The two-time defending Stanley Cup champions Florida Panthers missed the playoffs following an injury-plagued season, so a new champion will be crowned in 2026.
While the Presidents’ Trophy Colorado Avalanche are the heavy favorites, we have to remember that anything can happen in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. In fact, only eight Presidents’ Trophy winners have sipped from Lord Stanley’s mug in the last 35 years. That means that we can always find value on 2026 Stanley Cup odds from BMR’s top-rated sportsbooks.
So, who will win the Stanley Cup? Will it be favorites like the Avalanche, Lightning, or Hurricanes? Or can a sleeper emerge, like the Senators or Canadiens? Perhaps this can even be a year where a longshot underdog can win the Stanley Cup. With a wide-open field, there’s no shortage of intrigue.
2026 Stanley Cup Betting Odds
2026 Stanley Cup betting odds are courtesy of BetOnline Sportsbook.
| Team | Stanley Cup Odds | Conference | First-Round Opponent |
| Colorado Avalanche | +320 | West | Los Angeles Kings |
| Tampa Bay Lightning | +450 | East | Montreal Canadiens |
| Carolina Hurricanes | +525 | East | Ottawa Senators |
| Dallas Stars | +1100 | West | Minnesota Wild |
| Edmonton Oilers | +1100 | West | Anaheim Ducks |
| Vegas Golden Knights | +1200 | West | Utah Mammoth |
| Buffalo Sabres | +1400 | East | Boston Bruins |
| Minnesota Wild | +1600 | West | Dallas Stars |
| Ottawa Senators | +1800 | East | Carolina Hurricanes |
| Montreal Canadiens | +2500 | East | Tampa Bay Lightning |
| Pittsburgh Penguins | +3300 | East | Philadelphia Flyers |
| Utah Mammoth | +4000 | East | Vegas Golden Knights |
| Los Angeles Kings | +6000 | West | Colorado Avalanche |
| Philadelphia Flyers | +6000 | East | Pittsburgh Penguins |
| Anaheim Ducks | +6600 | West | Edmonton Oilers |
| Boston Bruins | +6600 | East | Buffalo Sabres |
The Avalanche should be tough to stop with stacked top-heavy talent like Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar, but we all know how Presidents’ Trophy winners have fared in recent years. Just look at the Jets last season.
The Lightning have Stanley Cup experience, but a tough road through the first two rounds, taking on the Canadiens and then likely the Sabres, who are the hottest team in the NHL.
The Sabres could carry over that hot streak into the playoffs. However, their lack of experience can be a major factor.
Looking further down the odds table, the Senators are a viable dark horse, but they’ll have to go through a Hurricanes team that has come close to the Stanley Cup in recent years.
As for longshots, the Kings are coming in hot following a coaching change, although a first-round date with the Presidents’ Trophy Avalanche has them in a tough spot.
Meanwhile, the Ducks take on an underachieving Oilers team. Could they shock the world by going on a deep run? Let’s dive in to find out more about each playoff team.
Tier 1: THE FAVORITES (+300 to +525)
The favorites look great on paper, but I prefer to avoid paying such expensive prices in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, where so many upsets happen each year.
Colorado Avalanche (+320)
The Avalanche check every box when looking at advanced metrics. In 5-on-5 play, they rank 2nd in Shot Attempt% and 1st in Expected Goal Differential. That means that they’re consistently controlling the play, which isn’t surprising considering they have two of the three best players in the NHL in MacKinnon and Makar. With other supporting pieces like Martin Necas and Brock Nelson, the Avs are going to be tough to beat.
With that said, there are a couple of concerns with this team. For one, there’s always the question of whether they peaked too early, having won the Presidents’ Trophy. On top of that, while goaltender Scott Wedgewood finished 6th in Save% Above Expected, he’s relatively inexperienced, as this was his only 40+ game season of his seven-year career.
With that in mind, I’m not willing to lay +320 chalk on the Avs. The price is simply too steep, especially since they’ll have to play the Stars or the Wild in the second round.
Tampa Bay Lightning (+450)
The Lightning are a popular choice to win the Stanley Cup, getting the largest handle at BetMGM. That’s not surprising considering their championship pedigree, with several holdovers from the 2020 and 2021 Stanley Cup-winning teams, including Nikita Kucherov and Andrei Vasilevskiy.
However, there’s a good chance that the Lightning will have to play without top defenseman Victor Hedman, who is away from the team due to personal reasons. While he’s missed a large chunk of the season, so they’ve been able to thrive without him, this is still a major loss. Surprise breakout Darren Raddysh will have to carry the load on the blueline.
