2024-25 NHL Stanley Cup Odds and Predictions

The Florida Panthers staved off a historic collapse and are now the new NHL champions. While it’s an amazing moment, these moments do pass quickly. Before long, all anyone will think about is what the latest 2024-25 NHL Stanley Cup odds are.

Are the Panthers entering the new season as the favorites to defend their first ever title? Will it be the never-say-die Edmonton Oilers who the top betting sites like the most? Or could it be someone else?

To answer that, let’s analyze the top contenders, inspect my favorite sleepers, and work toward my ultimate prediction for 2024-25.

2024-25 NHL Stanley Cup Odds

Check out the latest Stanley Cup odds courtesy of ScoresandStats:

NHL Teams	Opening Odds	August Odds
Edmonton Oilers	+700	+750
Florida Panthers	+650	+900
New Jersey Devils	+2000	+1000
Dallas Stars	+900	+1100
Colorado Avalanche	+1400	+1200
Carolina Hurricanes	+1200	+1400
New York Rangers	+1100	+1400
Toronto Maple Leafs	+1800	+1400
Vegas Golden Knights	+1800	+1400
Nashville Predators	+2000	+1600

The biggest change in the 2024-25 Stanley Cup Final odds is the fact that the reigning champ isn’t the team to beat anymore.

Florida still has the second best Stanley Cup betting odds, but it’s the team they beat (Edmonton) that is now viewed as the favorite to win.

I don’t hate the logic, but Florida’s price has dropped from +650 to +900. Hopefully you didn’t bet on them immediately after they won. If you waited, you could be in for a sizable increase in value.

The same goes for a lot of the Stanley Cup contenders. The opening Stanley Cup Final betting odds saw three teams with odds better than +1000. Now there are only two and their prices collectively went up.

Naturally, there appears to have been value in waiting. While true, now may be the time to strike, now that the market has adjusted and these teams have tacked on their prospects from the 2024 NHL Draft.

Why Are the Edmonton Oilers Stanley Cup Favorites?

After a pricing adjustment, the team that narrowly missed out on an impossible 0-3 comeback is your new Stanley Cup title favorite.

Edmonton opened the off-season with +700 odds, but they’ve ascended past the defending champions and you can now get them at a nice +750 price.

The biggest reason why is the presence of superstar Connor McDavid, who managed to win the Conn Smythe award despite not actually winning the NHL title this past summer.

The Oilers have dealt with some player movement and money issues, but they still may have gotten better after trading for Vasili Podkolzin, the former 10th overall pick in the 2019 draft.

Regardless of their off-season shifting, the Oilers were always going to be in the conversation for next season’s Stanley Cup Final. They are still a handful offensively and have perhaps the biggest star in the game.

Of course, it remains to be seen what not matching offers for Philip Broberg and Dylan Holliday mean for the team’s future.

Top Contenders to Win the 2024-25 NHL Stanley Cup

With the Oilers looking like the new favorite to win it all, that means you can get remarkable value with the team that just won – among others.

Here’s a look at the other likely contenders to win this year’s NHL championship.

Florida Panthers +900

The Panthers weren’t a mega surprise this time. They reached the Finals a year ago and had 52+ wins for the second time in three years. Everyone has known they were capable for a while now, but actually seeing it through and earning the banner has people (and bettors) seeing Florida in a different light.

Should they, though?

I’m not so sure. For one, it’s not exactly easy to navigate the troublesome waters of an NHL playoff run, let alone do it in successive seasons. Tampa Bay and Pittsburgh have been able to do it when looking back at the last decade, but are the Panthers on their level?

They don’t have to be seen that way to be favored, of course. You can decide later if you like their Stanley Cup odds, or their chances to repeat. All you need to know is they were good enough to finally win the big one, and the top sportsbooks are giving them the respect they deserve.

Florida did well to retain Sam Reinhart (2nd with 547 goals in 2024). He should remain a key fixture in an offense that ranked 11th in goals, 8th in power play, and second in shots per game. Of course, this squad also allowed the fewest goals in the NHL. If the Panthers maintain that type of elite balance again next year, they undoubtedly have a chance to go back-to-back.

Dallas Stars +1100

You can get a bit more value with a team like Dallas, who had one of the best records in all of hockey a year ago (52-21-9) and claimed first place in the Western Conference.

