The 2025 NHL Stanley Cup champions have just been crowned and we are already looking ahead to next season’s potential winners and their current NHL betting odds.
The Florida Panthers triumphed yet again this season, having won back-to-back Stanley Cups. We have now witnessed 4 of the previous 6 winners come from the state of Florida, as the Tampa Bay Lightning also won back-to-back championships in 2020 and 2021.
Can the Edmonton Oilers finally get their hands on lord Stanley, having finished runners-up to the Panthers in the previous two finals? Will the Panthers make it three in a row, or will we see a new champion crowned in 2026?
2026 Stanley Cup Odds
Below you will find the current Stanley Cup odds, courtesy of the top sportsbooks.
Edmonton and McDavid’s Last Chance
The Edmonton Oilers have started as favorites to hoist the Stanley Cup in 2026, but only by a small margin, as there is nothing separating their odds at +700 and the Florida Panthers’ odds at +750.
The Oilers have had the best player in the NHL in Connor McDavid for the previous few seasons, and he has no doubt proven his ability to lead this Oilers team to back-to-back finals, having had 33 and 42 postseason points across the previous two playoffs.
Let’s be honest here, the Oilers are nowhere near as strong a team without McDavid, and the fact that he (alongside his sidekick Leon Draisaitl) has pulled them into two finals speaks a lot.
All that being said, this is likely McDavid’s final chance with the Oilers to hoist the Stanley Cup in 2026, as Leon Draisaitl’s contract is up at the end of this upcoming season. Although there are rumours he will re-sign, nothing is set in stone and the Oilers need to go all in this season if they wish to honour their favorites tag.
The One Concern
Their line depth has improved over the past 12 months with strong post-season contributions from Evan Bouchard, Zach Hyman, and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins. Their weak link remains to be their goaltending. Along with strengthening their overall depth next season, a solid goaltender is what’s badly needed to give them the best chance of becoming the first Canadian Stanley Cup champions since the Montreal Canadiens in 1993.
What About The Panthers at +750?
The Florida Panthers are a formidable force, and if there is one team we wouldn’t put it past to win three in a row, it is this Panthers team, but we also said the same about their Florida counterparts Tampa Bay when they were aiming for 3 in a row. They did come close, having made it to the finals in 2022, but eventually lost to the Colorado Avalanche 4-2.
The Panthers are a force to be reckoned with, and they have a very fair set of odds at +650 to go for three in a row (the last time this was achieved was by the New York Islanders in 1983).
This team just seems to be a constant up, and with the addition of Brad Marchand to their roster, this Panthers team has all the tools at its disposal to win it all again in 2026.
Who Else Is Dangerous?
Besides the two favorites, the most dangerous teams to hoist the Stanley Cup in 2026 are the Dallas Stars, the Colorado Avalanche, and a team not inside the top 10 in the betting market, the Winnipeg Jets.
Stars Nearly There
The Dallas Stars have been strong for the previous few seasons and just seem to need that push to get themselves where they want to be. Their pre-season odds at +950 are right up our street as they will be dangerous yet again this season, a small improvement is all that’s needed to take them into the finals.
Colorado Still Threatening
Colorado won the cup in 2022 and seems to be in a lull following that win, but they remain dangerous, and just like the Stars, need just a few small additions to make them a formidable force once again.
The Best Value
The Winnipeg Jets, priced at +2200 at Bet365, seem to be the best value play at this moment in time as they have one of the best goaltenders in the league in Connor Hellebuyck, and offensively, they were one of the strongest teams last season. Things just didn’t click for them in last season’s playoffs, but overall, the Jets should be strong yet again next season.
*21+ Seek help with a gambling addiction at 1-800-GAMBLER
*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.
NHL Betting FAQs
Question: Where Can I Go to Make a Bet on The NHL Playoffs?
Answer: The best online sportsbooks are the safest online sportsbooks, which are those licensed in jurisdictions where online sports betting is legal in the United States.
The top-rated books are BetMGM, Caesars, PointsBet, DrafKings, Bet365, Fanduel and BetRivers.
Question: What Types of Bets Are Popular with NHL Hockey?
Answer: The most popular bet is the moneyline where the underdog returns more money than you wagered while the favorite requires you to risk more than you could win. There is no point spread in moneyline wagering, it’s strictly whichever team wins the game wins the bet.
However, puck lines are also common, with the underdog getting +1 goal while the underdog is giving 1 ½ goals. Totals, or over/under betting, is another typical hockey bet where the bettor can bet over or under the posted total.
Question: Do I Have to Bet a Lot?
Answer: No, the minimum bet is as low as $1 and accounts can be funded with as little as $10 at many of the books across the nation.
Props and Bonuses
You can find a list of prop bets at all of the best U.S.-licensed online sportsbooks found right here at OddsTrader. Online sportsbooks like BetMGM, Caesars, PointsBet, DrafKings, Bet365, Fanduel and BetRivers all offer props like “Who Will Win the NHL Playoff MVP Award” and futures to win the Stanley Cup as well as generous signup bonuses.
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.
