2024 Stanley Cup Odds, Analysis & Predictions for Favorites, Underdogs and Longshots

2024 Stanley Cup Odds, Analysis & Predictions for Favorites, Underdogs and Longshots

 

With the All-Star game now in the rearview mirror, the push for playoff spots in the NHL is now truly underway. 2024 Stanley Cup Odds: Favorites at the Moment, Underdogs and Long Shots | MyBookie Sportsbook

We are at the stage of the season where teams are about to look at where they are and decide how they want to progress. Some teams will almost certainly be moving players on, while those in the hunt for the Stanley Cup will be looking to add a piece or two as they prepare for what they hope will be a deep postseason run. Between now and the end of the regular season, we are almost certainly going to see the odds to win the Cup change, but we thought it might be fun to take a look at where things stand right now. We will look at the current Stanley Cup odds and drop teams into 3 distinct brackets: favorites, underdogs (dark horses), and longshots, so let’s get to it.

 

Stanley Cup Favorites

 

Edmonton Oilers

If you had suggested that the Oilers were the favorites to win the Stanley Cup a month or so ago, you may well have been laughed out of the room. This was a team that was underperforming before going on a run that saw them win 16 straight games. While they have cooled off a little after that unbelievable run, the Oilers have still won 8 of their last 10 games and now look like a team preparing for a strong second half of the season and a deep playoff run. That said, I’m still a little surprised that they are the favorites to win it all.

Boston Bruins

After winning the President’s Trophy last season, the Bruins entered the postseason as a huge favorite, only to fall at the first hurdle against the Florida Panthers. While not as dominating as they were last year, the Bruins are still very good and have the lead in the Atlantic Division. They are 2nd best in the league in goal differential at the moment, but as good as they have looked, there is still some concern about their ability to get the job done in the postseason.

Colorado Avalanche

The Avalanche showed their ability to live up to the hype in 2022 by winning the Stanley Cup, but they followed that up with an opening round exit last season. What team are we going to see once the playoffs roll around this year. Right now, the Avs are 2nd in the Central Division and on a bit of a skid, losing 4 in a row heading into this week. On their day, though, Colorado is tough to beat, as they have arguably the best offense in the NHL, but will that prove to be enough?

NHL Favorites Betting Odds to Win
MyBookie Betting Lines for NHL


 

Stanley Cup Underdogs

 

Dallas Stars

The central Division looks like it is coming down to a 3-horse race, but it is the Dallas Stars who have the slight lead at the moment, just ahead of the Avalanche and Winnipeg Jets. You could easily have the Stars in the favorites segment of this piece, but I am putting them just outside, although that could change over the next couple of weeks. The Stars have taken advantage of the slump by the Avs to take that top spot, but will they be able to maintain their slender lead?

Florida Panthers

We all expected the Panthers to go crashing out of the playoffs in the opening round last year, but they surprised the Bruins in Round 1 and went on a run that took them all the way to the Stanley Cup Final. They look to be in good shape again this season, as they are just 3 points back of the Bruins in the Atlantic Division. If they can maintain this pace, they will have a much better path to the Stanley Cup than they had last season.

Vancouver Canucks

If you are of the belief that the Vancouver Canucks are set for glory this season, now might be the time to put your money where your mouth is, as I don’t expect these odds to get much better as the season progresses. The Canucks have an 8-point lead atop the Pacific Division, as well as the best record in the league at the moment. They also have the best goal differential in the league, so there is certainly a lot to like about this team.

NHL Underdogs Betting Odds to Win
MyBookie Betting Lines for NHL


 

Stanley Cup Longshots

 

Carolina Hurricanes

I would not be surprised to see the Hurricanes fall below the Rangers on the bookies board in the next couple of weeks, especially if the Blueshirts can continue with their current form. This is not to suggest that the Hurricanes are struggling, though, as they have picked up 7 wins in their last 10 games, but they are having a tough time catching the leaders. If there is a concern with the Hurricanes, it’s that they have been just okay on the road. If they can improve that record between now and the end of the season, they could be a threat.

New York Rangers

While the next batch of teams are off the pace in the eyes of the bookies in terms of the odds to win the Stanley Cup, they still seem like a good bet. The Rangers are rolling at the moment and have the lead in the Metropolitan Division, leading the Hurricanes by 6 points. They are the winners of 5 in a row and have been solid at home and on the road, so they are going to be a very tough out in a 7-game series.

Vegas Golden Knights

It is perhaps a little surprising to see the defending Stanley Cup champions sitting this far down on the bookies board, but that is good news for the bettors who are of the belief that the Knights can repeat as champions this season. Vegas is still in the hunt to win the Pacific Division, although they do have some work to do, as they are 8 points back of the Canucks at the top. They are proven playoff performers, though, so I would be tempted to put a little money on them at these odds, as I have a feeling they will shorten as the season progresses.

NHL Longshots Betting Odds to Win
MyBookie Betting Lines for NHL


 

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2023 NHL Champions Odds to Win, August 31, 2023
 

Early Stanley Cup Odds Before NHL Preseason Starts | 2023 NHL Champions Odds to Win

While it feels like almost yesterday that the Vegas Golden Knights won the first Stanley Cup in league history, the new NHL season is not that far off with preseason games starting in a little over three weeks: The Arizona Coyotes and /sportsbook/nhl/los-angeles-kings/ face off in Australia for the 2023 NHL Global Series in Melbourne on Sept. 23 and 24 to start the preseason. Overall, the 2023 preseason slate features 15 days and 111 total games played across 44 NHL and neutral-site venues in North America and Australia from Sept. 23 to Oct. 7. Let’s take an updated look at the favorites to win the 2024 Stanley Cup.

 

Carolina Hurricanes

Stanley Cup Odds: +800

Carolina reached the 2023 Eastern Conference Finals and was favored to win it but upset by the wild card Florida Panthers in a shocking sweep, although every game was decided by one goal and two in overtime. Florida only scored 10 total goals in the series but Sergei Bobrovsky had a .966 save percentage after stopping 174 of the 180 shots he faced for Florida. The biggest move the Hurricanes made this offseason was signing center Sebastian Aho to an eight-year, $78 million extension. Aho scored 36 goals in 2022-23, continuing his streak of seven straight seasons with at least 24 goals that began when he made his Hurricanes debut in 2016-17. “As a player, all you can ask, really, from the team [is] you have a chance to win, and we definitely have a chance to be the best team in the League.” Aho said. “I’m really excited for the next year.”

