Even baseball betting players sit around before the season and evaluate the offseason’s transactions and in the NHL, it’s no different and it was a busy offseason in 2011. Here is a look at the three worst moves heading into training camp

Tomas Kaberle To Carolina

Kaberle was finally shipped out of Toronto and won a Stanley Cup with Boston, but he didn’t play very well after moving to Beantown. The Hurricanes snapped up Kaberle for $12.75 million over three years, and coach Paul Maurice is taking a big chance as he butted heads with Kaberle in Toronto about his lack of attention to defense.

Vancouver Not Re-Signing Raffi Torres

Torres was one of the sparks of Vancouver’s run to the Cup finals with his physical play, but they decided not to re-up with the gritty forward and he signed with Phoenix for $3.5 million over two years. The Canucks are going to miss Torres’ willingness to go into the corners and he was a fan favorite in Vancouver for his big hits. He could affect Vancouver’s sports betting chances more than they realizes.

Erik Cole To Montreal

The Canadiens spent $18 million over four years on Cole, who can be productive when he is healthy, as he proved by playing 82 games for the first time in his career. But prior to that, Cole had played 57 games in two seasons and that always has to be a worry of any team that employs Cole. But if he can stay on the ice, Cole can be a real boost to Montreal’s online betting chances.

Even though MLB betting is still in full swing, it’s never too early to start thinking about hockey and it has been a busy offseason in the NHL, where a number of players changed teams. Here are the top three moves of the offseason so far.

Andrew Brunette

Not many were talking about this move, but this is a great pickup for the Blackhawks, who get a possible 30-goal player in Brunette. The left winger will be excited to be on a team with a chance, and at a $2 million cap hit, this could turn out to be the thing that boosts Chicago’s sports betting odds.

Simon Gagne

Gagne brings scoring and more importantly, leadership, to Los Angeles from Tampa Bay, but the key for Gagne has always been his health. He notched 40 points in 63 games last year, but he was only $3.5 million and if he can stay on the ice, he’ll be an excellent mentor for some of the young Kings.

Mike Richards/Jeff Carter

It couldn’t be decided which was better, but the Kings picked up Richards from Philadelphia and he’ll be motivated to dispel the rumors that he and Carter were partiers who split the dressing room. The Kings will get one of the best two-way centers in the game and a proven leader. Meanwhile, the Blue Jackets get Carter to go alongside Rick Nash, who finally gets a linemate capable of keeping up with him. It’s also surprising they’ve never been on a national team together given that Nash is a year and a half older than Carter, but they should be excited, and that bodes well for Columbus’ odds when you’re betting online this year.

Each off-season, a number of former NHL stars face the difficult decision of whether to return to the ice or hang up the skates for good. Sometimes injuries might force their hand – Paul Kariya called it a career in June due to his ongoing struggles with concussions – and other times they might just realize that the league has passed them by (Kris Draper).
Along with the aforementioned Draper and Kariya, this summer has also seen the retirements of former Edmonton Oilers captain Doug Weight, three-time Selke winner Jere Lehtinen, and beloved Calgary Flames veteran Craig Conroy. There are still a number of players, though, that could – or should – call it a career.
Mike Modano, C
One of the greatest American-born players in history, Modano spent 2010-11 bouncing between the injured list and the Red Wings’ third line, and it all but appeared he was playing for one last shot at a Cup after an illustrious 20-year career with the Stars. Modano has little to gain by playing another season – he already holds virtually every scoring record for U.S.-born players – and shouldn’t sully his career by bouncing around the league as a rental player.
Likely decision: Retirement
Wade Redden, D
Redden has fallen a long way from his 50-point season for the Ottawa Senators in 2005-06. After signing a lucrative deal with the Rangers in 2008, his play rapidly deteriorated to the point where he found himself in the AHL last season. He was a productive member of the Connecticut Whale, but a 34-year-old two-time NHL All-Star shouldn’t be trying to stretch his career out in the minor leagues. Redden considered retirement last summer; this year he goes through with it.
Likely decision: Retirement
Marc Savard, C
It’s a shame, but Bruins centre Marc Savard’s late-blooming career might be coming to an end. One of the better offensive players of the post-lockout NHL, Savard has spent the majority of the last two seasons on injured reserve. Most alarmingly, he has suffered two concussions since March 2010, and has shown symptoms of post-concussion syndrome. He still has the ability to contribute on the ice but will likely give up the game before it takes an even greater toll on his mental health. At least he goes out as a Stanley Cup champion.
Likely decision: Retirement
Marty Turco, G
Turco was expected to be the primary netminder for the Blackhawks as they looked to defend their Cup championship in 2010-11 but was ineffective and eventually replaced by Corey Crawford. Currently without a contract, Turco could be a decent one-year rental for a team in need of a veteran back-up, but the fat lady appears to be warming up backstage for the former Dallas All-Star.
Likely decision: One more season

