The 2024-25 Stanley Cup Odds have last year's runners-up, the Edmonton Oilers, at the top of the board with +850 odds. The NHL's defending Cup champions Florida are behind the Oilers at +1000. But I'm interested in why the New York Rangers odds shifted from +1500 to +1300.
2024-25 Stanley Cup Odds
| Team | Odds |
|---|---|
| Edmonton Oilers | +850 |
| Florida Panthers | +1000 |
| New Jersey Devils | +1100 |
| Colorado Avalanche | +1100 |
| Dallas Stars | +1100 |
| New York Rangers | +1300 |
| Vegas Golden Knights | +1400 |
| Carolina Hurricanes | +1400 |
| Toronto Maple Leafs | +1500 |
| Nashville Predators | +1600 |
| Tampa Bay Lightning | +1700 |
| Boston Bruins | +1800 |
Odds as of September 16 at FanDuel
Edmonton Oilers Are The Offseason Cup Favorites
Edmonton was a single game away from the Stanley Cup in 2023-24. They've got the best player in the game, Connor McDavid. Not to mention, Leon Draisaitl was locked to an eight-year mega extension with a $14 million AAV (the largest in league history).
🔒 LEON'S LOCKED IN 🔒
— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) September 3, 2024
The #Oilers have signed forward Leon Draisaitl to an eight-year contract extension beginning in 2025-26 with an average annual value of $14 million. pic.twitter.com/wERUyneHA7
Edmonton's path to the playoffs is almost certain. Oddsmakers have given them -1205 odds to make the postseason. The question is: "What happens when they get there?"
We've seen the Oilers cruise through the playoffs going all the way to the Stanley Cup Finals last year. And we've seen Stanley Cup runners-up win the whole thing the following year thanks to the Florida Panthers championship last season. Winning the ultimate prize is a real possibility for Edmonton.
What let the Oilers down in their run to the cup last year was offense. I know, it's hard to imagine but it's true. From the regular season to the playoffs, Edmonton's defense was better (2.88 GA to 2.60), as was their PK (80% to 94%) and the PP (from 26% to 29%). But the offense generated 0.12 fewer goals per game.
Acquiring Viktor Arvidsson and Jeff Skinner should give them that extra offensive firepower they need. Both have made careers as goal scorers and should easily fill the void in the lineup for offensive depth.
I have no doubt Edmonton will be back in the Stanley Cup Finals this year and could easily win the Cup with this squad. Their +850 odds present outstanding value.
2024-25 Stanley Cup Champion Value Picks
With such a competitive sport predicting any year's champion is full of pitfalls and peril, which means we'll find a ton of value on the odds boards. Let's look past the favorite to find more value.
New York Rangers
The Rangers were the biggest movers since our last update, New York went from +1500 to +1300. The Rangers made no new signings, no trades, nothing changed. So why the bump on the oddsboard?
It might simply be a correction to the line. Remember, the Rangers were the best team in the NHL last year with a 55-23-4 record. They had a top-10 offense, defense, goaltending, and special teams.
In the post-season, New York made it to the Conference Finals, losing to Florida in six games where players like Filip Chytil and Kaapo Kakko held a combined pathetic 29% GF.
Their "big" offseason acquisition was trading for Reilly Smith. The middle-six winger gives the Rangers some hard-working depth in the lineup. And a good playoff performer. Smith has 38 points in his last 61 playoff games. He's not a star, but the Rangers are loaded with star talent. They needed players like Smith to perform (unlike Chytil and Kakko) when the stars were on the bench taking a breather.
As an Islanders fan, I don't like the Rangers, but even I have to admit the Rangers odds to win the Cup should be better than +1300.
Toronto Maple Leafs
The captaincy has moved from John Tavares to Auston Matthews. And before the dramatists start writing about rifts in the room, note that this transfer was as amicable as you could imagine.
The handover. pic.twitter.com/fbtz7rt7RK
— David Alter (@dalter) August 14, 2024
With a 356-188-74 (0.636 points %) record, Toronto has been one of the best teams since Matthews entered the league in 2016-17. Books have their regular season points total at 101.5 with the OVER favored at -130. There's no question that they'll be in the Stanley Cup playoffs.
The Leafs hope that by making Matthews the official leader their franchise can get over their issues in the playoffs.
The big question facing the Leafs is goaltending. The Buds tandem between the pipes is Joseph Woll and Anthony Stolarz. Stolarz was great as a backup in Florida with a 0.925 SV% while Woll struggled with a 0.907 SV% in 25 games with the Leafs.
A split crease with two relatively unproven goalies is why the books have Toronto further down the board. But we've seen an "unproven" tandem go the distance with Vegas in 2023. If you think Toronto can do the same, you're looking at a $1,600 payout on a winning $100 bet.
Last 10 Stanley Cup Winners
| Year | Cup Champions | Opening Odds |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Florida Panthers | +2000 |
| 2023 | Vegas Golden Knights | +1800 |
| 2022 | Colorado Avalanche | +600 |
| 2021 | Tampa Bay Lightning | +900 |
| 2020 | Tampa Bay Lightning | +675 |
| 2019 | St. Louis Blues | +3000 |
| 2018 | Washington Capitals | +1125 |
| 2017 | Pittsburgh Penguins | +1100 |
| 2016 | Pittsburgh Penguins | +1300 |
| 2015 | Chicago Blackhawks | +700 |
Over the past 10 years, the average opening odds for the eventual Stanley Cup champions are +1320. So don't always bet on the chalk.