In addition, the team signed Dmitry Orlov, the top defenseman available on the free agent market. He joins Jaccob Slavin, Brent Burns, Brett Pesce and Brady Skjei on what was already an impressive defense. Goalies Frederik Andersen and Antti Raanta were re-signed to inexpensive contracts and Pyotr Kochetkov can step in if one gets hurt. Hard to see any holes here.

 

New Jersey Devils

Stanley Cup Odds: +900

New Jersey finished one point behind the Carolina Hurricanes in the Metropolitan Division for the league’s third-best point total (112) last and the franchise’s first playoff appearance in five years, then pushed past the rival /sportsbook/nhl/new-york-rangers/ in seven games despite falling behind 0-2 for its first playoff series win since 2012. The Devils then lost in five to Carolina in the East semifinals. New Jersey is loaded offensively but has some goaltending questions. The team traded for Sharks winger Timo Meier ahead of last season’s deadline and re-signed him to an eight-year deal. He had 66 points in 78 contests split between San Jose and New Jersey last season, including a career-high 40 goals. The Devils have their forward core with Meier, Jack Hughes, Jesper Bratt, Nico Hischier and Ondrej Palat all locked up through at least 2026-27.

New Jersey acquired versatile forward Tyler Toffoli from the Calgary Flames on June 27 and defenseman Colin Miller from the Dallas Stars on July 1. Toffoli has one season remaining on a four-year contract. Miller has one remaining on a two-year contract. The Devils also signed free agent forward Tomas Nosek to a one-year contract July 19. Vitek Vanecek and Akira Schmid are expected to battle for the starter’s role in net after Mackenzie Blackwood was traded to the Sharks.

 

Toronto Maple Leafs

Stanley Cup Odds: +900

The Leafs haven’t won the Cup since 1967, the longest drought in the league, and no Canadian team has won it since Montreal in 1993. The Leafs looked good enough to win it all last year. They finally advanced past the first round of the playoffs by beating Tampa Bay in six games. Toronto advanced in a series for the first time since 2004, winning three times in overtime on the road in that series and ending an 11-game losing streak in elimination games. However, as heavy favorites in Round 2 vs. Florida, the Leafs were beaten in five games. There was some talk it might cost Coach Sheldon Keefe his job, but he just got an extension this week under new general manager Brad Treliving. The Maple Leafs set single-season franchise records for wins (54) and points (115) under Keefe in 2021-22 and have recorded back-to-back 50-win campaigns.

Toronto also ensured that superstar Auston Matthews will be around for many years in signing him to a four-year, $53 million extension. At $13.25 million per season, Matthews becomes the NHL’s highest paid player in terms of annual value. Matthews has 299 goals through 481 career games and has a very good chance at becoming the fastest to 300 among American-born players all-time. Matthews already has positioned himself well among the Leafs’ all-time franchise leaders, tied for fifth in goals scored and second with nine overtime goals. He also leads the NHL in goals scored since 2016-17 and is 11th overall in points. The Maple Leafs feel they have depth in goal with Ilya Samsonov, Joseph Woll and Martin Jones. But there are questions revolving around each of them. Samsonov will be the No. 1 guy but has struggled to stay healthy at times and missed the Maple Leafs’ final two Stanley Cup Playoff games against the Panthers due to injury.

 

Expert Prediction

Edmonton (+1000) wins the Cup

 
2022 NHL Champions Odds to Win, March 2, 2022
 

2022 Stanley Cup Odds Update Feb. 2nd Edition | NHL Betting

The Stanley Cup playoffs are slated to begin on May 2nd, with a new champion named by June 30th. Early on in the season, the Colorado Avalanche were the favorites to hoist the cup, and little has changed in that regard, but who else has made in-roads at positioning themselves in strong contention for the cup? Read on to find out more on our NHL Betting analysis so can keep making your bets against the Stanley Cup Odds.

2022 Stanley Cup Odds Update Feb. 2nd Edition | NHL Betting

The Favorites

As mentioned, the early season favorites were the Colorado Avalanche, and that still stands. With the best record in the league through 53 games, the Avalanche have balance, defense, and depth. They are second in goals scored per game and in the top-12 in the fewest goals allowed per game.

They have two skaters in the top ten in points scored (Kadri and Rantanen), a goalie tied for third in wins (Kuemper), and they recently got their star MacKinnon back from injury. MyBookie odds as of 3/1: +390

MyBookie had other top contenders listed as the Tampa Bay Lightning (+650), the Carolina Hurricanes (+660), the Florida Panthers (+680), and the Toronto Maple Leafs (+830).

Out of this group, the Hurricanes have the second-best record in the NHL, followed by the Lightning, Panthers, and Maple Leafs.

The Underdogs

A team that may be flying under the radar a little bit is the Calgary Flames. The Flames currently have the ninth-best record in the NHL at 32-14-6, which puts them in first place in the Pacific division. Their goalie Jacob Markstrom is having a career year with eight shutouts in 42 starts.

He has a .927 SV% and a 2.10 GAA to go along with 25 wins. The Flames are eighth in goals scored per game, second in fewest goals allowed per game, have a top-ten PP% and a top-five PK%. Calgary is 9-1-0 in their last ten, 15-5-0 in their last 20, and have won their last two games. MyBookie odds as of 3/1: +1125

Other underdogs to keep an eye on include the Pittsburgh Penguins (+1375) and N.Y. Rangers (+1700). Pittsburgh is 33-14-8 with 74 points. They are winners of six of their last ten. N.Y. Rangers are just behind Pittsburgh in the standings at 71 points (33-15-5).

Fading But Not Out of It

The Vegas Golden Knights are beginning to fade with 29 games to go. They have the sixth-best odds, according to MyBookie, but have had a poor stretch in their last ten games (4-5-1, losers of two consecutive). They are now down to 29-20-4 with 62 points.