Dallas was contending for a title as recent as 2020, when they fell short (4-2) against the Tampa Bay Lightning. The Stars were close to returning this year, as they made it the the series before the Stanley Cup, falling to Edmonton.

That’s two straight trips to the Conference Finals, so we know they’re itching to get back and finish the job. They certainly have the goods offensively, as they ranked third in goals per game (3.59) last season, and got strong production out of Jason Robertson (80 points, 51 assists, and 29 goals).

If you’re making early NHL picks that have a real shot at going the distance, the Stars need to be on your radar.

Carolina Hurricanes +1400

Another possible 2024-25 Stanley Cup contender is the Hurricanes. Carolina had one of the best defenses in the NHL a year ago, allowing just 2.57 goals per game (4th). They also exploited the league’s second best power play % (26.9), and scored eight shutouts (tops in NHL).

Carolina didn’t quite do enough to win the Metro Division, but they weren’t far behind the New York Rangers, finishing in second at 52-23-7. They also were no slouches offensively, as they racked up 279 goals and ranked 8th with 3.38 goals per game.

The Hurricanes took a step back this past season, to be sure. Despite a strong regular season and a stingy defense, they lost in the second round to the rival Rangers. The year prior, they got to the Conference Finals and fell to the now champion Panthers.

There are whispers they could be aggressive on the open market, too.

On defense alone, Carolina is a team worth backing. If they make a big splash, my interest will only grow. 

They have one of the best young goalies in hockey in Pyotr Kochetkov (2nd with 2.33 goals allowed per game), and they have the experience to rise up and make a deep run in 2024-25.

Colorado Avalanche +1200

My last contender for 2024-25 is the Avalanche. Colorado won it all pretty recently (2022), and have understandably taken a mild step back since. There’s something about winning a title that can take some steam out of you, and maybe that plays into Colorado’s mild decline.

There isn’t any real reason to hate the Avalanche, though. Since winning that championship, they’ve still churned out two straight 50+ win seasons, won the Central in 23, and made the playoffs both years.

Colorado got bounced within the first two rounds both seasons, but perhaps enough time has passed that they’ll be a bit hungrier come 2024-25. There’s no denying their talent, nor the betting value you’re getting with them at this sweet +1400 price.

Nathan McKinnon (4th in goals last year) provides serious star power for a talented offense that also features Mikko Rantanen and Cale Makar. This offense was nasty in 2023-24, pacing the NHL in goals scored per game (3.68), and also leading the way in total points, and ranking second in power play goals (68).

Defensively, Colorado was more of a middle of the pack unit. If they can tighten up the back end without sacrificing their offensive production, their +1400 Stanley Cup odds look rather appealing.

Best 2024-25 Stanley Cup Sleepers

Want even more value when betting on who will win the 2024-25 NHL Stanley Cup Finals? I don’t blame you, especially since the NHL Playoffs in general can be such a crapshoot.

Seriously, there is obviously a top favorite every single year, and how often do they fail? There have been a couple of teams to repeat over the past decade, but otherwise predicting how this unfolds before the season begins is difficult.

If there’s a better sport to lean on expert handicappers for, I’m not sure what it is. Regardless, if you want value – and solid teams that look like logical bets – I’ve got just the two squads for you.

Winnipeg Jets +2500

The Jets are a very strong defensive team that is going to get some attention with these +2500 Stanley Cup betting odds. 

They ranked 11th in shots allowed on goal in 2023-24, while they were literally as stingy as the eventual champion Panthers, finishing tied for first in goals allowed per game (2.42).

Winnipeg’s defense, unfortunately, did not show up in the NHL playoffs this past year. They needed an insane 7-6 overtime win to claim their only victory against Colorado, and otherwise allowed 5+ goals in every single game.

Brutal, right? It wasn’t good, but the overall evidence still supports Winnipeg as a viable Stanley Cup value bet. They’ve only been in existence in the NHL since 2010-2011, and yet they’ve made the tournament seven times.

There haven’t been many deep runs, but the Jets do have the defensive tools to contend. Josh Morrissey (17th in assists) and Kyle Connor (23rd in goals) also fuel a capable offense that ranked 15th in goals scored per contest.

Oddly enough, neither aspect of this squad showed up when it mattered most. If the Jets can retool slightly and maintain their defense (and actually translate it to the playoffs), I think their +2500 price tag is rather inviting.

