Stanley Cup Odds & Favorites 2025: Stars Leading the Pack With Playoffs Nearing

The Dallas Stars remain the Stanley Cup odds favorites as we enter the final stretch of the regular season, with the Florida Panthers and Colorado Avalanche trading close behind.
Stanley Cup Odds & Favorites 2025
Pictured: Dallas Stars center Wyatt Johnston celebrates after scoring a goal against. Photo by Steven Bisig via Imagn Images

Apologies to those who love chocolate and Easter, but the most exciting thing in April is the start of the Stanley Cup playoffs.

The Dallas Stars are the Stanley Cup odds favorites at our best NHL betting sites with the postseason nearing, trading just ahead of the defending Cup champions Florida Panthers. 

Just behind those juggernauts are the Colorado Avalanche, who leapfrogged the reeling Edmonton Oilers. The Winnipeg Jets and Washington Capitals, the Presidents' Trophy favorites, have the sixth and seventh-shortest odds, which we covered in our Stanley Cup odds betting update

Stanley Cup odds 2025

Here are some noteworthy takeaways from the Stanley Cup odds:  

  • The Panthers are 4-5-0 without Aaron Ekblad in the lineup
  • The Stars have the best record since Dec. 29
  • The Avalanche have the second-best point percentage since Feb. 26, tied with the Stars
  • The St. Louis Blues saw their Stanley Cup odds shorten from +20000 to +6000 over the last few weeks
  • The Oilers have a losing record since Jan. 30
  • Connor Hellebuyck is slight Hart Trophy odds favorite, whom we've backed since the start of the season, most recently in our picks and predictions to win MVP

πŸ† Stanley Cup odds favorites 2025 

Before we jump into the favorites and our team to watch, let's look at the line movement, highest ticket percentage and highest handle percentage, according to BetMGM

Line Movement (Open to Now)

  • Panthers +900 to +575
  • Stars +1000 to +600
  • Avalanche +1000 to +750

Highest Ticket%

  • Avalanche 9.7%
  • Oilers 8.3%
  • Golden Knights 7.9%

Highest Handle%

  • Jets 12.0%
  • Avalanche 10.7%
  • Stars 9.7%

⭐ Stars odds: +600

There's not much to dislike about the Stars' Cup prospects. They are one of the β€” if not the most β€” well-rounded teams, and they're starting to gel with Mikko Rantanen. The Stars have won six in a row and are putting pressure on the Winnipeg Jets atop the Central Division.

While improbable, winning the Central Division would mean avoiding the Avalanche in the first round. It would be a shame to see the Stars or Avalanche eliminated after the first round, but what a spectacle that matchup will be. 

A winning $10 bet would profit $60. 

Best Stanley Cup odds: +600 via BetMGM | Implied probability: 14.29%

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πŸ† Panthers Stanley Cup odds: +650

The Panthers are a back-to-back Stanley Cup threat when they're healthy. They've struggled without Ekblad but will have him back at the start of the playoffs. Matthew Tkachuk is also expected back then. The looming question is whether they can step into the lineup without missing a step. Both are elite players, so I don't see the time off being too much of a factor.  

Then again, entering the playoffs from the cold isn't ideal, especially when facing another elite Eastern Conference team. A winning $10 bet will profit $65. 

Best Stanley Cup odds: +650 via DraftKings | Implied probability: 13.33%

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My Stanley Cup odds team to watch

 βœˆοΈ Jets Stanley Cup odds: +1200

I've switched back and forth between the Jets and Capitals all season, with both offering an equally good futures pick. The perception is the Jets didn't do enough at the trade deadline. Scott Arniel and Co. will feel there was no need to tinker with a winning formula.

Winning the Central Division, which they should do, is a massive first step, as they'll draw the second wild-card team, an immeasurably better scenario than facing Colorado or Dallas.

While their playoff demons can always resurface, this year could be different. It could be the season Hellebuyck steals a series or two, which they'll probably require to pull off the unprecedented of winning a first Stanley Cup. You can lock them in at +1200 at DraftKings

Best Stanley Cup odds: +1200 via DraftKings | Implied probability: 7.69%

🧠 Stanley Cup predictions, expert picks 

Country of winning team Stanley Cup odds

Country FanDuel odds  Implied probability  Profit ($10 bet)
πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡Έ USA  -400 80% $2.50
πŸ‡¨πŸ‡¦ Canada +290 25.64% $29

Opening Stanley Cup odds

  • Panthers: +900
  • Avalanche: +1000
  • Stars: +1000
  • Oilers: +1000
  • Hurricanes: +1100
  • Golden Knights: +1200
  • Devils: +1300
  • Rangers: +1300
  • Maple Leafs: +1600
  • Bruins: +2000
  • Lightning: +2000
  • Canucks: +2000
  • Kings: +2200
  • Jets: +2200
  • Predators: +3500
  • Red Wings: +4000
  • Wild: +4000
  • Islanders: +4000
  • Senators: +4000
  • Penguins: +4000
  • Blues: +4500
  • Sabres: +5000
  • Flyers: +5000
  • Flames: +6600
  • Kraken: +8000
  • Utah: +10000
  • Capitals: +10000
  • Canadiens: +15000
  • Blue Jackets: +25000
  • Ducks: +30000
  • Blackhawks: +30000
  • Sharks: +30000

Projected 2025 NHL Draft order

There's a quick caveat to the NHL draft order, as the team that finishes last in the standings doesn't automatically get the No. 1 draft pick. The NHL draft lottery features the 16 teams that do not make the Stanley Cup playoffs.