Part of their struggles may be due in part to some injury concerns, particularly to RW Mark Stone, a terrific defensive forward and Selke finalist in 2021. The Golden Knights are 12th in goals scored per game and 16th in fewest goals allowed per game. Since the calendar turned to 2022, the Golden Knights are just 7-8-4. MyBookie odds as of 3/1: +890

Another team that has really started to fall off as of late is the Minnesota Wild. The Wild (+1625) have 65 points and a 31-17-3 record, but they have also gone on a four-game slide and are just 3-7-0 in their last ten games. Don’t count them out just yet, though; immediately prior to this most recent stretch, they had won six in a row and nine of ten.

The Best of the Rest

Other teams to keep an eye on as the playoffs approach include the St. Louis Blues (8th best record in the NHL; 2nd in the Western Conference; winners of four straight) at +1750, the Boston Bruins (10th best record; winners of five consecutive games; currently 7th in the Eastern Conference) at +1750, and the L.A. Kings (12th best record; winners of seven of their last ten; 5th in the Western Conference) at +3700.

 
2022 NHL Champions Odds to Win, February 16, 2022
 

Current Stanley Cup Odds and Favorites

Other teams to keep an eye on as the playoffs approach include the St. Louis Blues (8th best record in the NHL; 2nd in the Western Conference; winners of four straight) at +1750, the Boston Bruins (10th best record; winners of five consecutive games; currently 7th in the Eastern Conference) at +1750, and the L.A. Kings (12th best record; winners of seven of their last ten; 5th in the Western Conference) at +3700.

Colorado Avalanche +471

After a slow start to the season, the Colorado Avalanche are starting to run away with the Central Division. The Avalanche could not finish the job last season but are the current favorites to win it all this year for the Stanley Cup. With a record of 34-9-4, the Avalanche hold the best record in the Western Conference and they lead by nine points. You may be surprised to hear that Nathan MacKinnon does not lead the team in points or goals.

Nazem Kadri leads the Avalanche in points with 62. Mikko Rantanen leads the team in goals with 24. The Avalanche have five players with 40 or more points.

Darcy Kuemper has been phenomenal this season with a record of 23-5-2. He holds a save percentage of .918 and a goals-against average of 2.45. At +471 odds, the Colorado Avalanche would be a great team to pick as the Stanley Cup Champions.

Tampa Bay Lightning +750

The back-to-back Stanley Cup Champions currently have the second-best odds to win the Stanley Cup. They have a long way to go if they want to chase down the record for the most Stanley Cups in a row by one team, but they have a great chance of doing that. Currently tied for the most points in the Eastern Conference, the Tampa Bay Lightning are looking for three in a row. They won the Stanley Cup in the bubble due to the Coronavirus, and they won last year over the Montreal Canadiens.

Due to the new divisions and COVID shortened season, two Eastern Conference teams faced off in the Stanley Cup. This year has been great for one team that was in the Stanley Cup last year, that being the Lightning.

Steven Stamkos leads Tampa Bay in points and assists so far this season. Stamkos has scored 23 goals to go along with 55 points. Three in a row would be very impressive, and it may not hurt to put money on the two-time defending Stanley Cup Champions at +750.

The next few favorites are as listed:

Vegas Golden Knights +800
Toronto Maple Leafs +800
Florida Panthers +800
Carolina Hurricanes +1200

One team to look out for and it would not hurt to put money on is the St. Louis Blues are +2500. The Blues have to figure out the goalie issues they face, but that offense is just as good as any in the league. They have experience of winning a Stanley Cup before, along with plenty of good, young talent coming up.

The Blues are third in their division, but also happen to be third in the Western Conference. That speaks volumes for how tough the Central Division is this season. Do not be surprised to see St. Louis make a run this postseason.

 
2022 NHL Champions Odds to Win, January 25
 

Updated Stanley Cup Odds Jan. 25th Edition | NHL Betting

The NHL All-Star Game is almost upon us, which is a clear sign that we have reached the midway point of the season. That said, there are plenty of teams who still have games to make up before they can reach the true halfway point of the season. That makes things a little trickier when trying to figure out the Stanley Cup favorites versus the pretenders. As the league gets those make-up games played, we are going to see the odds to win it all change, probably rather dramatically, but it’s still fun to look at the Stanley Cup Betting favorites as they currently stand, so let’s get into that now.

Colorado Avalanche (+460)

Yes, it’s still just the middle of the season, but the Colorado Avalanche are rounding into the type of form that you expect to see from a team that is the favorite in the eyes of the bookies. The Avalanche have, at the time of writing, won 7 in a row and are 9-0-1 through their last 10 games. That has helped them open up a 6-point lead in the Central Division, while still having a pair of games in hand to their closest challenger, the St. Louis Blues. Their goal differential of +49 is the best in the league at this time, so certainly a lot to like with this team.

Tampa Bay Lightning (+690)

You can argue all you want about the strongest division in hockey, but right now, it’s tough to make an argument against the Atlantic Division holding that label. There are 2 teams listed in the top 4 favorites to win the Stanley Cup, and 3 in the top 5. The Tampa Bay Lightning, who just happen to be the defending champions, are in that group. They have amassed 61 points through 43 games, the same point total as the Panthers, albeit with a game more played than their rivals. The Lightning have a +26 goal differential.

Florida Panthers (+710)

Despite being slightly ahead of the Lightning in the standings, the bookies have the Panthers in at slightly poorer odds than the defending champs. This is a very dangerous hockey team, particularly on the offensive end, where they have managed to score 170 goals in 42 games. Where their odds might change is if they can land the #1 seed in the Eastern Conference, as that would mean home ice advantage through the playoffs. The Panthers are a brilliant 21-3-0 in their own building this season, but they would like to be a little better on the road.

Vegas Golden Knights (+730)

The Golden Knights have been a real success story since joining the league a few years back and have been a consistent member of the NHL playoff club. They look to be heading towards another postseason appearance, as they have the lead in the Pacific Division, taking 52 points from 42 games. They will, though, have their eye on the Calgary Flames, who have a ton of games to make up and who could be their biggest challenger for the division title coming down the stretch. Still, the Golden Knights look good and have a goal differential of +26.

