2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs Odds: Best Futures, Predictions to Win NHL Stanley Cup Finals After First Round
Matthew Tkachuk and the Florida Panthers are on a tear through the Eastern Conference, making quick work of the Tampa Bay Lightning in the first round. Can they keep it rolling against the Maple Leafs as they attempt to defend their crown? Matt MacKay analyzes the remaining Stanley Cup Playoffs teams and their odds to win it all.
Matt MacKay - May 5, 2025, 4:45 PM EDT
6 min2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs Odds: Best Futures, Predictions to Win NHL Stanley Cup Finals After First Round
After an exciting First Round of the 2025 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs, oddsmakers have updated their Stanley Cup Finals futures markets accordingly. Current prices are available between +425 and +1100, with the Florida Panthers currently favorites to defend their 2024 title at +425 odds.
All eight teams that have advanced to the Conference Second Round lost at least once during the First Round. The path to hoisting the Stanley Cup becomes tougher at this stage due to minimal rest and playing even better opponents.
NHL handicapper Matt MacKay is here to analyze all eight teams remaining ahead of the Conference Semifinals. He'll share whether to tail or fade these teams' odds in the latest NHL Stanley Cup Winner futures market. Follow Matt's X account for further NHL betting insight and free picks throughout the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
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2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs Odds
NHL Stanley Cup Contenders
FLORIDA PANTHERS (+425) Click here to see which sportsbook has the best odds
The Florida Panthers made a statement with their 4-1 series win against Tampa Bay in the First Round. Getting star F Matthew Tkachuk back into the lineup helped a lot, while goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky shut down the Lightning's top-ranked offense.
The Panthers have a ton of depth, talent and experience amongst their roster and coaching staff. Florida made some key roster moves late in the regular season, like adding Brad Marchand. Now, the Panthers are looking to become the first team to win back-to-back Stanley Cups since Tampa Bay achieved this feat in 2020 and 2021.
I don't see many teams with the ability to slow down or play more physical than Florida. They have plenty of confidence and skill, so at +425 odds, I'm willing to bet a full unit on the Panthers to win the 2025 Stanley Cup Finals.
DALLAS STARS (+525) Click here to see which sportsbook has the best odds
Dallas' miraculous Game 7 comeback, led by F Mikko Rantanen's 3rd period hat trick, should boost the Stars' momentum heading into the Western Conference Second Round against the Winnipeg Jets. Head coach Pete DeBoer is now 9-0 in Game 7 matchups, erasing a 2-0 deficit with a flurry of goals in the waning minutes of their First Round matchup against the Colorado Avalanche.
The Stars are expected to get back two of his top players, D Miro Heiskanen and F Jason Robertson. Their value cannot be overstated, as Dallas' defense and offense looked a bit sluggish against the Avalanche for extended stretches.
Jake Oettinger is the key factor in backing the Stars to win the 2025 Stanley Cup Finals. When Oettinger is playing well in the net, it's very hard to beat Dallas. He's a streaky netminder who saved his best performances late in the First Round.
Getting past Winnipeg shouldn't be too challenging for the Stars in the Second Round. Then, it's going to be a tough draw against either Vegas or Edmonton. Last year, the Oilers eliminated Dallas in the Western Conference Finals.
I'm still willing to bet a unit on the Stars to win the 2025 Stanley Cup Finals at +525 odds. The return of Heiskanen and Robertson, the team's top goal scorer, combined with Rantanen's elevated level of play, makes me bullish backing Dallas at this price.
CAROLINA HURRICANES (+550) Click here to see which sportsbook has the best odds
Carolina beat New Jersey in five games but they didn't impress me while doing it. The Hurricanes scored 19 goals, seventh-most in the First Round. They were the best in goals allowed, holding the Devils to 11 total goals during their 4-1 series win.
Oddsmakers are favoring the Hurricanes to beat Washington in the Second Round. I don't think this outcome will occur.
Carolina's starting goaltender, Frederik Andersen, was injured during Game 4 in the First Round. Pyotr Kochetkov came in for relief and allowed New Jersey to score four goals in Game 5, forcing double overtime.
Without a fully healthy starting goaltender, Carolina becomes less intimidating against a better offense like the Capitals. The Hurricanes don't have home ice advantage against Washington and this will be the nail in the coffin.
Carolina played much better at home versus the road during the regular season. Their lone loss against New Jersey came on the road in Game 3.
I'm fading the Hurricanes, despite oddsmakers valuing them as the third betting favorite to win the 2025 Stanley Cup Finals.
EDMONTON OILERS (+600) Click here to see which sportsbook has the best odds
Edmonton was left with a sour taste in their mouth after coming up short against the Florida Panthers in the 2024 Stanley Cup Finals. The Oilers erased a 3-0 series deficit, only to lose 2-1 in Game 7 on the road.
Goaltending has been the biggest liability for Edmonton. The Oilers moved from Stuart Skinner to Calvin Pickard, which led to four consecutive wins to close out their First Round series against Los Angeles.
