Head below to find the latest pre-season odds, analysis of the top favorites, and Stanley Cup predictions.
Here are the latest Stanley Cup winner odds, courtesy of Bovada:
The Florida Panthers (+600) are back on top in the Stanley Cup markets at the best NHL betting sites. At +600, the Panthers have a 14.3% implied probability to three-peat as the NHL champs.
Following the Panthers, the Edmonton Oilers (+750) and Carolina Hurricanes (+825) are in the running, according to the latest odds. The Oilers made back-to-back Stanley Cup Final appearances but couldn’t solve the Panthers.
The Hurricanes, who have been regarded as one of the top pre-season favorites for the last several years, are back near the top of the board. I don’t know if anyone is going to buy into the Hurricanes’ hype again, but oddsmakers have them rated high.
The 2022 and 2023 champs, Colorado Avalanche (+900) and Vegas Golden Knights (+900), share a 10% implied probability to win in 2026. The top teams aren’t separated by much, so we’re anticipating a competitive season!
You can find up-to-date NHL Stanley Cup 2025-26 odds at Bovada by navigating to All Sports > Hockey > Stanley Cup.
The top three teams are attractive options, but are any of them worth considering for your NHL Stanley Cup picks? Let’s delve into all the details for each contender below:
The Florida Panthers can become the first team since the 1983 New York Islanders to three-peat as Stanley Cup champs. Only four franchises and five different teams (Toronto Maple Leafs twice) have three-peated before, so the Panthers have an opportunity to join an elite group.
THE FLORIDA PANTHERS ARE 2025 STANLEY CUP CHAMPIONS 🏆 pic.twitter.com/D4P8MiMxmP
— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) June 18, 2025
The Panthers would also be known as one of the greatest NHL teams of all time if they can pull it off. However, there was some pessimism that the Panthers couldn’t be the same team, given roster turnover. That has been put to rest after re-signing their big offseason targets.
Sam Bennett, Aaron Ekblad, and Brad Marchand all re-signed to stay in Sunrise with the Panthers. Bennett landed an eight-year contract worth $64 million in late June. The star realized the best situation is with the Panthers in Florida, so that’s a big boost for the franchise.
Ekblad and Marchand could have received more money but opted to stay to build a dynasty. The physicality that makes the Panthers so dangerous will be back for the 2025-26 season. It’s the type of formula that wins Stanley Cups, and the Panthers have proven it two years in a row.
In 2024-25, the Panthers conceded 2.72 goals per game, for seventh in the NHL. They finished first in the playoffs, allowing an average of 2.43 goals per game en route to the Cup. This season, the Panthers will have that same championship pedigree in the defensive zone and on the forecheck.
Sam Bennett lays a HUGE hit on Jaccob Slavin who is then slow to get up 🤕 pic.twitter.com/wPHNHspamd
— Gino Hard (@GinoHard_) May 25, 2023
Additionally, starting goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky is returning to Florida. Bobrovsky had another strong campaign, with a 2.20 GAA and 0.914 save percentage in 23 games in the playoffs. He is a pillar of the defense and benefits greatly from playing on this hard-hitting Panthers team.
The team is strong on offense as well. With 4.09 goals per game, the Panthers led the playoffs in scoring. The champions will return all their top playmakers, including Carter Verhaeghe, Matthew Tkachuk, and Aleksander Barkov.
There is a strong case to be made for the Panthers to three-peat for your 2025-26 Stanley Cup betting picks!
The Edmonton Oilers did everything they could to put them in a position to win the Stanley Cup for the second straight year. It wasn’t enough, though, as the Oilers fell in six games to the Panthers. They got outplayed and outmuscled against a team that is simply built better for playoff hockey.
Nevertheless, it’d be foolish to discard a team with Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. As long as these two are healthy and on the ice, the Oilers are always going to have a shot. They were one win away from the Cup in 2024 and two wins off in 2025. You can’t count the Oilers out as a potential winner this year.
Connor McDavid's fantastic solo goal comes in on our countdown at No. 45! 💨 pic.twitter.com/XqrmxtbIOm
— NHL (@NHL) July 13, 2025
However, it might be more difficult without a couple of depth pieces on their roster. Forwards Corey Perry and Evander Kane played crucial roles in the postseason but will be absent from the team in 2025-26. Kane signed with the Vancouver Canucks, while Perry is off to Los Angeles.
The Oilers added forward Andrew Mangiapane on a two-year, $7.2 million deal to help the third line with Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Trent Frederic. Matthew Savoie and Vasily Podkolzin figure to join Draisaitl on the second line. The offensive production should still be there for the Oilers in 2025-26.
However, they still don’t have an answer between the pipes. Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard remain atop the depth chart. They both can get hot in spurts, but consistency is a major problem. The Oilers were 14th in the regular season, with 2.87 goals against per game. That number reached 3.32 goals in the playoffs, for the 11th-best mark!
I don’t believe the Oilers did enough in the offseason to put them ahead of the Panthers, so their odds to win the Stanley Cup appear correct. We’ll see what adjustments the Oilers make before the puck drops on the 2025-26 season, but I’m not convinced they are a championship team.