 
2022 NHL Champions Odds to Win, January 19
 

Updated Stanley Cup Odds Jan. 19th Edition | NHL Betting

We are at about the midway point of the NHL season, although given the number of postponed games that need to be made up, the standings are perhaps not a true representation of where we are in terms of Super Bowl favorites. Once everyone has caught up and the schedule is back in line, things might well look very different than they do now. That might be something to keep in mind as we look at the current odds to win the Stanley Cup. These Stanley Cup odds are going to change as the season progresses, but for now, let’s take a look at who the bookies like to win the Stanley Cup in 2022.

Colorado Avalanche (+470)

After a bit of a sluggish start, the Colorado Avalanche are beginning to get hot at the midway point of the season. They have 53 points from 36 games and have the lead in the Central Division. While that lead is currently sitting at 2 points, the Avs have games in hand to the teams that are closest to them in the division. This is a team that is fun to watch, as they have amassed 156 goals through their 36 games, which puts them near the top in scoring. They also have the best goal differential in the league at +45, so there are a lot of things to like about this team.

Florida Panthers (+670)

The Panthers have picked up 57 points from 39 games to this point in the season, which has them in 2nd in the Atlantic Division, although they do have a couple of games in hand to the Tampa Bay Lightning. They are actually very similar to the Avalanche in terms of scoring and goal differential, amassing 159 goals and putting together a differential of +43. They are also on a great run of form at the moment, going 8-1-1 in their last 10 games. A very balanced team that is exciting to watch.

Tampa Bay Lightning (+710)

You are going to quickly get an idea of just how strong the Atlantic Division is by looking at the teams that the bookies have as the current Stanley Cup favorites. The Lightning are the second team from that division on this list, but they are also not the last. The defending champions have carried over their momentum from last season and are currently on 59 points from 41 games. They are not as offensively strong as the other two mentioned here, but they have still put up an impressive 141 goals and a +24 goal differential.

Toronto Maple Leafs (+740)

The third and final team out of the Atlantic Division to be considered one of the favorites is the Toronto Maple Leafs. Canadian teams have had it worse than most during this current COVID situation, so while the Leafs are 8 points adrift of first in the division with 51 points, they also still have 5 games in hand to the Lightning. The Leafs have 123 goals from 36 games, and they have also only surrendered 93 to this point in the season. They are not a team to ignore right now, even though the playoffs have been an issue for them.

 
2021 NHL Champions Odds to Win, May 3
 

NHL Betting Update – 2021 Stanley Cup Odds

With the 2020-21 NHL regular season almost complete and the 2021 playoffs set to get underway in just over a week on Tuesday, May 11, it’s time to take a look at the latest NHL Odds to win it all.  To that end, I’ve identified a dozen teams that I believe could hoist this year’s Stanley Cup trophy.With a whopping 114-game slate of action going down on Monday night, let’s get to it so you can keep planning your bets against their Stanley Cup odds.

Odds to Win 2021 NHL Stanley Cup Championship

The Favorites

Colorado Avalanche +380
Vegas Golden Knights +470
Tampa Bay Lightning +650
Carolina Hurricanes +600
Toronto Maple Leafs +600

Analysis: Colorado (33-12-4) is still the prohibitive favorite, but the Avalanche are now in second place behind an incendiary Golden Knights (36-12-2) team that has won nine of 10 and heads into Monday night with a league-high 36 victories. The Avs are the same +380 pick to win they were a week ago while Vegas has gone from +500 to +470. Colorado is first in scoring (3.5 GPG) and sixth in goals allowed (2.4 GPG). Vegas is fifth in scoring (3.3 GPG) and second in goals allowed (2.2 GPG).

Defending Stanley Cup champion Tampa Bay (35-14-3) has gone from +700 to +650 over the last week. The Lightning have gone 7-2-1 over their last 10 and rank sixth in scoring (3.3 GPG) and seventh in goals allowed (2.5 GPG). Central Division-leading Carolina (34-10-7) doesn’t have a household name superstar leading them, but the Hurricanes rank a stellar fourth in goals allowed (2.4 GPG) and a respectable 11th in scoring (3.2 GPG). Goaltenders Petr Mrazek and Alex Nedeljkovic have both been lights out for the Canes this season. Carolina is now a +600 pick after opening last week at +700

Toronto (33-13-5) is in first place in the North Division standings and have two of the game’s best players in NHL goal scoring leader Auston Matthews (38) and Mitch Marner (46 assists, 4th). As always, the Maple Leafs have a powerful offense that ranks fifth in scoring (3.3 GPG) and a defense that now ranks 10th in goals allowed (2.6 GPG). Toronto is now a +600 pick, down from +750 a week ago.

The Top Contenders

Washington Capitals +1100
Pittsburgh Penguins +1100

Analysis: Pittsburgh has gone 7-2-1 over its last 10 games to move into first place in the East Division. The Penguins rank a stellar third in scoring (3.4 GPG) and decent 14th in goals allowed (2.8 GPG). Sidney Crosby has a team-high 36 assists and 20 goals while Jake Guentzel has a team-high 22 goals and 31 assists. Washington has gone 6-3-1 over its last 10 games and is three points behind Pittsburgh in the East standings. The Capitals rank a stupendous second in scoring (3.4 GPG), but an uninspiring 20th in goals allowed (2.9 GPG). Pittsburgh is the same +1100 pick they were a week ago while Washington has gone from +1000 to +1100.

It Could Happen

NY Islanders +1600
Florida Panthers +1700
Boston Bruins +1200

Analysis: The Islanders (31-15-5) have won three straight and six of nine and sit in third place in the East standings, four points behind Pittsburgh. New York has gone 5-4-1 over its last 10 games and ranks a stellar third in goals allowed (2.32GPG), but an uninspiring 20th in scoring (2.7 GPG).

Florida (34-14-5) is in tied with Tampa Bay for second place in the Central Division just two points behind division-leading Carolina. The Panthers rank seventh in scoring (3.3 GPG) and 14th in goals allowed (2.7 GPG).

Boston is in fourth place in the East standings, five points behind Pittsburgh. The Bruins rank a modest 14th in scoring (2.8 GPG) but encouraging fifth in goals allowed (2.4 GPG). Boston has gone a blistering 8-2 over its last 10 games. New York is a +1400 pick after opening last week at +1600. Florida is the same +1700 pick they were a week ago and Boston is still a +1200 pick.


