It’s never too early to think about Stanley Cup odds for 2009-10, and I already have my finalist picks in mind. One of them makes the list in light of roster changes – both its own and those of its competitors – while the other gets my vote simply by standing pat so far.

In the West, I like the Chicago Blackhawks. As soon as the playoffs ended, they were already my choice. They have arguably the best young blueline in the NHL, with stalwarts like Duncan Keith, Brent Seabrook and Cam Barker emerging to eat massive minutes and shut down opposing forwards. We know the Hawks can score, thanks to rising stars Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews, but the offense will only get better now that Chicago signed Marian Hossa away from the Red Wings. Not only does he make Chicago that much stronger, his signing also weakens Detroit, the Hawks’ toughest challenger in the West.

In the East, I’m feeling the Boston Bruins’ Northbet Stanley Cup odds. They’ve made no significant moves this offseason but they don’t need to. Their young talent – guys like Milan Lucic and Blake Wheeler – should only get better. They also have the reigning Vezina Trophy winner in Tim Thomas and the reigning Norris Trophy winner in Zdeno Chara. They’re big, tough, cohesive, built for the playoffs…and now they have experience.

There you have it folks – if you want Stanley Cup odds picks, I suggest the Blackhawks and Bruins