Add in the fact that the Lightning draw a tough matchup in the first round with the red-hot Canadiens, and I suggest passing at the current +450 price.
Carolina Hurricanes (+525)
The Hurricanes will look to finally get to the Stanley Cup after falling short in the Eastern Conference Finals in three of the last six seasons. Once again, this is an analytics darling, coming in at 1st in Shot Attempt% and 2nd in Expected Goal Differential at even strength. With Nikolaj Ehlers providing more scoring punch up front, this is an excellent team.
One of my concerns here is between the pipes. While Frederik Andersen has playoff experience, he’s been underwhelming at times. On the other hand, Brandon Bussi is a total wild card, having come out of nowhere for a surprise breakout season.
We also have to acknowledge that their first-round matchup is quite daunting. The Senators ranked 5th in Shot Attempt% and 3rd in Expected Goal Differential this season. They’re arguably much better than their wild card finish in the standings. With that in mind, there’s a reasonable chance that the Canes are out first round, so I’ll pass at +525.
Tier 2: THE SLEEPERS (+1100 to +3300)
This next tier is where you can find some real value, especially since it’s a mix of both underachieving and red-hot teams.
Dallas Stars (+1100)
The Stars are a terrific value at +1100 odds because they’re such a well-rounded group. You have talent up front with Jason Robertson, Miko Rantanen, and Wyatt Johnston. The blueline is anchored by a franchise defenseman in Miro Heiskanen. Add in one of the best goaltenders in Jake Oettinger, and you can see why this is a dangerous team.
The problem with the Stars is they have arguably the most difficult path through the first two rounds, forced to take on the Wild and then likely the Avalanche. These are two of the best teams in the NHL, so losing in the first round is within the realm of possibilities.
With that said, this team has the balance to go on a deep run and finally win the Stanley Cup after years of going deep. Dallas is my pick to make the Stanley Cup out of the Western Conference.
Edmonton Oilers (+1100)
You can never count out the Oilers with Connor McDavid, especially with them losing to Florida in back-to-back Stanley Cup Finals, and now the Panthers aren’t in the playoffs. With one of the easier first-round matchups on paper against the Ducks, the Oilers are in a good spot.
However, the problem remains what it is every single year: goaltending. Even though Connor Ingram finished the year strong, the jury is still out on whether he can perform well enough when it means most.
While I like the value at +1100 odds, especially with an easier path through the first couple of rounds, I’m going to pass on the Oilers this year. Aside from goaltending, they’re weaker in 5-on-5 than usual, coming in 12th in Shot Attempt%.
Vegas Golden Knights (+1200)
The Vegas Golden Knights are one of the more intriguing teams on this list. After firing Bruce Cassidy with eight games left in the regular season, they’ve gone 7-0-1 since bringing in John Tortorella. That “new head coach” spark could be just enough for the Golden Knights to build momentum for a deep run.
However, we have to acknowledge that this late-season surge can just be a flash in the pan. After all, this is a team that had only 38 regulation wins this year, which is the same as the Penguins, who aren’t considered cup contenders.
With that said, the path is easier in the Pacific Division, as the Golden Knights could face the Oilers after the Mammoth (whereas the Avalanche have to face the Stars or Wild). I can see this team getting to the Western Conference Finals.
Buffalo Sabres (+1400)
Here we have my pick to win the Stanley Cup this season. The Sabres are as balanced as it gets up front, with five forwards notching 50+ points and another two with 40+ points. Tage Thompson (40 goals) leads the way. Add in a deep blueline with Rasmus Dahlin, Bowen Byram, Mattias Samuelsson, and Owen Power. This is why they went 39-9-5 in their final 49 games of the year.
The problem here is in postseason experience and question marks in goal. While the tandem of Alex Lyon and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen performed well, we have to see how they respond under the bright lights. My prediction is that the Sabres’ defense helps them overcome question marks in net, en route to a Stanley Cup run.
Minnesota Wild (+1600)
The Wild took off once they acquired Quinn Hughes, giving them one of the best defenseman in the NHL. Add in a superstar winger in Kirill Kaprizov, along with depth like Matt Boldy, and you can see why this is an appealing team.
But the Stars have more experience and more chemistry, having gone on deep runs in recent years. That gives them the edge over the Wild for me in the first round.