 
2021 NHL Champions Odds to Win, March 11
 

NHL Betting | Longshots to win the 2021 Stanley Cup

Sports fans will argue until they are blue in the face abut the toughest championship to win and which sport has the best playoffs. Given the grind and physicality of the NHL, not to mention the upturn in speed and intensity once the postseason arrives, you have to say that they certainly have a right to think of themselves as the best playoff game out there. We still have a lot of hockey to be played before we get to the Stanley Cup playoffs, but we have seen enough to have a decent idea of the teams that are likely to compete for the iconic trophy. While there are some definite favorites, there are also some longshots who might emerge and take a run. I am picking one from each of the 4 divisions, so let’s take a closer look at those teams to find out which team offers the best betting value against their Stanley Cup odds.

Boston Bruins (+1800)

The Boston Bruins won the President’s Trophy, which goes to the team with the best regular season record, last year, but were bounced in the playoffs by the eventual champions. The Bruins lost a couple of key players in the offseason and didn’t do much to fill those holes, but this is still a very good team. As it stands right now, they are in 4th place in the East Division, 6 points out of the top spot, but they also have 3 games in hand to the leaders. Yes, there has been a little backward step by the Bruins this season, but they are still a team that no one wants to face in the postseason.

Florida Panthers (+1700)

It was a frustrating season for the Panthers last year, as they were bounced in the play-in series. They added some scoring to their offense in the offseason, but there were still some concerns on the defensive side of things. They have tightened up in their own end this year and are currently sitting just 2 points off the pace in the Central Division. They have been particularly good on the road this season, which also bodes well for when the playoffs roll around. This is going to be a tough division to get out of, but that road record gives them real hope.

Edmonton Oilers (+2200)

The Toronto Maple Leafs look like the team to beat in the North Division, plus they are also the favorites to win it all this year. I still think that the Calgary Flames, who just made a coaching change, could come good as a dark horse, but for now, I am taking the Edmonton Oilers to spring the upset in the North and make a deep run. The big concern with this team is their play on defense, but they are an offensive juggernaut that has found a way to win high-scoring games more often than not. Whether that holds up in the playoffs remains to be seen.

St. Louis Blues (+2000)

You could certainly make an argument that the West Division is the weakest of the 4 this season, but it is a tight race for the 4 available playoff spots right now. It’s easy to forget that the Blues won the Stanley Cup a couple of seasons ago and still have the core of that cup-winning team. The knock on them this season has been their play at home, but they have made up for that by being great on the road. If they can get their act together on home ice, this could well be a team to look out for.

 
2021 NHL Champions Odds to Win, January 22
 

NHL Betting | Updated 2021 Stanley Cup Odds

With the 2020-21 NHL regular season steamrolling into the weekend, it’s time to take a look at the value-packed NHL futures odds to win the 2021 Stanley Cup Trophy. With a full slate of non-stop action going down this weekend, let’s find out which teams are looking good against their Stanley Cup odds and which teams are struggling.

The Favorites

  • Colorado +600
  • Vegas +600
  • Tampa Bay +650
  • Toronto +1100
  • Philadelphia +1300
  • Boston +1400

Analysis: Colorado might be prohibitive favorites to win the 2021 Stanley Cup trophy, but the Avs are off to a modest 2-2 start through four games and don’t have the look of anything special just yet. Out of this group of top title contenders, I’m loving the way Vegas (4-0), Philadelphia (3-1-1) and the defending champion Tampa Bay Lightning (3-0) have looked so far.

The Golden Knights are currently ranked an impressive fourth in scoring (4.0 gpg) and sixth in goals allowed (1.8 gpg). The explosive Flyers are ranked sixth in scoring (3.8 gpg) and 17th in goals allowed (3.0 gpg) while Tampa Bay leads the NHL in scoring (5.0 gpg) and ranks third in goals allowed (1.5 gpg).

Just Off the Mark

St. Louis +1700
NY Islanders +1700
Montreal +1700
Washington +2000
Carolina +1800
Dallas +2000
Pittsburgh +2000
Nashville +2000

Analysis: While no one was really picking the New York Islanders (3-1) to build on their fantastic playoff run to the Eastern Conference finals a year ago, I was. The speedy Isles are ranked an uninspiring 26th in scoring (2.3 gpg), but a stellar third in goals allowed (1.5 gpg). 2019 Stanley Cup champion St. Louis (2-2) has alternated wins and losses over its first four games. I love Alex Ovechkin and Washington’s chances this season. The Caps are off to an encouraging 2-0-1 start through three games while defending Western Conference champion Dallas has yet to suit up because of ongoing COVID-19 issues.

They Could Surprise

  • Calgary +2500
  • Winnipeg +2800
  • Florida +3000

Calgary (2-0-1) and Winnipeg (3-1) are off to solid starts. The Flames rank seventh in scoring (3.7 gpg) and eighth in goals allowed (2.0 gpg). The Jets are ranked a decent 11th in scoring (3.3 gpg) and encouraging 12th in goals allowed (2.5 gpg). Florida is 2-0 heading into the weekend while ranking a phenomenal second in scoring (5.0 gpg) and 20th in goals allowed (3.0 gpg). All three teams look like legitimate contenders that could surprise right now.

Long Shot Hopefuls

  • Columbus +4500
  • Minnesota +4500
  • New Jersey +5500
  • San Jose +5500
  • Arizona +6000
  • Buffalo +7000
  • Anaheim +8000
  • LA Kings +12500
  • Chicago +12500
  • Ottawa +20000
  • Detroit +25000

Analysis: Put of this group of longshot hopefuls, I love the way Minnesota has looked in getting off to a surprising 3-1 start through four games. The Wild are ranked a modest 17th in scoring (2.8 gpg), but 11th in goals allowed (2.3 gpg). At the opposite end of the spectrum, Chicago (0-3-1) looks completely and utterly incompetent. The once perennially-powerful Blackhawks are ranked 25th in scoring (2.3 gpg) and dead last in goals allowed (5.0 gpg) and look nothing lke the franchise that claimed three Stanley Cup titles between 2010 and 2015.

 
2018 NHL Champions Odds to Win, October 1
 

Updated 2019 Stanley Cup Odds to Win – October 1st Edition


The 2018 MLB season may be steamrolling towards its annual postseason period while the NFL slowly inches closer toward its midway point. The 2018-19 NBA season isn’t far off and LeBron James is nabbing headlines because of his move to join the Los Angeles Lakers.
 
