The folks at Bodog continue to spoil hockey fans with tantalizing prop betting lines for the 2011-12 season. Their latest bit of whimsy: Over/Under lines for some of the NHL's top offensive players for all 30 teams.
A few of the more interesting predictions:
Sidney Crosby, 79.5 points: Obviously, the amount of games Crosby misses at the start of the season is the key. Crosby's career points-per-game average is 1.39. In order to hit 79 points at that scoring clip, he'd need around 57 games.
Patrick Kane, 75.5 points: Assuming he sticks at center and remains healthy, Kane should clear this number faster than a waitress clearing empty bottles around his slumbering head at closing time.
Paul Stastny, 66.5 points: The Avs' center has averaged 71.25 points when he's played at least 65 games in a season. This would seem like a sure "over" … but that's why the house usually wins.
Taylor Hall, 55.5 points: Can the sophomore improve his point total by 13 year-to-year? Totally, especially when you consider the power play should be better for the Oilers.
Rick Nash, 71.5 points: At face, it almost seems insulting to think that the Blue Jackets acquired Jeff Carter to play with Nash and the captain can't get over 75 points. Then you realize he's only gotten over 70 points once in his eight-year NHL career, and you're suddenly thinking "under."
Coming up, the full slate of over/under lines. Which players do you think are the sure things, and which ones are the sucker bets?
Huh … 63.5 points for Jaromir Jagr, eh?