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Posted at 12:45 PM EST.

Vancouver +118 over EDMONTON

10:05 PM EST. OT included. Perhaps the Oilers will improve over last year’s hugely disappointing season but we’re not so sure that will happen. While we like some of the pieces, that can be said about every team in the NHL. We also understand that with Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, the Oilers are capable of winning any time. However, Edmonton is a top-heavy team that is too risky to get behind when asked to spot a price. McDavid, Draisaitl and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins accounted for over half of the Oilers’ goals last season. They all had career years and the Oilers still weren’t close to a playoff spot. Ken Holland, the new GM was brought in to clean up the mess left behind and it’s going to take time. Edmonton has one great line and little depth up front. They have four average d-men (Adam Larsson, Oscar Klefbom, Darnell Nurse, and Kris Russell) with little depth behind them and they’re goaltending is a huge question mark with Mike Smith and Mikko Koskinen.

By contrast, the Canucks are rising and are almost sure to improve over last year. First off, the Canucks are stable at the goaltending position going into the regular season. If Jacob Markstrom is able to replicate or even improve upon his 2018-19 season, they have a very capable starter. Quinn Hughes will be given every opportunity to succeed this season. Paired primarily with Chris Tanev in the preseason, he has looked very comfortable. His fluid skating and elite vision have been on full display and he looks ready to begin his assault on the Calder Trophy. New additions such as Quinn Hughes, J.T. Miller, Micheal Ferland, Tyler Myers, Jordie Benn and Oscar Fantenberg have clogged the roster because only a few regulars were moved out. Add in the continued improvement of the core-three of Elias Pettersson, Bo Horvat, and Brock Boeser and the Canucks should have an easier time scoring goals this season. Pettersson, in particular, was impressive throughout the preseason, showing off his soft hands and impeccable release. All signs point to him being even more of a threat than last year. Incidentally and for what it’s worth, the Canucks PP was wicked in the preseason. Vancouver has a roster that ticks off a lot of boxes: skilled youth, veteran experience, stable goaltending, impressive depth, toughness, mobility and a fine communicative coach in Travis Green. As a dog against the Oil, pencil us in.

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