While the NHL isn’t getting nearly as much attention as the aforementioned trio of major North American sports, it should be, particularly seeing as how the 2017-18 season was undoubtedly one of the most memorable seasons in NHL history.
 
Not only did the expansion Vegas Golden Knights nearly make history by becoming the first expansion franchise in all four major North American sports to win its league championship, but widely respected veteran Alex Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals won the first Stanley Cup Trophy in franchise history.
 
Now, with the start of the 2018-19 NHL season set to get underway on Wednesday, October 3, let’s take a look at the current odds to win the 2019 Stanley Cup while I offer up some thoughts on some of the teams that could end up hosting this coming season’s Stanley Cup hardware.
 
  • Tampa Bay Lightning 8/1
  • Winnipeg Jets 8/1
  • Toronto Maple Leafs 10/1
  • Nashville Predators 12/1
  • Pittsburgh Penguins 12/1
  • San Jose Sharks 12/1
  • Vegas Golden Knights 14/1
  • Washington Capitals 14/1
  • Boston Bruins 16/1
  • Columbus Blue Jackets 25/1
  • Edmonton Oilers 25/1
  • Philadelphia Flyers 25/1
  • St. Louis Blues 25/1
  • Los Angeles Kings 28/1
  • Anaheim Ducks 33/1
  • Calgary Flames 33/1
  • Dallas Stars 33/1
  • Chicago Blackhawks 40/1
  • Colorado Avalanche 40/1
  • Florida Panthers 40/1
  • Minnesota Wild 40/1
  • New Jersey Devils 40/1
  • Buffalo Sabres 50/1
  • Arizona Coyotes 66/1
  • Carolina Hurricanes 66/1
  • New York Islanders 66/1
  • New York Rangers 66/1
  • Montreal Canadiens 75/1
  • Vancouver Canucks 75/1
  • Detroit Red Wings 100/1
  • Ottawa Senators 200/1
 

Tampa Bay


Last season, Tampa Bay (54-23-5) ranked first in scoring (3.5 gpg) and 13th in goals allowed (2.9 gpg) and finished with the most wins and points (113) in the Eastern Conference. Unfortunately, the Lightning came up short in the conference finals for the third time in the last four seasons while getting shut out by Ovechkin and the Capitals in Games 6 and 7.
 
Still, I’m expecting Tampa Bay to be right back in the mix to win it all next season because they’ve still got a loaded roster with about six all-star caliber performers including Nikita Kucherov, Brayden Point, Ryan McDonagh, and Anton Stralman.
 

Winnipeg


I’m just going to come out and say it. I’m expecting Winnipeg to reach the Western Conference Finals at the very least this coming season.
 
Last season, the Jets (52-20-10) ranked a phenomenal second in scoring (3.3 gpg) and fifth in goals allowed (2.6 gpg). Winnipeg has one of the game’s very best young scorers in 20-year-old Patrik Laine, plus center Blake Wheeler and goalie Connor Hellebuyck are now, elite stars in their own rights.
 

Toronto


The Maple Leafs (49-26-7) ranked third in scoring (3.3 gpg) and a respectable 12th in goals allowed (2.8 gpg) to finish third in the Atlantic division behind Tampa Bay and Boston. Toronto has a legitimate superstar in young center Auston Matthews another near star in right winger Mitchell Marner plus they added veteran center John Tavares this offseason.
 

Pittsburgh


The Penguins (47-29-6) struggled out of the gate last season, but then they caught fire for a long stretch late to finish behind Washington in the Metropolitan division. Unfortunately, the Pens had their dreams of winning four straight Stanley Cups come to an abrupt halt by losing to Washington in the playoffs.
 
Still, while Pittsburgh clearly missed the contributions of veteran goalie Marc-Andre Fleury, they’re going to contend again this coming season because they still have a pair of superstars in Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, whom they both signed to long-term deals. Pittsburgh finished third in scoring last season (3.3 gpg) and became the first team since the 2003-04 Tampa Bay Lightning to have three players finish among the top 10 in scoring (Malkin, Phil Kessel, and Crosby).
 

San Jose


The Sharks are one of the top favorites to win it all in 2018-19, but I’m not buying it right now. San Jose went 45-27-10 last season to finish third in the Pacific Division behind Anaheim and Vegas. San Jose will also have a sense of urgency heading into the new season, but they didn’t improve their roster very much in the offseason after missing out on John Tavares and Ilya Kovalchuk.
 

Vegas


The Knights were undoubtedly the biggest and best story in all sports a year ago as they took the NHL by storm despite being an expansion franchise that was expected to play like one.
 
Vegas (51-24-7) added veteran Paul Stastny on a three-year deal and I can only believe that joining stars like all-star goalie Marc-Andre Fleury, center William Karlsson, left winger Jonathan Marchessault and right-winger Reilly Smith is going to make Vegas even more dangerous this coming season. At +1400, they’re almost a must-bet for the value they’re offering.
 

Washington


Even after winning it all, Alexander Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals just can’t get the love they deserve. That’s okay though, the +1400 return should Washington be able to repeat, is stupendous. Alex Ovechkin is still just 33-years-old and playing at a high level.
 
The Caps have another elite scorer in 26-year-old center Evgeny Kuznetsov, an excellent goalie in Braden Holtby and another veteran center that leads the NHL in assists since 2012-13 (324) in 30-year-old Nicklas Backstrom.
 

Boston


The Bruins are one of middle-of-the-pack ‘sleepers’ seeing as how they’re just a 16/1 pick to win the Stanley Cup despite going 50-20-12 to finish with the fifth-most points in all of hockey and just one point behind Toronto in the Eastern Conference. Boston was outstanding at both ends of the ice in ranking sixth in scoring (3.3 gpg) and fourth in goals allowed (2.6 gpg).
 
The Bruins have a young star in 22-year-old right winger David Pastrnak that provides scoring as well as veteran right-winger Brad Marchand who had 85 points last season to equal his career high. Veteran goalie Tuukka Rask was nothing short of amazing in going 31-6-3 with a 2.19 GAA, .923 save percentage and three shutouts from Nov. 29 until the end of the regular season. Despite their modest odds, I think it’s quite possible Boston could win the East.
 
