The NHL's Stanley Cup odds are always chock-full of value. Even after an 82-game season decided what the good teams and bad teams are. That's because the Stanley Cup playoffs are the hardest to win in professional sports.
Let's break down the odds to win the oldest (and frankly most beautiful) trophy in North American sports and see who's got the best shot at winning it.
Odds Shark's NHL Betting Resources
Who has the best Stanley Cup odds?
| Team | Odds |
|---|---|
| Carolina Hurricanes | +500 |
| Florida Panthers | +600 |
| NY Rangers | +650 |
| Vegas Golden Knights | +800 |
| Vancouver Canucks | +900 |
| Winnipeg Jets | +1000 |
| Boston Bruins | +1200 |
| Dallas Stars | +1200 |
| Colorado Avalanche | +1400 |
| Toronto Maple Leafs | +1400 |
Odds as of April 23rd, 2024 09:08am EDT. |
Vegas Golden Knights Stanley Cup Odds
The defending champs enter the playoffs as the bottom seed in the West. But that won't bother them much. They know the quality they have in their lineup. And the quality of players that just rose from the crypt of their LTIR. Dallas Stars fans aren't weren't happy about it (and I'm sure they aren't the only ones).
Stars fans were booing so loud Mark Stone couldn’t hear the question😂
— BarDown (@BarDown) April 23, 2024
via @espn pic.twitter.com/fZ8OmHVryt
Stone and Hertl both scored in Game 1 against the Dallas Stars. Stone spent two months on LTIR (Feb 21 to Apr 22) while Hertl was out a bit longer (Feb 12 to Apr 8). The Knights' LTIR crew were difference makers.
Again, Vegas is an eighth seed but they've got the quality to win. We saw it just last year!
New York Rangers Stanley Cup Odds
The worry for the Rangers is the Presidents' Trophy curse that now hangs over their heads. To be fair, New York is the last team to win the Presidents' Trophy in a full regular season and win the Stanley Cup that year (all the way back in 1994 of course).
The power play is going to be the Rangers calling card through the playoffs. We know that. If they can add consistent 5on5 offense they'll be easy favorites to go all the way.
In Game 1 against the Capitals, the Rangers scored all four of their goals at even-strength. It looks like they've got that 5on5 thing figured out. That's a big warning to the other 15 teams in the playoffs.
Colorado Avalanche Stanley Cup Odds
Goaltending was a worrying weakness for Colorado with starter Alexandar Georgiev having a sub-par 0.897 SV% and a goals-against average that's bow just over 3.00. And he's not done well in Game 1 allowing seven goals on 23 shots for a 0.696SV% and a 7.41GAA.
The Avalanche need young Finnish goalie Justus Annunen to get healthy and ASAP. Annunen has been a revelation in net with a 0.925SV% and 2.35GAA in 13 starts through the regular season. As this series inevitably gets more defensive the Avs are going to want a good goalie in nets instead of Georgiev.
These odds are long so there's value here, but only if Annunen comes back soon.
Last 10 Stanley Cup Winners
| Year | Cup Champions | Opening Odds |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 2014 | Los Angeles Kings | +1200 |
Aside from the Golden Knights winning the league in only their sixth season, there aren’t many shockers on this list – except for the St. Louis Blues in 2019.
The Blues sat at +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.
The eventual Stanley Cup champions over the last 10 years have had average opening odds of +1180, but take out that 2019 Blues championship and the typical Stanley Cup champion’s odds are +978.
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 battle back to the finals soon.
However, with modern parity in the NHL, it's going to take a long time for any franchise to pass 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
There are 11 teams, more than a third of the league, who have yet to put their hands on the Stanley Cup.
This year, the Panthers, Predators, Cancuks or Jets get a chance to take their names off this list. We'll see if either of them can go all the way and actually win the Stanley Cup for the first time ever.
Now, technically the Ottawa Senators did win a few Stanley Cups, but the 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, and 16 teams total have had repeat victories since 1918.
- Since 2010, there have only been six teams with pre-season odds higher than +1000 who went on to win the Cup, but they all did so in the last 10 years. The underdog trend is looking up!
- 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.
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 the previous 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're going to use, so be sure you're getting the best value for your money. If you're looking for recommendations on how to choose the best book for you, 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’re going to end their Stanley Cup, 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 an incredibly simple selection of paper, but the wealth of options at your disposal can make it a bit tricky. Don’t worry if you’re risk-averse though. You can bet on Stanley Cup futures before the season starts up to the end of playoffs. If you’d prefer to wait to see who makes the postseason, you’ll face a lower payout but see better chances of success.