Leon Draisaitl led the NHL in goals during the regular season and he didn't slow down against the Kings in the First Round. Connor McDavid is healthy and it's been enough to propel the Oilers to tying the most goals scored in the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs, lighting the lamp 27 times.
I want to back the Oilers but their goaltending issues remain a concern. This could flare up against Vegas in the Second Round, especially with Pickard allowing three or more goals in three of four starts.
I'd bet no more than half a unit (0.50) on Edmonton. Their offense is captivating but the goaltending is too big of an issue to invest heavily at this 6-1 price.
VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS (+800) Click here to see which sportsbook has the best odds
Vegas knows what it takes to win it all. The Golden Knights won the 2023 Stanley Cup Finals in five games against the Florida Panthers.
Most of Vegas' roster from that championship run is still intact. Led by C Jack Eichel, the Golden Knights have a terrific defense, with a capable offense.
Minnesota did light up goaltender Adin Hill for five goals in multiple games during the First Round. However, Vegas displayed resiliency by recording three straight wins to close out their series on the road in Game 6.
No one recorded more than five points on Vegas' roster in the First Round. The Golden Knights will need more production from players like William Karlsson, Pavel Dorofeyev and Mark Stone to keep pace with the Oilers.
Ultimately, I'm not sold on Vegas, who will have their hands full against the best offense remaining in the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs. I'm fading the Golden Knights at 8-1 odds.
WINNIPEG JETS (+1000) Click here to see which sportsbook has the best odds
Now we're getting into the longshot teams at 10-1 odds. The Winnipeg Jets survived the St. Louis Blues with a game-tying goal with under two seconds left in Game 7. This led to a double overtime win on home ice to advance to the Second Round against the Dallas Stars.
The Jets saw goaltender Connor Hellebuyck struggle mightily against the Blues offense. This was especially true on the road, where Hellebuyck lost all three starts. He'll need to play better in between the pipes to beat a motivated and healthier Dallas offense in the Second Round.
Winnipeg's offense scored the third-most goals in the First Round (21) but gave up 27 goals, tied for the most alongside the Los Angeles Kings. This is why it's hard to back the Jets, even at +1000 odds.
Dallas is a difficult matchup for Winnipeg due to their volatile goaltending and an offense that can go long stretches without production. If the Jets played the Golden Knights instead of the Stars, I could probably be convinced to back them due to playing an easier opponent.
I'm fading the Jets at 10-1 odds. I cannot trust Hellebuyck to improve, despite how well he played during the regular season. Plus, outside of Kyle Connor with 12 points, Winnipeg's offense was pedestrian, with no other player recording more than six points in seven games against St. Louis.
TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS (+1100) Click here to see which sportsbook has the best odds
Could this finally be the year that Toronto makes a run at the Stanley Cup Finals? I don't think so and it's because they are playing the Florida Panthers in the Second Round.
The Maple Leafs slugged it out against Ottawa in the First Round, winning the series 4-2. Toronto played overtime in three straight games, winning two of them, then got shut out on home ice 4-0 in Game 5. It took a late rally in Game 6 to close out the Senators, who are a couple pegs down from the Panthers in terms of talent.
William Nylander, Mitch Marner and Auston Matthews led Toronto with seven to nine points each during the First Round. This is to be expected from the top players on the team. Now, they'll need to prepare for a physical Second Round series against the defending champions.
There's a ton of pressure on Toronto in the playoffs due to their long Stanley Cup drought, dating back to 1967. It's a difficult assignment to beat Florida but the Maple Leafs do hold home ice advantage.
If goaltender Anthony Stolarz can keep playing well between the pipes, there's an outside chance we see Toronto pull off the upset against the Panthers. For this reason, I'd sprinkle a quarter unit (0.25) wager on their Stanley Cup futures price at 11-1, but it's still a longshot.
WASHINGTON CAPITALS (+1100) Click here to see which sportsbook has the best odds
I cannot figure out why the Washington Capitals are underdogs against the Carolina Hurricanes in the Second Round. They hold home ice advantage, have the all-time leading goal scorer, Alexander Ovechkin, playing arguably the best hockey of his career, while getting quality goaltending from Logan Thompson.
The Capitals are being slept on at 11-1 in the 2025 Stanley Cup futures market. They did look vulnerable in spots against Montreal during the First Round but Washington still beat them 4-1 and held the Canadiens to 12 goals. This was the second-fewest goals allowed by any playoff team, only behind the Hurricanes.
It's going to be a defensive battle against Carolina in the Second Round. However, I trust Washington's offense and goaltending more than the Hurricanes. This means the Capitals would likely face Florida in the Eastern Conference Finals but I think they have enough depth and a quality goaltender to go toe-to-toe with the Panthers.
The Capitals should be +800 or +900 to win the Stanley Cup Finals, not +1100 odds. Let's pounce on this value and back Washington to win the 2025 Stanley Cup for half a unit to get 5.2 units of profit.
Can Alexander Ovechkin and the Caps Make a Destiny Run to the Final? Check the Complete Stanley Cup Odds here
NHL ODDS
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