2018 NHL Champions Odds to Win, June 11
 

NHL Betting Odds & Early Predictions for 2018 Championship

The Washington Capitals may have snapped a four-decade-plus championship drought, but when it comes to winning the 2019 Stanley Cup title, Alexander Ovechkin and company aren’t exactly NHL betting favorites to go back-to-back despite their thrilling run to this year’s title. If you’re an NHL fanatic and betting enthusiast that is already looking to make a season-long wager on next year’s champion, then boy, have you got choices. Thanks to this expert look at the top favorites, some middle-of-the-pack contenders and the rest of the field of Stanley Cup hopefuls, you’re going to have some great insight into who is offering some really good value at the NHL Odds to win next season’s title.

NHL Betting Favorites

  • Tampa Bay Lightning 8/1
  • Vegas Golden Knights 8/1
  • Boston Bruins 10/1
  • Nashville Predators 10/1
  • Pittsburgh Penguins 10/1
  • Toronto Maple Leafs 10/1
  • Winnipeg Jets 10/1
  • Washington Capitals 14/1

Tampa Bay (54-23-5)

The Lightning came up just short of reaching the Stanley Cup, but they led the league in scoring and the Eastern Conference in points (113) and will have the core group of their explosive offense back next year!

Vegas (51-24-7)

I see no reason why Vegas won’t contend for another appearance in next season’s Stanley Cup Finals after they finished the season ranked fifth in scoring (3.3 gpg) and eighth in goals allowed (2.7 gpg). More importantly, the Knights have a great goaltender and a bunch of ‘super gritty’ overachievers.

Boston (50-20-12)

The Bruins came up short of their championship hopes, but the Bruins were phenomenal in finishing second to Tampa Bay in points (112) while ranking sixth in scoring and fourth in goals allowed.

Nashville (53-18-11)

The Predators have been in the finals and conference finals the last two years. After ranking seventh in scoring and second in goals allowed, I see no reasons the Preds won’t contend again next season behind Filip Forsberg and Pekka Rinne.

Pittsburgh (47-29-6)

Who knew that the loss of Marc-Andre Fleury would cost Sidney Crosby and the high-scoring, two-time defending champs so much this season? Oh yeah, me, that’s who!

Toronto (49-26-7)

The Leafs play some explosive offense each and every year and they’ll contend for something big if they play any sort of defense next season.

Winnipeg (52-20-10)

The high-flying Jets ranked second in scoring (3.3 gpg) and fifth in goal allowed (2.6 gpg) and they’re my pick to win it all next season behind Blake Wheeler at one end of the ice and Connor Hellebuyck at the other end.

Washington (49-26-7)

I don’t know why the Caps aren’t a bit higher up on the board of favorites seeing as how they’ve been really elite the last three years despite their postseason shortcoming prior to this season. Washington will contend again simply because they can score and now have a goaltender that has gone from very good to great in Braden Holtby.

NHL Betting Contenders

  • Edmonton Oilers 20/1
  • San Jose Sharks 20/1
  • Anaheim Ducks 25/1
  • Columbus Blue Jackets 25/1
  • Dallas Stars 25/1
  • Philadelphia Flyers 25/1
Edmonton (36-40-6) underachieved in a big way after their fantastic 2016-17 campaign two years ago, so I guess it’s possible the Conor McDavid and the Oilers could bounce back in a big way in 2018-19. However, for me, my pick to really contend out of this group of contenders is the San Jose Sharks (45-27-10) after they finished the season ranked a respectable 13th in scoring and 10th in goals allowed and took Vegas six games before bowing out of the playoffs. The Sharks share the puck much like the Knights and don’t depend on any scorer to get the job done, plus goalie Martin Jones is very good even if he’s not a household name.

The Rest of the Field

  • Calgary Flames 30/1
  • Chicago Blackhawks 30/1
  • Los Angeles Kings 30/1
  • Minnesota Wild 30/1
  • Colorado Avalanche 40/1
  • Florida Panthers 40/1
  • New Jersey Devils 40/1
  • St. Louis Blues 40/1
  • Carolina Hurricanes 60/1
  • Montreal Canadiens 60/1
  • New York Islanders 60/1
  • Arizona Coyotes 80/1
  • Buffalo Sabres 80/1
  • New York Rangers 80/1
  • Vancouver Canucks 80/1
  • Detroit Red Wings 100/1
  • Ottawa Senators 100/1
My top team out of this group of longer shot Stanley Cup hopefuls is the Los Angeles Kings. If L.A. can improve their modest, 16t-ranked offense (2.9 gpg) then could really take off, seeing as how they lead the entire NHL in goals allowed by giving up just 2.5 goals per night behind superstar goalie Jonathan Quick.  
2018 NHL Champions Odds to Win, May 14
 

Updated NHL Stanley Cup Odds – May 14th Edition

With just four teams still in the hunt to win the 2018 NHL Season, the field is almost as small as it could possibly get. This means you’ve got at least a 25% chance of nailing your current Stanley Cup Odds wager no matter which team you wager on to win it all. However, with both conference finals already underway and the Eastern Conference heading to Game 3 at the time of this writing, those percentages are a bit higher – especially if you favor the two teams that are up on their respective conference finals opponents. No matter which of the four teams you like though, you’re about to get the expert insight you’ll need in order to nail your NHL future odds wager. Now, let’s get to it before another puck drops.

Winnipeg Jets

  • Stanley Cup Odds: 17/10
I said it several times at the start of the playoffs, but if there’s one team that everyone should be scared of, it’s Winnipeg! The Jets are truly elite at both ends of the ice as they rank second in scoring (3.3 gpg) and fifth in goals allowed (2.6 gpg). The Jets took out Minnesota in five games in the opening round and beat Nashville on the road in Game 7 of their conference semifinals. Winnipeg jumped all over Vegas in Game 1 to record a 4-2 win over the Knights and just have the look of a team that is not going to be denied. There’s a reason the Jets are now the prohibitive favorites – and it’s because they’re the best pick (and my pick) to win it all!

