The NHL is getting to the final stages of the season as most teams have played 60/65% of their regular season games. With the Edmonton Oilers now favorites to lift the Stanley Cup, there are plenty of teams hot on their tail in the future betting markets with top-rated sportsbooks.
OddsTrader Betting Edge
- The Edmonton Oilers are now the favorites to win the Stanley Cup in 2024, at the beginning of the season they were the second favorites to do so.
- The Oilers have not been to a Stanley Cup final since 2007, they were beaten that year in game seven against the Carolina Hurricanes
- Amazingly, there is very little separating the favorites in this year’s Stanley Cup future betting market with just two dollars separating the top nine in the market at +900 for 1st and +1100 for 9th favorite.
- The Edmonton Oilers and Carolina Hurricanes have made the most strides in recent months, having gone way out in the futures betting market to +1800 (Oilers) and +2300 (Hurricanes). They are now the 1st and 8th favorites respectively.
- Since 2010, just five teams with odds higher than +1000 have won the Stanley Cup.
2024 Stanley Cup Odds
Below you will find the Stanley Cup odds courtesy of Caesars Sportsbook (check our Caesars Sportsbook Review)
| Team | Odds |
|---|---|
| New York Rangers | +675 |
| Carolina Hurricanes | +700 |
| Edmonton Oilers | +750 |
| Florida Panthers | +750 |
| Colorado Avalance | +800 |
| Dallas Stars | +850 |
| Boston Bruins | +1100 |
| Vegas Golden Knights | +1100 |
| Vancouver Canucks | +1300 |
| Toronto Maple Leafs | +1500 |
| Winnipeg Jets | +1800 |
| Tampa Bay Lightning | +2500 |
| Los Angeles Kings | +3300 |
| Nashville Predators | +4000 |
| New York Islanders | +5500 |
| Washington Capitals | +15000 |
Previous Winners & Their Odds
A list of the previous 10 Stanley Cup winners and their odds before the playoffs.
- 2023: Vegas Golden Knights (+1200)
- 2022: Colorado Avalanche (+350)
- 2021: Tampa Bay Lightning (+800)
- 2020: Tampa Bay Lightning (+650)
- 2019: St. Louis Blues (+1250)
- 2018: Washington Capitals (+1250)
- 2017: Pittsburgh Penguins (+770)
- 2016: Pittsburgh Penguins (+650)
- 2015: Chicago Blackhawks (+800)
- 2014: Los Angeles Kings (+1400)
Top Seven Stanley Cup Contenders
Edmonton Oilers
Despite sitting 11th overall in the NHL standings, they have been on a monster run as of late, winning 27 of their previous 37 games (including a 16-game unbeaten run).
They have started to look good defensively, allowing only 14 goals in their final 14 games of the winning streak, including two shutouts. If they keep their defensive and goaltending strong heading into the playoffs, their +900 favorites tag is worth every penny with Connor McDavid and co.
New York Rangers
The leading team in the overall standings is looking very strong this year, having gone on a 10-game winning streak in recent games.
Respectable second favorites to lift Lord Stanley.
Vancouver Canucks
The surprise package of the season has been the Vancouver Canucks, although our main concern would be their ability to get through the playoffs, but in a Stanley Cup final anything can happen.
Right now, we just can’t see them having that playoff pedigree to take it all the way. A strong regular season team this year, maybe next year they can go one step further. They could still win it all, but we would like better odds than their current 3rd-favorites tag suggests.
Florida Panthers
Last year’s runners-up, the Florida Panthers have upped their game yet again this season and currently sit 4th overall in the standings, but could soon be ranked 1st as they are just one win behind 1st-placed New York and have two games in hand.
At their current odds of +1050 to lift the cup, this seems very reasonable as their playing style is perfect for playoff hockey.
Dallas Stars
The Dallas Stars are ranked 5th overall at the time of writing, and with it being so close between all the top teams, they could also be looking at a top 2 finish as they are just four points behind 1st and have one game in hand and plenty of games left to play.
Our main concern for Dallas in the playoffs would be their defensive frailties, as the Stars have allowed 179 goals (the most of any team ranked inside the top five overall standings). However, scoring shouldn’t be a problem as they have the 3rd most goals thus far this season.
Boston Bruins
The Boston Bruins have the all-time record for the most losses in a Stanley Cup final, which is a concern for the playoffs as they almost always seem to put up a strong showing in the regular season.
The Bruins are ranked 3rd overall and again, like most other teams in the top five of the standings, a win could see them go first as they also have one game in hand. You can never write the Bruins off, but +1050 might seem a little low considering the strong competition surrounding them.
Colorado Avalanche
Being the 2022 champions, Colorado expected a better run in the playoffs last year and they didn’t get it.
This year they have been very similar to Dallas, they can score plenty (2nd highest scorers in the NHL) but they allow a lot of goals as well, as they have allowed the most goals of all the teams inside the top 11. Colorado is one of the teams to keep your eye on as playoff hockey might suit their style of play.
2024 NHL Playoffs Schedule
Saturday, April 20
- Game 1: Islanders vs. Hurricanes – 05:00 PM ET
- Game 2: Maple Leafs vs. Bruins – 08:00 PM ET
Sunday, April 21
- Game 1: Lightning vs. Panthers – 12:30 PM ET
- Game 2: Capitals vs. Rangers – 03:00 PM ET
*Western Conference to be defined
*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.
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.
NHL Betting FAQ’s
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.
