As the 2025 NHL Playoffs are now fully underway, significant shifts have occurred in the odds for winning the Stanley Cup. The Colorado Avalanche, for instance, initially took a 1-0 series lead but have since lost two consecutive games to the Dallas Stars, despite the return of their captain, Gabe Landeskog. Their odds moved from being strong +500 favorites after Game 1 to a more moderate +1050 contender status after Game 3. With every playoff series having completed at least two games, updated Stanley Cup odds are available for all 16 remaining teams.
SportsLine expert handicapper Jimmie Kaylor has thoroughly analyzed the latest betting trends and NHL futures odds. He has provided his top selections for the Stanley Cup winner, the Eastern and Western Conference champions, and the Conn Smythe Trophy recipient. Kaylor boasts a strong record, including accurately predicting Nathan MacKinnon as the first goal scorer in the 4 Nations Face-Off Final (resulting in a 13-1 payout) and successfully hitting multi-leg parlays with high payouts recently.
2025 NHL Stanley Cup Odds (Updated April 24)
Here are the current odds from BetMGM:
| Current Odds | Opening Odds | |
| New Jersey Devils | +15000 | +1300 |
| Montreal Canadiens | +15000 | +15000 |
| St. Louis Blues | +10000 | +4500 |
| Ottawa Senators | +10000 | +4000 |
| Minnesota Wild | +4000 | +4000 |
| Edmonton Oilers | +2500 | +1000 |
| Tampa Bay Lightning | +1600 | +2000 |
| Colorado Avalanche | +1050 | +1000 |
| Vegas Golden Knights | +950 | +1200 |
| Los Angeles Kings | +900 | +2200 |
| Washington Capitals | +850 | +10000 |
| Dallas Stars | +850 | +1000 |
| Toronto Maple Leafs | +750 | +1600 |
| Florida Panthers | +750 | +900 |
| Winnipeg Jets | +700 | +2200 |
| Carolina Hurricanes | +500 | +1100 |
Betting insights based on ticket and handle percentages:
- Highest Ticket %: Avalanche 10.6%, Knights 8.7%, Maple Leafs 8.4%
- Highest Handle %: Avalanche 11.0%, Maple Leafs 8.4%, Golden Knights 7.9%
- Biggest Liabilities: Blues, Canadiens, Red Wings
According to Matthew Rasp, a Senior Trader at BetMGM, two longshots, the Blues and Canadiens, represent the sports book`s largest liabilities currently. Rasp commented, “The Panthers and Lightning are among the favorites to win the Stanley Cup but the public is ignoring them. BetMGM really wants the Stanley Cup to stay in Florida. The Blues and Canadiens are our biggest liabilities to win it all.”
With every playoff series having played two games, the Stanley Cup odds have seen dramatic shifts. The Dallas Stars, for instance, were a +2200 longshot and are now a top contender at +850. The Carolina Hurricanes have performed dominantly so far and are now favored to win the entire championship.
Despite their recent struggles, Colorado remains my prediction to win the Stanley Cup. However, I continue to be impressed by Toronto.
Best Bet: Colorado Avalanche +750 (placed April 17)
Sleeper: Maple Leafs +1200 (placed April 17)
2025 NHL Playoff Odds to Win the Eastern Conference (Updated April 24)
Here are the current odds from BetMGM:
| Current Odds | Opening Odds | |
| New Jersey Devils | +8000 | +625 |
| Montreal Canadiens | +8000 | +10000 |
| Ottawa Senators | +5000 | +2000 |
| Tampa Bay Lightning | +800 | +1000 |
| Washington Capitals | +425 | +9000 |
| Toronto Maple Leafs | +350 | +800 |
| Florida Panthers | +340 | +500 |
| Carolina Hurricanes | +200 | +525 |
- Favorite: Hurricanes +200
- Highest Ticket Percentage: Capitals 16.5%
- Highest Handle Percentage: Hurricanes 37.6%
- Biggest Liability: Red Wings
While the current odds for the Hurricanes (+350) and Panthers (+340) don`t offer exceptional value, Florida is my choice to win the Eastern Conference. A potential sleeper pick in this conference is the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Best Bet: Panthers (+340)
Sleeper: Maple Leafs (+575)
2025 NHL Playoff Odds to Win the Western Conference (Updated April 24)
Here are the current odds from BetMGM:
| Current Odds | Opening Odds | |
| St. Louis Blues | +5000 | +2200 |
| Minnesota Wild | +1500 | +1600 |
| Edmonton Oilers | +1400 | +500 |
| Colorado Avalanche | +550 | +500 |
| Vegas Golden Knights | +450 | +650 |
| Los Angeles Kings | +400 | +1000 |
| Dallas Stars | +400 | +500 |
| Winnipeg Jets | +310 | +1000 |
- Favorite: Jets +310
- Highest Ticket Percentage: Avalanche 16.9%
- Highest Handle Percentage: Jets 37.9%
- Biggest Liability: Blues
The first-round series featuring the Stars and Avalanche arguably showcases the two strongest teams currently in the Western Conference. The winner of this series is highly likely to emerge as the favorite for the 2025 Stanley Cup. Given that the Stars are dealing with some significant injuries, my pick for both the series and the conference is Colorado. The Vegas Golden Knights represent a potential sleeper team.
Best Bet: Avalanche (+380)
Sleeper: Vegas Golden Knights (+450)
2025 NHL Odds to Win the Conn Smythe Trophy (Updated April 24)
Here are the current odds from BetMGM:
| Current Odds | |
| Matthew Tkachuk | +2000 |
| Alex Ovechkin | +2000 |
| Sebastian Aho | +1600 |
| Nathan MacKinnon | +1600 |
| Connor Hellebuyck | +1000 |
Historically, the Conn Smythe Trophy for the most valuable player in the playoffs is awarded to a member of the Stanley Cup-winning team. Last year`s winner, Connor McDavid, was a rare exception, being only the sixth player ever to receive the award while his team did not win the Cup. For this year, I anticipate the Conn Smythe winner will play for the championship team, and my initial prediction is that the eventual Stanley Cup champion will be the team that prevails in the Stars-Avalanche series.
When Colorado last won the Stanley Cup, Cale Makar was the recipient of the Conn Smythe. While Nathan MacKinnon`s odds at 16-1 are appealing, the value offered by Makar at 30-1 is too compelling to ignore.
Regarding potential longshots, Valeri Nichushkin could play a significant role if Colorado makes a deep playoff push. His opening odds were 300-1, but they have been bet down to 150-1.
Best Bet: Makar +3000 (Placed April 24)
Sleeper: Valeri Nichushkin (+15000)