Having such a tough matchup to start the playoffs is what puts the Wild behind the eight ball for me here. I don’t see them getting past the Stars.
Ottawa Senators (+1800)
The Senators have had a ton of line movement due to their late-season surge. This is an analytics darling that ranked 3rd in Expected Goal Differential. Don’t be surprised if they put a scare in the Hurricanes, even potentially knocking them out in the first round.
The question I have for this team is in net with Linus Ullmark, who has been inconsistent at times. But he can also be quite effective when he’s on his game, so the Sens have a ton of upside here.
Aside from the Sabres and Stars, the Sens are my favorite dark horse on this list.
Montreal Canadiens (+2500)
The Canadiens are a flashy young team loaded with talent like Cole Caufield, Nick Suzuki, Juraj Slafkovsky, and Lane Hutson. That kind of youthful exuberance can propel teams to deep playoff runs.
The first round features a tough matchup against the Lightning. It’s a matchup of youth vs. experience. It wouldn’t surprise me to see the Habs pull off the upset.
However, having to face the Lightning and then likely Sabres in the first two rounds is a daunting task.
Pittsburgh Penguins (+3300)
What a story: Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Kris Letang are back in the postseason. Who would have thought? This team was expected to miss the playoffs this year, but here they are with home ice advantage.
The Pens get a good draw in the first round with the Flyers, who are another surprising team that was expected to be golfing at this point. I give Pittsburgh the edge in this matchup due to experience.
But beyond that, I find it hard to see the Pens getting past the Canes or even the Senators.
Tier 3: THE LONGSHOTS (+4000 and Beyond)
Here are some longshots, including some teams that could be worth a sprinkle.
Utah Mammoth (+4000)
The Mammoth could put a scare into the Golden Knights in the first round. This team was 6th in Expected Goal Differential this year, so the advanced metrics look strong. However, with Vegas taking off under Tortorella, I’m backing the Golden Knights there.
Los Angeles Kings (+6000)
What a great story it would be for the Kings to go on a deep run in Anze Kopitar’s last season. Bringing in Artemi Panarin and replacing Jim Hiller at coach will help, but facing the Presidents’ Trophy-winning Avalanche makes them likely out first round.
Philadelphia Flyers (+6000)
The Flyers are a well-coached team by Rick Tocchet, exceeding expectations to get into the postseason. It should be fun to see another battle of Pennsylvania against the Penguins, but beyond that, I don’t see a deep run from this team. Too much inexperience.
Anaheim Ducks (+6600)
The Ducks are definitely on the right track, having already exceeded expectations to get into the playoffs. Facing the experienced Oilers in the first round is a tough task, though. It also doesn’t bode well that this team went 2-6-2 in their last 10 games to finish the season.
Boston Bruins (+6600)
Yet another team that shocked the world to make the playoffs. The Bruins performed well against the Sabres, winning three of four meetings in the regular season. But Buffalo is simply much better on paper, so I see a first-round exit from Boston.
Key Historical Trends for Stanley Cup Futures
Here are some key historical trends to remember when placing Stanley Cup futures:
- Presidents’ Trophy curse: Only 8 of 35 winners (22.9%) have won the Cup.
- Favorites win more often than not: Since 2010, only 5 teams priced above +1000 have won the Cup. The winner almost always comes from the top 5 on the board.
- Eastern Conference dominance: The East has won 7 of the last 10 Cups.
- Goaltending is king: The team with the better goaltender in a series wins roughly 60% of the time in the playoffs. That gives teams like the Lightning an edge, with goalies like Vasilevskiy.
Final Thoughts
The 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs are shaping up to be one of the most wide-open in recent memory. With Florida out of the picture after back-to-back titles, a new champion is guaranteed and that alone should have bettors sharpening their pencils.
Colorado enters as the rightful favorite, but history tells us Presidents’ Trophy winners cash tickets less often than the public thinks. That’s where the sleepers earn their keep: Carolina and Tampa Bay both offer legitimate championship upside at friendlier prices, while Dallas and Buffalo sit in that sweet spot where value meets credibility. And for bettors chasing the big score, longshots like Montreal and a handful of Western dark horses carry the kind of odds that can turn a small wager into a playoff run to remember just ask anyone who took the 2019 Blues at +10000.
The smart play? Don’t put all your chips on one team. Spread your action across a favorite, a sleeper, and a longshot to keep skin in the game deep into June. And whatever direction you lean, make sure you’re shopping for the best number – a few cents of value on every bet adds up fast over a two-month tournament.
