The 2025-26 NHL season is finally here, so there’s no better time to start thinking about who will win the Stanley Cup.
Can the Florida Panthers repeat as champions yet again? Or will Connor McDavid lead the Oilers for his first ring?
Let’s dig into the latest odds and make our 2025-26 Stanley Cup predictions.
NHL Stanley Cup Winner Odds 2025
NHL odds referenced below are current as of Friday, Oct. 3, and courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook.
- Carolina Hurricanes (+750)
- Tampa Bay Lightning (+800)
- Las Vegas Golden Knights (+850)
- Edmonton Oilers (+900)
- Colorado Avalanche (+900)
- Dallas Stars (+1000)
- Florida Panthers (+1100)
- New Jersey Devils (+1300)
- Toronto Maple Leafs (+2000)
- Los Angeles Kings (+2200)
Here is a list of the top 10 teams in odds to win the Stanley Cup for the 2024-25 season.
At first glance, you may be wondering why the back-to-back defending champion Florida Panthers are so low. The reason is simple: Matthew Tkachuk is out until at least December, while Aleksander Barkov is out for the season. It’s hard to see how this team can go for a three-peat with so many injuries.
The other surprise is where the Toronto Maple Leafs rank on this list. This team is much lower because they lost a two-way stud in Mitch Marner, who was subject of constant criticism for playoff failure. Bet on Marner having a huge year in Vegas.
Who Will Win the Stanley Cup 2026?
Las Vegas Golden Knights (+850)
The Golden Knights already had a stacked team, now they added Marner. Any time you get a player who can lead a powerplay and penalty kill unit, putting up 100+ points, you have to be fired up about your chances to win the Stanley Cup.
I’m betting that Marner puts this Vegas team over the top for this season.
Give me the Golden Knights to win the Stanley Cup at +850 odds as one of my NHL best bets today.
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Stanley Cup Favorites 2025
Carolina Hurricanes (+750)
The Carolina Hurricanes have consistently dominated in the regular season, but they’ve yet to go on a deep run in the Rod Brind’Amour era.
But this is a stacked roster that has virtually no holes. It’s only a matter of time before they get the necessary puck luck to go to the Stanley Cup.
This could be the Canes year, especially with the Panthers riddled with injuries.
Tampa Bay Lightning (+800)
We can’t count out the Tampa Bay Lightning, either.
Now that the Atlantic Division is weaker with the Panthers likely having a lost season, Tampa could secure home-ice advantage with a strong regular season.
The pieces are still there for a big year, including Nikita Kucherov, Victor Hedman, and much more.
Stanley Cup Contenders 2025
Edmonton Oilers (+900)
The Edmonton Oilers have now lost consecutive Stanley Cup Finals. Can Connor McDavid finally get a ring, or is this his last year in Edmonton?
This is another team that benefits from the likely decline of the Panthers.
The question becomes whether their goaltending can get it done for them.
Colorado Avalanche (+900)
The Avalanche remain contenders as long as Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar are healthy.
Like the Oilers, they just need some adequate goaltending to make some major noise.
Even without Mikko Rantanen, this team is a major problem.
Stanley Cup Sleepers 2025
Dallas Stars (+1000)
The Dallas Stars are listed as sleepers because my criteria for that is +1000 odds or longer.
This is an experienced team that will now have a full season with Rantanen.
It’s a stacked roster that has all of the pieces you need to win a Cup.
Los Angeles Kings (+2200)
Don’t count out the Los Angeles Kings in Anze Kopitar’s final season.
Quinton Byfield is starting to make a major leap, which could put the Kings over the top this year.
I’d bet that they play it aggressively at the deadline this year as well.