Most of the dust has settled from the manic spending spree that was NHL free agency, but there are still a few recognizable names on the market. For the most part, these are aging veterans who have seen much of their talent evaporate in recent years and are facing the prospect of either retiring or joining a team for a minimum salary.

Teams looking for a veteran presence on their lower lines certainly have options, but expecting decent production out of these guys might be unrealistic.

1. Teemu Selanne, RW – Selanne is coming off a season in which he scored 80 points as a 41-year-old, his highest single-season tally since a 94-point year in 2006-07. By rights, he should be close to hanging up the skates and waiting for the Hall of Fame to come calling, but if he chooses to play another season, plenty of teams would be happy to have him. Fans of the reborn Winnipeg Jets would be overjoyed to welcome back one of the greatest players in the city’s history, but the only team The Finnish Flash will consider playing for is the Ducks.

2. Nikolay Zherdev, RW – Zherdev has an excellent offensive skill set, and is only two years removed from a two-season stretch in which he tallied 119 points. The only reason the 26-year-old is still on the market is the possibility he will bolt for the KHL instead of sticking around waiting for a team to call.

3. Bryan McCabe, D – A seven-year veteran of the Toronto Maple Leafs, McCabe is a tough veteran who can still blast pucks from the point. Teams in need of a power-play anchor could do worse than signing McCabe to a one- or two-year deal.

4. Alexei Kovalev, RW – Kovalev didn’t have much of an impact in his second go-round with the Penguins last season, scoring only seven points in 20 games, and has clearly been on the decline since posting 84 points with the Montreal Canadiens in 2007-2008. There’s probably some life left in his skates, and it wouldn’t be far-fetched for the Habs to bring him back and hope he can rediscover his form from a couple years ago.

5. Brent Sopel, D – Sopel isn’t much of an offensive contributor, but he’s one of the better shot-blocking defenceman in the league and would be a solid addition to any team’s locker room.

6. Scott Hannan, D – Like Sopel, he won’t put the puck in the net often, but Hannan’s a solid second- or third-pairing defenceman with plenty of experience. He’ll find a contract somewhere.

7. John Madden, C – Madden isn’t the great two-way centre he was a few years ago, but remains a smart player in his own end who can solidify a young team’s second- or third-line while adding veteran leadership and plenty of playoff experience.

8. Cory Stillman, LW – The well traveled 37-year-old had a small resurgence after being traded back to Carolina last spring, posting 16 points in 21 games. He’s clearly in decline at this point, but could add some punch on a contending team’s lower lines.

9. Chris Campoli, D – His age (only 27) sets him apart from most of the other available defencemen. His 21 points in 2010-11 were the most since he put up 34 as a rookie in 2005-06.

10. Sergei Samsonov, LW – Samsonov has only sniffed the 50-point mark once since 2002 (48 with the Hurricanes in 2008-09), but isn’t too far over the hill at 32 and still has a nice offensive skill set.