Washington Capitals

  • Stanley Cup Odds: 9/4
The Caps have won both of the first two games in the Eastern Conference Finals against Tampa Bay despite being on the road and now they look like a virtual lock to reach the NHL finals as this series heads to the nation’s capital for Game 3. Washington recorded a 4-2 win in Game 1 as Alex Ovechkin scored a goal and added an assist and they routed the league’s top scoring team even worse in their stunning 6-2 win in Game 2 with Ovechkin scoring again. Right now, the Caps are undoubtedly a great pick to win the Stanley Cup finals. “I think we’ve got to be greedy,” Washington defenseman Matt Niskanen told reporters. “We’ve got to want more because this is a heck of a run. I don’t know if there is a group out there that knows how hard it is to get to this point (more than this one). So don’t waste the opportunity.”

Tampa Bay Lightning

  • Stanley Cup Odds: 14/5
I won’t lie. I didn’t think Washington was going to get past high-scoring Tampa Bay in a series that looked like a shootout just waiting to happen, but right now, I don’t see the Lightning being able to come back against a Washington team that suddenly looks like it has a date with destiny. Tampa Bay goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy looks shaken and conversely, the Lightning has been repeatedly stonewalled by Washington goalie Braden Holtby. Things aren’t looking good for Tampa Bay right now and I believe your money would be better spent elsewhere.

Las Vegas Golden Knights

  • Stanley Cup Odds: 17/4
Like everyone else, I love the expansion Golden Knights and I certainly don’t think they’re incapable of coming back against Winnipeg as they head to Game 2 of their Western Conference Finals matchup, particularly seeing as how they’re also elite at both ends of the ice in ranking fifth in scoring (3.3 gpg) and eighth in goals allowed (2.7 gpg). However, I just don’t see the Knights having enough offensive firepower to keep up with a Winnipeg team that can light the lamp in the blink of an eye. Again, while the Knights still have a shot to both, beat Winnipeg and the winner in the east, my guess right now is that the end is near for Vegas.

Last 10 Stanley Cup Winners

  • 2017: Pittsburgh Penguins
  • 2016: Pittsburgh Penguins
  • 2015: Chicago Blackhawks
  • 2014: Los Angeles Kings
  • 2013: Chicago Blackhawks
  • 2012: Los Angeles Kings
  • 2011: Boston Bruins
  • 2010: Chicago Blackhawks
  • 2009: Pittsburgh Penguins
  • 2008: Detroit Red Wings
 
2018 NHL Champions Odds to Win, March 7
 

Updated 2018 Stanley Cup Odds – March 7th Edition

Does anything beat the Stanley Cup playoffs? I would argue the greatest thing in sports is a Game 7 in overtime in the NHL postseason. That is closer than you may think with the first day of the playoffs starting on April 11. Let’s take a look at some updated Stanley Cup odds from MyBookie. The Tampa Bay Lightning have played in two Stanley Cup Finals in franchise history. In 2004 the Lightning beat the Calgary Flames in a Game 7 in Tampa – this writer just so happened to be in attendance. In 2015, the Lightning lost in six games to the Chicago Blackhawks – this writer happened to attend one of those games as well. As of this writing, the 2017-18 Lightning have the most points in the NHL and lead the league in scoring at 3.6 goals per game. Thus, little surprise they are the +380 favorites to win a second Cup. The Bolts also have the NHL’s leading scorer in Nikita Kucherov, who is a leading candidate to win the Hart Trophy as league MVP. The only thing that might keep Kucherov from winning is teammate and goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy, who will get MVP and Vezina Trophy votes. He has a a .933 even-strength save percentage on the season in 53 starts and have been stretches when he has been every bit as valuable as Kucherov. The Bolts also have two other superstars in winger Steven Stamkos and defenseman and Norris Trophy candidate Victor Hedman. In a recent game, they became the first pair of players in Lightning history to each tally at least two goals and two assists in the same game. Tampa Bay was already a top Cup contender before the trade deadline, and then it made the biggest splash in the trade market by acquiring defenseman Ryan McDonagh and forward J.T. Miller from the Rangers. McDonagh immediately gives the Lightning the East’s best defense corps, led by Hedman.

First Title For Nashville?

The Nashville Predators were the No. 16 overall seed last season yet made it all the way to the Cup Finals, losing in six games to the Penguins. Nashville is a +450 second-favorite to win its first Cup. The Predators rank in the top 10 in goals scored, goals against, power play and penalty kill, in part because Kyle Turris and Nick Bonino have helped create impressive depth in Nashville’s lineup. Pekka Rinne is a Vezina candidate. Rinne has won six games in a row and he has eight victories in his last nine starts. His record currently stands at 35-9-4 on the year with a 2.33 goals-against average and .927 save percentage. For what it’s worth, the Predators lost their only matchup vs. the Lightning on Jan. 23 at home, 4-3 in overtime. But Rinne didn’t play. The teams play once more on April 1 in Tampa.

Expansion History?

The Vegas Golden Knights already are having the best season of any expansion team ever in any sport. They are +600 to win the Cup in their inaugural season, which would be almost like Leicester City winning the Premier League a few years ago. “So far, it’s been a perfect season. It really has,’’ Knights coach Gerard Gallant said recently. This is the first major pro sports franchise to ever land in Las Vegas, and they sell out every night. The Florida Panthers used to be the model for a successful NHL expansion team. Florida was more than merely competitive in 1993-94 — it finished one win shy of a .500 record and scored exactly as many goals as it allowed. Vegas could win the Presidents’ Trophy for the most regular-season point. Yes, the expansion 1967-68 St. Louis Blues made the Cup final in their first season. But that was solely because the NHL dropped all six of its new teams into the same division, the winner of which had to make the final. The Knights opened at 200-1 last June to win the Cup and were as high as 500-1 right before the 2017-18 season. The Boston Bruins are also +600. The team got some bad news this week, though, as defenseman Charlie McAvoy has a sprained left MCL and he will be re-evaluated in four weeks. McAvoy was injured in the first period against the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday.  McAvoy’s conditioning is a concern going down the stretch run, but he will be pushed to maintain his edge by fellow teammate Patrice Bergeron, who is also recovering from an injury. If Bergeron’s foot heals perfectly and is only out 2-3 weeks, he’ll be ready for the playoffs and he will be rested for an extra few weeks and be a be fresh come playoff time.

Expert Stanley Cup Betting Prediction

Tampa Bay beats Nashville in the Cup Finals  
 

 

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