The New York Rangers sit at the top of the NHL standings (based on points percentage at the time of writing). Should we all jump on board the Rangers Stanley Cup-favorites bandwagon?
Odds Shark's NHL Betting Resources
Who has the best Stanley Cup odds?
| Team | Odds |
|---|---|
| Colorado Avalanche | +800 |
| Boston Bruins | +850 |
| NY Rangers | +900 |
| Dallas Stars | +1000 |
| Vegas Golden Knights | +1000 |
| Carolina Hurricanes | +1100 |
| Los Angeles Kings | +1200 |
| Toronto Maple Leafs | +1200 |
| New Jersey Devils | +1400 |
| Florida Panthers | +1600 |
Odds as of December 6th, 2023 07:48am EST. |
New York Rangers Stanley Cup Odds
Winning the Stanley Cup isn't a science. There's no clear formula to win it. But there are a few key variables that every team needs if they stand any chance to win the prestigious trophy. They need a good power play and excellent goaltending.
| Year | Team | PP% (Rank) | SV% (Rank) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Vegas Golden Knights | 21.9% (8th) | 0.912 (2nd) |
| 2022 | Colorado Avalanche | 32.8% (1st) | 0.901 (7th) |
| 2021 | Tampa Bay Lightning | 32.4% (1st) | 0.934 (1st) |
| 2020 | Tampa Bay Lightning | 22.7% (5th) | 0.922 (6th) |
| 2019 | St. Louis Blues | 16.3% (12th) | 0.907 (11th) |
Of course, just like in French, there's always an exception. The St. Louis Blues didn't have a good power play or get excellent goaltending but somehow still won a Cup.
As it stands now, the Rangers have the third-best power play in the league with a 30% efficiency. Artemi Panarin and Chris Kreider have been excellent on the PP, with the Breadman collecting 14 power-play points while Kreider is second in the league for power-play goals at seven.
What do you know? A power play goal by Chris Kreider.
— Jonny Lazarus (@JLazzy23) November 2, 2023
Artemi Panarin’s point streak hits 10 games. pic.twitter.com/XYoWRt3nK3
On the goaltending front, the Rangers have the sixth-best save percentage at 0.914%. And Igor Shesterkin still hasn't hit his peak. The Vezina winner holds a 0.916SV% and 2.58GAA on the year. That's well below his career 0.924SV% and 2.37GAA.
New York has all the makings of a Stanley Cup favorite. Top of the league? Check. Great power play? Check. Excellent goalkeeping? Yup, and it's only going to get better.
NHL Stanley Cup Odds: Best Value Bet
Betting the favorite is a great option, definitely the safest, but looking for value in the teams further down the table is equally important. There’s never a “wrong” play when it comes to making a futures wager – we’ve seen our share of upsets and underdog storylines over the years. Here's a team that our experts think is a good bargain worthy of a little risk.
Dallas Stars Stanley Cup Odds
The Stars are quietly pushing for Cup favorite status. Dallas has the second-best points percentage in the West at 0.705. And look, they aren't blowing anyone away on paper but they're outstanding in every category:
- Goals For: 79 (10th)
- Goals Against: 62 (7th)
- PP: 22.7% (11th)
- PK: 88.5% (3rd)
- SV%: 0.913% (7th)
No matter the stat you're looking at the Dallas Stars are right there at the top of the pile.
Last year, they pushed the eventual 2023 Cup Champs Vegas to six games in the Western Conference Finals. Their eyes are firmly set on a Stanley Cup, and they're playing like they could very well win one this year.
Vancouver Canucks Stanley Cup Odds
I didn't think we'd be talking about the Vancouver Canucks and the Stanley Cup in the same sentence this year. But it's hard to ignore what they're doing early in the year.
Vancouver is fifth for points percentage at 0.660. They've got the best offense with 96 goals and a really good defensive record that's ranked tenth in the NHL.
Rick Tocchet has his boys buzzing which should lead to some regular-season success. Getting it done in the playoffs is different, and well the Canucks have only been to the playoffs once in eight years. That's why their odds are long.
But, if you're on team "Vancouver finally wins a cup" now's the time to bet on them.
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.
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.