Tampa Bay Lightning +2000

Getting the Tampa Bay Lightning at +2800 Stanley Cup Finals odds feels like robbery. Granted, they’re not exactly the team that claimed consecutive titles in 2020 and 2021, but they’re also not light years away from it.

Tampa Bay did reach the 2022 Finals a third straight year in 2021-22, after all. They’ve regressed since then, falling short of 50 wins in each of the last two seasons. They did still make the playoffs both times, but haven’t been able to escape the first round after three straight years of deep playoff journeys.

Perhaps fatigue was a factor. One could even argue it’s just that they’re getting a bit long in the tooth.

The Lightning won fewer games these past two years, but they still were the 5th best offense in the NHL (3.51 goals per game) and were powered by several elite scorers in Brayden Point, Nikita Kucherov, and the ageless Steven Stamkos.

Offensively, I think Tampa Bay can still bang heads with anyone. They weren’t quite up to snuff defensively, however. If they can improve that aspect of their game, their talent, playoff pedigree, and surprising odds do combine to make them an attractive Stanley Cup Finals sleeper pick.

2024-25 NHL Stanley Cup Prediction

There is a ton of value associated with betting on who the 2024-25 Stanley Cup winner will be. I do think there’s too much stock put in the two teams who just competed for the title, though.

Obviously the Panthers deserve credit and could certainly repeat. And Edmonton is a very good team who could rally and finish the job next season. But both of these teams lack a lot of upside when looking to next year’s Finals.

Both are viable, but I’d rather obtain a little more value and roll with a contender like the Hurricanes that can really buckle down defensively, or an elite offensive squad with gobs of experience like the Lightning.

Tampa Bay’s run could be over, admittedly. That has me hanging my betting hat on the Hurricanes for next year. They’re a good price for a team that can defend well and is also dangerous on the offensive side.

2024-25 NHL Stanley Cup Prop Bets

In addition to picking the outright winner for the Stanley Cup, sportsbooks also offer some futures prop bets as well. Let’s take a look at the following Stanley Cup prop bets and make our predictions for which Division and which Country will win Lord Stanley’s cup:

Which Division Will Win The 2024-25 Stanley Cup?

• Metropolitan +240
• Atlantic +270
• Pacific +280
• Central +300

Beyond just betting on which team wins the 2024-25 Stanley Cup, you can also bet on what division the eventual winner will come from.

For instance, if you think the Florida Panthers have a legit chance to repeat, the Atlantic Division at +270 makes sense. Obviously the Panthers offer way more betting value at their +900 odds, but this type of wager allows for some safety.

What if Florida doesn’t win? You’d be protected with likely playoff teams such as Boston, Toronto, and Tampa Bay – all who made the playoffs a year ago – as backup options to secure this division a win.

It’s a somewhat logical betting back, but only if it converts. Since my favorite bet is Carolina, though, I’d start with the Metropolitan Division.

That happens to align with the pricing at Bet365, as the Metro Division is favored to produce this year’s NHL champ.

Carolina is my favorite team from said division, but you’re also getting the Rangers, Islanders, and Capitals. Fringe playoff teams like the Penguins, Devils, and Flyers are also possibly in play, too.

Feel free to chase more value with the Central Division at +300, or roll with the Pacific Division, which harbors this year’s Stanley Cup betting favorite. For me, it’s Metro or bust.

Which Country Will Win The 2024-25 Stanley Cup?

• USA -350
• Canada +260

One other way to bet on who will win the 2024-25 Stanley Cup Final is to just go with a country.

The odds are not as welcoming – particularly for the US side – but you do get decent value if you go with Canada. Obviously this isn’t great news if you like the Panthers to repeat or see another USA based hockey team you like.

However, there are 7 NHL teams based in CA. Of those seven, one is the current favorite to win it all (Edmonton) and two others made the playoffs a year ago.

I think there is safety in numbers, however. Not only does the favored US align with my pick to win this year, but you simply have more potential outs.

The price is not to die for, but you could do worse at -350.

Recent NHL Stanley Cup Finals Champions

Year	Stanley Cup Winner
2024	Florida Panthers
2023	Vegas Golden Knights
2022	Colorado Avalanche
2021	Tampa Bay Lightning
2020	Tampa Bay Lightning
2019	St. Louis Blues
2018	Washington Capitals
2017	Pittsburgh Penguins
2016	Pittsburgh Penguins
2015	Chicago Blackhawks