Teams can move as many as 10 spots up the NHL draft order compared to where they finished in the regular season standings.

Therefore, 11 teams are in the mix for the No. 1 pick. However, the last-placed team is more likely to secure the first pick.

*Teams in the running for the No. 1 pick 

Pick  Team 
1 San Jose Sharks*
2 Chicago Blackhawks*
3 Nashville Predators* 
4 Seattle Kraken* 
5 Buffalo Sabres* 
6 Boston Bruins* 
7 Philadelphia Flyers* 
8 Pittsburgh Penguins*
9 Anaheim Ducks*
10 New York Islanders*
11 Detroit Red Wings* 
12 New York Rangers
13 Utah Hockey Club
14 Vancouver Canucks
15 Columbus Blue Jackets
16 Montreal Canadiens (via Calgary)
17 Montreal Canadiens
18 Calgary Flames (via New Jersey)
19 Ottawa Senators 
20 St. Louis Blues 
21 Columbus Blue Jackets (via Minnesota)
22 Philadelphia Flyers (via Edmonton)
23 Calgary Flames (via Florida) 
24 Los Angeles Kings
25 Nashville Predators (via Tampa Bay)
26 Philadelphia Flyers (via Colorado) 
27 Carolina Hurricanes 
28 San Jose Sharks (via Dallas)
29 Chicago Blackhawks (via Toronto)
30 Nashville Predators (via Vegas)
31 Washington Capitals
32 Winnipeg Jets

Stanley Cup odds history

Year Team Preseason 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
2014 Los Angeles Kings +1200

How to read Stanley Cup odds

Stanley Cup odds reflect the probability of each NHL team winning the championship and are typically presented in American odds format (+XXX). Lower odds signify a higher probability, while higher odds indicate a lower probability.

For example, a $100 bet at +500 odds would win you $500, plus your original $100 stake, totaling $600. 

A team with +750 odds to win the Stanley Cup is given an 11.76% implied probability of doing so with a $100 winning bet returning a $750 profit, plus your $100 stake ($850 total). 

A team with +1500 odds would have higher or longer odds, and a lower implied probability of 6.25%, but a win on a $100 bet would return a profit of $1,500 if it hits.

How to bet on Stanley Cup futures odds

The first and most important step is to sign up for one of our best sports betting apps, including FanDuel, DraftKings, bet365, Caesars, and BetMGM

The aforementioned sportsbooks offer various bets, odds, and opportunities, so shop around before you sign up. It's also a good idea to sign up for a couple of your favorites sportsbooks, as you can earn sign-up incentives while using them for the varying strengths. 

Once you've signed up, navigate to the NHL page under Stanley Cup. You can then choose the team or teams you believe have the best chance of winning it all. Remember, these odds fluctuate throughout the season and playoffs, so keep a watchful eye on the market and make your pick at the most opportune moment. 

Stanley Cup Final FAQs

Who is the Stanley Cup Final favorite?

The Dallas Stars are the 2025 Stanley Cup odds favorites. Their best odds stand at +600, representing an implied win probability of 14.29%, according to our odds converter.

Who won the Stanley Cup last year?

The Florida Panthers defeated the Edmonton Oilers in seven games, winning 2-1 in Game 7 on home ice to claim the Stanley Cup last year. 

When do the NHL playoffs start? 

The NHL regular season ends Thursday April 17, 2025. The playoffs should start on Saturday, April 20. 

When does the Stanley Cup Final start?

The 2024 Stanley Cup Final began Saturday, June 8 and finished on June 24. Those are rough dates to expect the 2025 final to be played.

Has a team ever come back from 3-0 to win the Stanley Cup? 

The 1942 Toronto Maple Leafs rallied from a 3-0 deficit to topple the Detroit Red Wings and win the Stanley Cup, becoming the only professional North American sports franchise to pull off that feat.

The Edmonton Oilers forced Game 7 in the 2023-24 Stanley Cup Final, but lost 2-1 on the road.

When was the last back-to-back Stanley Cup winner?

The Tampa Bay Lightning won back-to-back Stanley Cups in 2020 and 2021. Previously, the Pittsburgh Penguins won it in 2016 and 2017, and the Detroit Red Wings in 1996 and 1997. 

When was the last Stanley Cup three-peat?

The New York Islanders were the last team to win the Stanley Cup in three successive seasons. They won four in a row from 1980 to 1983. 

NHL betting odds pages

Here are our best NHL betting sites:

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