Chicago startup's NHL deal creates new way to bet on sports teams' performance

Hockey fans and everyday investors could soon trade on the performance of the Blackhawks or other NHL teams through futures contracts. Chicago-based startup FutureSports announced a landmark deal last week with the NHL that would use official game statistics to establish financial indexes on the league's 32 teams — a first in finance and sports. It comes on the heels of FutureSports' partnership with Loop-based CME Group to offer sports futures contracts. CME operates the world’s largest…