The Blues are the big exception with +3000 before the ’18-19 season began, netting early bettors $3,000 on a $100 bet, but it gets better! By the All-Star break that year, the Blues were at the bottom of the NHL standings – their odds of winning the Stanley Cup were +10000. That means a $100 bet would have returned a whopping $10,000 in profits. Wild.
NHL Teams With The Most Stanley Cups
| Team | Stanley Cups | Last Cup Win |
|---|---|---|
| Montreal Canadiens | 24 | 1993 |
| Toronto Maple Leafs | 13 | 1967 |
| Detroit Red Wings | 11 | 2008 |
| Boston Bruins | 6 | 2011 |
| Chicago Blackhawks | 6 | 2015 |
| Edmonton Oilers | 5 | 1990 |
| Pittsburgh Penguins | 5 | 2017 |
| New York Islanders | 4 | 1983 |
| New York Rangers | 4 | 1994 |
| New Jersey Devils | 3 | 2003 |
Toronto sure has a lot of Cups, but they haven't won or even been to a Stanley Cup Final since that last championship back in 1967. Breaking their drought of first-round exits in the 2023 playoffs, let’s pray for Leafs fans that their squad can get to the finals soon.
However, with modern parity in the NHL, it will be long before any franchise passes the Montreal Canadiens' 24 Stanley Cup banners, which they racked up over multiple decades in the mid-1900s.
NHL Teams That Have Never Won A Stanley Cup
With Florida's championship in 2024, there are now only 10 teams who haven't won a Cup. But that's still under a third of the league, who have yet to put their hands on the Stanley Cup.
Most of the teams on this list have come close. All but Arizona, Columbus, Minnesota, Seattle and Winnipeg have at least appeared in a Stanley Cup Final.
Technically the Ottawa Senators did win a few Stanley Cups, but that last championship took place before the invention of penicillin, not to mention the Senators didn't exist between 1934 (when they moved to St. Louis) and 1992. So, I'm not going to count those. Sorry Sens fans!
Stanley Cup Betting Odds and Trends
As hockey bettors, we're always hunting for an edge or trends that make our wagers a little easier on the mind -- when it comes to the Stanley Cup, there are a few notable patterns we can pick up on. The trophy is still anyone's game, but here are a few common trends over the last few years that could help you narrow down a pick:
- When it comes to picking a favored conference, it’s pretty split – out of the last 10 winners, 60% have been Eastern teams and the West claims 40%.
- The Cup is a repeat-friendly trophy. The Penguins and Lightning have both gone back-to-back in the last 10 years, and 16 teams total have had repeat victories since 1918.
- You’d think regular season domination would indicate a Stanley Cup favorite, but the President’s Trophy has only gone to the eventual winner of the finals eight times in its 35-year lifespan. Take a look at the 2023 Bruins – the best record in NHL history with a first-round exit. Yikes.
Odds Shark's NHL Betting Resources
How To Bet On Stanley Cup Odds
To bet on Stanley Cup odds, you’d make a futures bet on your sportsbook's NHL section of the website. You'll likely see a tab for futures options and the NHL finals should be a front-and-center option. Don't be afraid to review our NHL betting guide for a few friendly tips and tricks if you're debating a wager on the Stanley Cup!
Odds are available before the puck drops in the regular season -- certain teams will always be contenders, especially if they won the Cup the previous year. When sportsbooks set the lines, they look at offseason roster moves, coaching changes and past performance specifically of the prior season.
Where To Bet On The Stanley Cup Futures
You can find updated Stanley Cup odds at most sportsbooks – the lines may differ slightly depending on which book you use, so be sure you're getting the best value for your money. If you're looking for recommendations on choosing the best book head over to our NHL sites review page!
How To Read Stanley Cup Odds 2024
Let’s say you want to make a futures bet today. The Stanley Cup odds might look something like this:
- Colorado Avalanche +300
- Toronto Maple Leafs +550
- Vegas Golden Knights +800
- Carolina Hurricanes +900
- Edmonton Oilers +1100
If you feel strongly about the Leafs and believe they’ll end their Stanley Cup drought, you could wager $100 on them at +550 odds. If they triumph, you’d get a payout of $650 – your original $100 is returned along with winnings of $550. Our odds calculator will show you how much you’d win based on the odds and amount bet.
The Stanley Cup odds constantly change throughout the season – relevant news like trades, player injuries, and hot/cold streaks are a few examples of what can move a team’s line. If you see Stanley Cup odds you like, it’s best to bet on them ASAP – the Leafs may be +550 to win the Stanley Cup in October, but after a surge in December, their odds could lower to +300. Bet smart and bet early.
What Are Stanley Cup Futures
A futures bet is betting on the outcome of an event before it takes place – when it comes to the Stanley Cup, that means betting on who will hoist the league's top trophy well before it's awarded.
It’s simple on paper, but the wealth of options can make it tricky. Don’t worry if you’re risk-averse though. Odds are available well right up to the final game of the playoffs.
