With NHL training camps opening, there will no doubt be talk about who is the favorite to win the Stanley Cup.

Here are four teams you may want to consider laying some money on.

After just missing the Stanley Cup finals because of the Edmonton Oilers, the Ducks have much to look forward to come the 2006/07 season. They lost the Disney-esque look, dropped the Mighty from their name, got new uniforms and they managed to acquire one of the very players who helped knock them out of the playoffs.

Having Chris Pronger and Scott Niedermayer on the same blue line will spread fear into players skating into the Anaheim zone.

If goalie Ilya Bryzgalov and Teemu Selanne can play like they did last year—Bryzgalov in the playoffs and Teemu in both the playoffs and regular season—and Andy McDonald isn’t a one year wonder, the Ducks could be seriously hunting for the Cup come the spring.

New York Rangers (+1600)

The Rangers aren’t as talented as the mighty championship team from 1994, but they have the makings of a team on the verge of becoming one of the NHL’s elite.

They have a rejuvenated Jaromir Jagr, they added a veteran like Brendan Shanahan and they have an emerging goalie in Henrik Lundqvist.

They also play in the same division and city as the New York Islanders and should beat up on them routinely this season.

San Jose Sharks (+1000)

It’s amazing how one player can change the fortunes of a team. After Joe Thornton arrived via a trade from Boston, the Sharks elevated their play. Thornton ended up with 96 assists and linemate Jonathan Cheechoo ended up scoring 56 goals. Both will look to build on their 2006 success, so the Sharks look set up front.

It will be an embarrassment of riches between the pipes for San Jose. Although Evgeni Nabokov’s numbers took a dip last year—3.08 GAA and .885 save percentage—a nagging groin injury hampered his play and if he has healed sufficiently, should return to 2003/04 form. If he doesn’t the Sharks needn’t worry because Vesa Toskala is more than ready to pick up the slack.

In 2005/06, Toskala went 23-7-4, had a 2.56 GAA and a .901 save percentage and more importantly he had a 2.45 GAA and .910 save percentage in the playoffs.

Nolan Schaefer compiled a 5-1 record and a 1.87 GAA in limited action last year.

There are two big reasons to consider putting money on Canucks futures this season.

The negative karma from the Marc Crawford and Todd Bertuzzi relationship is gone since both are no longer with the team and that should also be of great benefit.