NHL Playoffs futures predictions

The 2024-25 NHL regular season is coming to a close, which means it’s just about time to watch the battle for the Stanley Cup unfold. An entertaining regular season, highlighted by Alex Ovechkin’s successful chase to break Wayne Gretzky’s all-time scoring record, should give way to even more thrilling Stanley Cup Playoff action. There is no obvious dominant team on paper, so – as always – postseason competition on the ice is expected to be wide open and wild. Once you get into the tournament, anyone has a chance to lift the greatest trophy in sports. 

What will transpire in the Stanley Cup Playoffs? Let’s break down the odds and discuss the best bets to be made. 

Stanley Cup odds 

The Winnipeg Jets have locked up the Presidents’ Trophy with the best record in hockey, but it is the Dallas Stars who are favored to emerge as champions with DraftKings Sportsbook. Dallas is followed closely behind by the Florida Panthers, Colorado Avalanche, Edmonton Oilers and Tampa Bay Lightning. The Jets and Ovechkin’s Washington Capitals are also lurking on the list of favorites.

Here are the odds to win the Stanley Cup, courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook:

• Dallas Stars +700 
• Florida Panthers +800 
• Colorado Avalanche +800 
• Tampa Bay Lightning +900 
• Edmonton Oilers +900 
• Carolina Hurricanes +900 
• Vegas Golden Knights +1000 
• Washington Capitals +1100 
• Winnipeg Jets +1100 
• Toronto Maple Leafs +1200
• LA Kings +2000
• New Jersey Devils +3000
• Ottawa Senators +3500
• Minnesota Wild +3500
• St. Louis Blues +4000
• Montreal Canadiens +10000

Stanley Cup winner predictions 

• Pick #1: Winnipeg Jets to win the Stanley Cup (+1100) 
• Pick #2: Los Angeles Kings to win the Stanley Cup (+2000) 
• Pick #3: Toronto Maple Leafs to win the Eastern Conference (+550) 

PICK #1: Winnipeg Jets to win the Stanley Cup (+1100) 

The Jets were the best team during the regular season, and as the eighth favorites to win it all they simply have value that cannot be passed up. Connor Hellebuyck was let down by his defense in Team USA’s loss to Canada in the 4 Nations Face-Off, but he is the best goalie in hockey. The two-time Vezina Trophy winner is 46-12-3 this season with a .924 save percentage and 2.02 goals-against average. He has posted eight shutouts. Goalies can sometimes carry an entire team to Stanley Cup glory; Hellebuyck is without question capable of doing exactly that. An offensive supporting cast led by Kyle Connor (96 points) and Mark Scheifele (86) can score enough to complement its star goalie. 

PICK #2: Los Angeles Kings to win the Stanley Cup (+2000) 

If you are in the business for more of a longshot play, Los Angeles is the way to go. The Kings soared past the 100-point mark, securing second place in the Pacific Division and setting up a first-round rematch with the Edmonton Oilers. Edmonton took care of business last year en route to a Stanley Cup Finals appearance, but L.A. owns home-ice advantage this time around. Head coach Jim Hiller’s team is unbelievable at home (31-5-4 record), so don’t be surprised if it beats Edmonton to jumpstart an epic playoff run. Adrian Kempe, Anze Kopitar and Kevin Fiala are formidable on the front line, while Darcy Kuemper (.922 save percentage, 2.02 goals-against average) has been fantastic in net. This red-hot club, which boasts an 8-1-0 record in its last 9 games, has the tools to win it all. 

PICK #3: Toronto Maple Leafs to win the Eastern Conference (+550) 

It's almost hard to believe that Toronto has not won the Stanley Cup since 1967. In fact, it has not even reached the finals since that year. This franchise always seems to be a force during the regular season, but the playoffs have been a much different story. Is this the year in which the Auston Matthews era of Maple Leafs hockey finally takes the next step? Why not? Toronto features four guys with at least 74 points, including Mitch Marner with 100, William Nylander with 84 and Matthews with 77. Joseph Woll and Anthony Stolarz have been more than serviceable minding the net. The Leafs certainly have a chance to win the cup, but let’s go with them to simply triumph in the East before potentially running into an opponent like Dallas, Winnipeg, Edmonton, Colorado, Vegas, or Los Angeles.