The Olympic break is finally over. After watching Team USA capture gold in both men’s and women’s hockey, it’s time to take an updated look at NHL betting odds as we head to the second half of the season. The Colorado Avalanche are the current favorites to win the Stanley Cup, but it will be interesting to see if anyone can stop that high-powered offense.
There are still several contenders for this season, and when we ignore the favorites in the betting market, we start to find much better value across the board.
2026 Stanley Cup Winner Odds
Below you will find the current Stanley Cup odds, courtesy of the top sportsbooks.
Can Anyone Stop the Avalanche?
The Avalanche have been the best team in the NHL all year long, overcoming a tough division that also includes the Wild and the Stars. Nathan MacKinnon is having a Hart Trophy season, while Cale Makar continues to play like the best defenseman in the NHL.
With that said, we all know how unpredictable the Stanley Cup playoffs can be. Think back to when the Lightning won the Presidents’ Trophy and then shockingly lost to the Blue Jackets a few years ago.
Considering these circumstances, it makes sense to fade the chalk and look further down the board for other potential winners.
The Lightning Are Back
After a couple of early playoff exits following their Stanley Cup runs, the Lightning are back, cementing themselves as the clear-cut top team in the Eastern Conference. Nikita Kucherov is having yet another spectacular year, while Darren Raddysh has been one of the biggest surprises in the NHL.
With Andrei Vasilevskiy between the pipes and Victor Hedman anchoring the blueline, the Lightning have all the pieces in place for another Stanley Cup run. The one issue is that they’re in a tougher division in the East, so the path is more difficult than the next team on this list.
As with the Avalanche, you can find more value if you dig a bit deeper than the Lightning.
Carolina Hopeful Again
We’ve been harping on about the Carolina Hurricanes winning the Stanley Cup for a few seasons now, yet they always seem to fall short. They’ve reached the Eastern Conference Finals in three of the past six seasons but have finished as runners-up each time.
They have strengthened for this season with the addition of former Winnipeg Jets forward Nikolaj Ehlers, who has brought much-needed pace to their lineup and has improved their powerplay as well.
What’s great about taking the Hurricanes is that they have an easier path to the Eastern Conference. There’s a chance that they could face the Penguins in the first round.
Edmonton’s Final Stand
Honestly, what do the Oilers have to do to get over the hump, having lost to the Panthers in back-to-back Finals? Without a doubt, this feels like one of the Oilers’ last chances to win the Stanley Cup with Connor McDavid. If they fall short again, a rebuild could be coming soon.
As always, the main issue for the Oilers is goaltending. The hope is that Tristan Jerry, acquired from the Penguins earlier in the year, can be the missing piece to this puzzle.
We can never count out this team because of McDavid (and Leon Draisaitl), but we need to see them get it done this time around.
Notable Mentions
The Dallas Stars, the Vegas Golden Knights, and the Minnesota Wild are three teams that should give you a serious run for your money this season. Dallas has been knocking on the door for a few years now, while the Golden Knights were crowned champions in 2023. The Wild have taken the next step since acquiring Quinn Hughes.
Shop for Odds
If you want to compare the various NHL Odds, then click on the link and you will see the point spreads, moneylines, and totals at all of the best books in the industry.
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*The line and/or odds referenced in this article might have changed since the content was published. For the latest information on line movements, visit OddsTrader’s free betting odds tool.
