The 2024-25 NHL regular season concludes on Thursday, April 17th, setting the stage for the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs starting Saturday, April 19th. The playoff bracket is set, with the Winnipeg Jets leading the league with 116 points. The Washington Capitals, with Alex Ovechkin, secured the top spot in the Eastern Conference.
As the 2025 NHL Playoffs approach, Stanley Cup winner odds are available for all 16 playoff teams.
Sports expert Jimmie Kaylor has analyzed the latest betting trends and NHL futures odds to provide his top picks for the Stanley Cup, Eastern and Western Conference titles, and the Conn Smythe Trophy.
Kaylor`s recent successful predictions include picking Nathan MacKinnon as the first goal scorer in the 4 Nations Face-Off Final and correctly predicting under 5.5 goals in that game. He also recently hit a five-leg parlay in an Avalanche vs. Red Wings game.
Kaylor has reviewed the newest NHL odds and has finalized his best futures bets for the Stanley Cup and NHL player awards.
2025 NHL Stanley Cup Odds
| Team | Current Odds | Opening Odds |
|---|---|---|
| Montreal Canadiens | +8000 | +15000 |
| St. Louis Blues | +4000 | +4500 |
| New Jersey Devils | +4000 | +1300 |
| Minnesota Wild | +4000 | +4000 |
| Ottawa Senators | +3500 | +4000 |
| Los Angeles Kings | +2000 | +2200 |
| Toronto Maple Leafs | +1200 | +1600 |
| Tampa Bay Lightning | +1100 | +2000 |
| Winnipeg Jets | +1000 | +2200 |
| Washington Capitals | +950 | +10000 |
| Vegas Golden Knights | +850 | +1200 |
| Edmonton Oilers | +850 | +1000 |
| Carolina Hurricanes | +800 | +1100 |
| Colorado Avalanche | +775 | +1000 |
| Florida Panthers | +750 | +900 |
| Dallas Stars | +750 | +1000 |
Key Betting Trends:
- Highest Ticket %: Avalanche 10.4%, Knights 8.3%, Maple Leafs 8.2%
- Highest Handle %: Avalanche 11.0%, Jets 10.6%, Hurricanes 10.0%
- Biggest Liabilities: Blues, Canadiens, Red Wings
The Stanley Cup odds suggest the Panthers and Hurricanes are the frontrunners in the Eastern Conference, while the Western Conference is considered more open, with the Stars, Avalanche, Oilers, and Knights as strong contenders.
It`s notable that strong teams like the Stars and Avalanche face each other in the first round. The expert believes the winner of the Colorado-Dallas series is likely to represent the Western Conference in the Stanley Cup Final. In the Eastern Conference, the Panthers are seen as the team to beat.
Best Bet: Colorado Avalanche +775
2025 NHL Playoff Odds to Win the Eastern Conference
| Team | Current Odds | Opening Odds |
|---|---|---|
| Montreal Canadiens | +4000 | +10000 |
| Ottawa Senators | +1600 | +2000 |
| New Jersey Devils | +1600 | +625 |
| Toronto Maple Leafs | +575 | +800 |
| Washington Capitals | +450 | +9000 |
| Tampa Bay Lightning | +400 | +1000 |
| Carolina Hurricanes | +350 | +525 |
| Florida Panthers | +340 | +500 |
- Favorite: Panthers +340
- Highest Ticket Percentage: Capitals 16.8%
- Highest Handle Percentage: Hurricanes 38.1%
- Biggest Liability: Red Wings
While the value for the Hurricanes (+350) and Panthers (+340) may not be ideal, Florida remains the expert`s pick for the Eastern Conference. The Toronto Maple Leafs are highlighted as a potential sleeper.
Best Bet: Panthers (+340)
Sleeper: Maple Leafs (+575)
2025 NHL Playoff Odds to Win the Western Conference
| Team | Current Odds | Opening Odds |
|---|---|---|
| Minnesota Wild | +2000 | +1600 |
| St. Louis Blues | +1800 | +2200 |
| Los Angeles Kings | +950 | +1000 |
| Winnipeg Jets | +525 | +1000 |
| Vegas Golden Knights | +450 | +650 |
| Edmonton Oilers | +450 | +500 |
| Colorado Avalanche | +450 | +500 |
| Dallas Stars | +340 | +500 |
- Favorite: Stars +340
- Highest Ticket Percentage: Avalanche 16.9%
- Highest Handle Percentage: Jets 40.2%
- Biggest Liability: Blues
The first-round matchup between the Stars and Avalanche is considered a clash of two of the strongest Western Conference teams. The winner of this series will become a top contender for the Stanley Cup. Colorado is the expert`s pick to win this series, with the Vegas Golden Knights as a sleeper.
Best Bet: Avalanche (+450)
Sleeper: Vegas Golden Knights (+450)
2025 NHL Odds to Win the Conn Smythe Trophy
| Player | Current Odds |
|---|---|
| Aleksander Barkov | +2500 |
| Jake Oettinger | +2500 |
| Leon Draisaitl | +2200 |
| Cale Makar | +2200 |
| Jack Eichel | +2000 |
| Connor Hellebuyck | +1500 |
| Nathan MacKinnon | +1400 |
| Connor McDavid | +1300 |
Historically, the Conn Smythe Trophy usually goes to the best player on the Stanley Cup-winning team. While there are exceptions, the expert anticipates this year`s winner will also be a Stanley Cup champion, likely from the Stars-Avalanche series.
Cale Makar, who won the Conn Smythe when Colorado last won the Stanley Cup, offers good value at +2200, though Nathan MacKinnon at 14-1 is also appealing.
Best Bet: Makar +2200
Most Likely Stanley Cup Final Matchups
| Matchup | Current Odds |
|---|---|
| Hurricanes vs. Avalanche | +1600 |
| Hurricanes vs. Stars | +1600 |
| Panthers vs. Avalanche | +1600 |
| Panthers vs. Stars | +1600 |
Oddsmakers consider these four teams as the top contenders. The expert predicts Colorado to win the Western Conference and the Panthers to win the Eastern Conference again.
Best bet: Avalanche vs. Panthers (+1600)