The Carolina Hurricanes will try to get over the hump after exiting the Eastern Conference Final in five games a season ago. Are they a different team from the last seven years? The Hurricanes have gone to the postseason every year since the 2018-19 campaign.
All have ended in disappointment, which includes three unsuccessful trips to the conference finals. It was the same story for the Hurricanes in 2024-25, as the Florida Panthers made easy work of Carolina. What changes this season?
Fortunately, the Hurricanes addressed a huge need on the first line. There was an upgrade available on left wing, and the front office took note. The Hurricanes managed to ink one of the most prized free agents in the offseason.
Former Winnipeg Jet, Nikolaj Ehlers, signed a six-year, $51 million contract to play for the Hurricanes.
HERE WE GO 🤩
Nikolaj Ehlers has signed with the @Canes for six years! 🌀 #NHLFreeAgency pic.twitter.com/wEWbkOapPm
— NHL (@NHL) July 3, 2025
However, a gaping hole remains on the second line at center. After Sebastian Aho anchors the first line, the Hurricanes don’t have another reliable center behind him. Jesperi Kotkaniemi and Jordan Staal don’t move the needle much.
Last year, the defense was in solid form, with 2.8 goals against per game, while the offense ranked ninth in goals with 3.24 per contest. Goaltender Frederik Anderson is coming off another reliable campaign and a strong effort in the playoffs with a 2.02 GAA and 0.907 save percentage.
The Hurricanes are a solid, well-balanced team that should find more success in the Eastern Conference. The addition of Ehlers gives the offense more firepower up front. That said, they still don’t look physical enough to give the Panthers a problem, though!
The NHL Stanley Cup betting odds indicate it’s going to be a wide-open season! Despite the same champion in consecutive years, parity dominates the NHL.
With this in mind, I recommend checking out my best longshot Stanley Cup 2025-26 picks:
The Toronto Maple Leafs as a favorite below +1000? No, that is not a price worth betting on. At +1500, however, the Maple Leafs should be considered for a small bet.
Mitch Marner’s departure is the talk of the summer in Toronto. After a turbulent relationship over the last few years, Marner and the Maple Leafs finally parted ways. The Leafs acquired Nicolas Roy from the Vegas Golden Knights in exchange for Marner.
Subtracting Marner from the mix doesn’t make the offense better. However, Marner and his camp’s distractions were becoming troublesome for the organization. Cutting ties with him may end up being a positive for the atmosphere.
Don’t forget that the Leafs were the closest team to beating the Panthers last year. A lucky bounce here and there, and they may have pulled it off. Despite Marner’s exit, the Leafs are well-equipped with Auston Matthews, William Nylander, and Jonathan Tavares took less pay to stay in Toronto.
It’s far from a sure thing, but at +1500, the value warrants a play on the Leafs winning the Cup!
The Jets’ Stanley Cup odds took a decent hit when Ehlers opted to sign with the Hurricanes. Still, the Jets shouldn’t have fallen to +2500! This is still a dangerous team that still has the defending Vezina and Hart Trophy winner on their roster.
Connor Hellebuyck won the regular season MVP and goaltender of the year honors after a fantastic season to lead the Jets to a record of 56-22-4 and a Central Division title. Hellebuyck posted a 2.00 GAA and 0.925 save percentage for a career high. Ehlers is gone, but Kyle Connor, Mark Scheifele, and Gabriel Vilardi remain on the top line.
Two for one! 🏆🏆
See Connor Hellebuyck's reaction to being surprised with both the Vezina AND Hart Trophy. #NHLAwards pic.twitter.com/lZBdgEwNH9
— NHL (@NHL) June 12, 2025
I don’t know how much of an impact 37-year-old Jonathan Toews can have after being out of hockey since 2023, after experiencing complications from long COVID-19. In any event, Toews’ presence in the locker room will likely be an asset.
The Jets are no longer a favorite to win, but a solid bet as underdogs at +2500!
Did any team improve their roster to put them ahead of the Panthers? And, did the champions lose any key pieces to regress?
The answer to both would be no. After there was concern in Sunrise that impending free agency would damage their Stanley Cup core, they managed to get Bennett, Ekblad, and Marchand back on board. It also can’t be forgotten that head coach Paul Maurice didn’t go anywhere.
This is very much the same roster that is well-built for playoff hockey. The Panthers’ defense and physicality make them clearly the best club to win in the postseason.
That hasn’t changed, so if they are still motivated, there shouldn’t be any problem for the Panthers to compete for the top spot again. There will be some hiccups during the regular season, though, keep in mind, they are designed to win a seven-game series!
I recommend backing the Panthers to three-peat and cementing their status as a dynasty.
Multiple online bookmakers are offering NHL betting odds for the championship series. With many options, where should you place your NHL Stanley Cup Final picks? For the best experience, which includes superior prices, betting markets, and fast payouts, The Sports Geek recommends registering at Bovada for the NHL.
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