NHL.

In the last five finals, only the 2007-2008 Red Wings have hoisted Lord Stanley's mug while dressing a significant number of players who came from overseas (they had 11 in total that year).

The Carolina Hurricanes, Anaheim Ducks and Pittsburgh Penguins each had no more than four European players on their playoff roster.

Of the players who have suited up for the Hawks' run to the final, 14 have come from the Canadian Hockey League (nine from the Western Hockey League and five from the Ontario Hockey League), five from college and only three played competitively in Europe...two of them being goalies.

The Flyers, meanwhile, dress 17 players from the CHL (seven from the OHL and five apiece from the WHL and Quebec Major Junior Hockey League), three by way of the NCAA and two from overseas.

It is not, however, a negative reflection of European players, as the Hawks' Marian Hossa and Tomas Kopecky honed their skills in the WHL, while Lukas Krajicek and Oskars Bartulis of the Flyers crossed the pond to play in the OHL and QMJHL respectively.

While European leagues are capable of producing top-flight players, the fact of the matter is junior hockey and developmental programs in North America provide a better training ground for the style of play most effective in the NHL.

Leading up to the 2010 NHL Entry Draft in Los Angeles, there is once again a heavy dose of North American talent in the first round and beyond.

In most mock drafts and rankings, the consensus is that an average of 19 players will be taken from the CHL while another eight are projected to be selected from the U.S. minor hockey and collegiate system, while only three international players are expected to go in the opening round.

Keep in mind, those figures are estimates and that no one outside the 30 NHL teams themselves knows how things will shake out on June 25.

It should also be noted most general managers wouldn't pass up a potential elite European or Russian talent to grab a North American player with less upside, although this has happened in the past (see Alexei Cherepanov in 2007).

But after watching the rugged yet highly skilled style of play exhibited by the Hawks and the Flyers these playoffs, it is no surprise that prospects from a North American system are preferred to those unaccustomed to the rigors and rules of the NHL.

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Super Bowl XLIV Odds

Super Bowl XLIII isn't even a week old yet and oddsmakers have already released Super Bowl XLIV odds.

Despite the Pittsburgh Steelers winning Super Bowl 43, the New England Patriots are 8/1 favorites to win Super Bowl 44.

Bet Super Bowl XLIV Future Odds

With their 27-23 victory over the Arizona Cardinals in Super Bowl XLIII, the Steelers became the latest NFL champion. But believe it or not, oddsmakers from online sports book MySportsbook.com don't have the Steelers the favorites to win Super Bowl XLIV next season.

That honor belongs to the New England Patriots, who are 8/1 favorites to win despite not even qualify for the postseason in 2008. The Pats also have a major decision to make regarding what to do with Matt Cassel, who played well in Tom Brady's (knee surgery) absence last year but is also a free agent this offseason.

Ironically, the Steelers aren't even oddsmakers second choice to win Super Bowl 44, as the Dallas Cowboys are listed right behind the Patriots at 9/1 despite not making the playoffs themselves. Clearly oddsmakers think the public will hop back on the Cowboys' bandwagon considering the immense talent they have and the opening of a brand new stadium.

After Dallas, then comes Pittsburgh at 10/1, but they share those odds with the New York Giants, who won Super Bowl XLII. The Indianapolis Colts and San Diego Chargers round out the top six teams at 12/1, while the Baltimore Ravens (14/1), Tennessee Titans (16/1), Carolina Panthers (18/1) and Philadelphia Eagles (18/1) complete the top 10.

The NFC Champion Arizona Cardinals got no love from oddsmakers as they were established as a 30/1 long shot to win next year's Super Bowl. They share those same odds with the Chicago Bears and Tampa Bay Buccaneers – two teams that didn't even qualify for the postseason. Other long shots are the Kansas City Chiefs (100/1), Detroit Lions (100/1), St. Louis Rams (75/1) and Oakland Raiders (75/1).

To see a complete list of all the team's odds to win Super Bowl XLIV, check below.

NFL TEAM FUTURE ODDS TO WIN SUPER BOWL XLIV

New England Patriots 8/1

Dallas Cowboys 9/1

New York Giants 10/1

Pittsburgh Steelers 10/1

Indianapolis Colts 12/1

San Diego Chargers 12/1

Baltimore Ravens 14/1

Tennessee Titans 16/1

Carolina Panthers 18/1

Philadelphia Eagles 18/1

New Orleans Saints 20/1

Atlanta Falcons 25/1

Denver Broncos 25/1

Green Bay Packers 25/1

Jacksonville Jaguars 25/1

Minnesota Vikings 25/1

New York Jets 25/1

Arizona Cardinals 30/1

Chicago BearS 30/1

Tampa Bay Buccaneers 30/1

Buffalo Bills 35/1

Houston TexaNS 35/1

Miami Dolphins 35/1

Washington Redskins 35/1

Seattle SeahawkS 50/1

Cleveland Browns 55/1

Cincinnati Bengals 60/1

San Francisco 49ers 60/1

Oakland Raiders 75/1

St. Louis Rams 75/1

Detroit Lions 100/1

Kansas City Chiefs 100/1

Odds as of: 2/2/09

Bet Super Bowl XLIV Future Odds

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