2025-26 NHL Stanley Cup Odds — Breaking Down the Top 8 Contenders

The puck is dropping for the 2025-26 NHL season, and the Stanley Cup futures market is buzzing with possibilities. This year’s top 8 cup contenders include a mix of powerhouses hungry for redemption, dynasties chasing history, and, of course, some dark horses one healthy run away from glory.

As the opening games get underway, there’s still plenty of time to lock in your odds for your Stanley Cup futures bets.

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Edmonton Oilers: +850

The Oilers have had enough of coming close, and the NHL world understands their frustration. Two straight Finals appearances without a Cup to show for it have only raised expectations — and undoubtedly pressure. Connor McDavid enters the final year of his contract with more on the line than ever, and Leon Draisaitl remains the perfect partner in crime. Their combined production will most likely lead the league again, and this year, the team has added just enough pieces around them to make another run feel realistic.

Depth scoring was a problem last year. Edmonton tried to fix that by signing Tomas Tomasek and promoting high-potential forwards like Matthew Savoie and Ron Howard. The blue line is as steady as it gets, led by Darnell Nurse and Evan Bouchard, though the loss of John Klingberg hurts their puck-moving game. Goaltending is still a gamble with Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard being serviceable but not exactly game-stealers.

If new coach Peter Aubry can fix the crease problems and keep the stars healthy, this could finally be the year Edmonton lifts the Cup. The urgency around McDavid’s contract only makes them more dangerous, and they’re going to be exciting to watch.

Carolina Hurricanes: +950

As perennial contenders, Carolina is done waiting. After another early playoff exit, the ‘Canes went out and added high-end firepower and defensive depth, telling everyone that they’re tired of being a regular-season juggernaut that folds under pressure in May.

The addition of Nikolaj Ehlers gives them another 25-goal threat, while Seth Jarvis and Sebastian Aho provide the usual star power. Aho’s metrics last year were nothing less than elite as he’s not just a finisher, he’s a play-driver.

The blue line looks good with Samuel Girard, K’Andre Miller and rookie Alexander Nikishin. There’s definitely a lot of mobility and skill here, but chemistry will take time until they’re firing on all cylinders and the lines are set. Up front, Logan Stankoven moving to center and Jackson Blake’s rise offer sneaky depth that could carry them through injuries.

Frederik Andersen and Pyotr Kochetkov provide a solid tandem in net, and they should be able to handle the task. Add it all up, and Carolina has everything they need for a deep run. They just need to get over the mental hump and get crushed in the playoffs.

Colorado Avalanche: +950

Colorado has star power, and that’s never been the problem. The issue is whether they have enough depth left around their stars after a wild few seasons of injuries, trades, and cap-driven roster churn.

Nathan MacKinnon is still a top-5 player in the world and will always be. Cale Makar might be the best defenseman alive, and we’re not questioning that. But trading Mikko Rantanen to Carolina hurts — especially with Gabriel Landeskog still working back into form. Losing that kind of mega-firepower from the top 6 creates a gap that’s hard to fill.

Brent Burns was brought in to stabilize the back end and bring some leadership with it, while assistant coach Dave Hakstol has been tasked with revamping a power play that was simply awful in last year’s playoffs. In net, the Avalanche moved on from Alexandar Georgiev, rolling with Mackenzie Blackwood and Scott Wedgewood, which feels like a step backward, but they’re not terrible.

Still, any team with MacKinnon and Makar has a shot at the Stanley Cup. If Colorado stays healthy and figures out their secondary scoring, it could ride their stars back to the Finals.

Dallas Stars: +1000

Dallas keeps knocking, and this could be their year. 3 straight 100-point seasons with 6 playoff-round wins in that span, but the Cup remains just out of reach.

This year might be different. Mikko Rantanen’s arrival at the deadline gave them another elite weapon, and he delivered right away with 40 points in 38 games. Pair him up with Jason Robertson, Roope Hintz, Wyatt Johnston, and a healthy Matt Duchene, and you’ve got a top-6 that can match up with anyone.

Captain Jamie Benn will miss the first month or two after shoulder surgery, but that gives others a chance to step up early. On the blue line, Miro Heiskanen leads a smart and mobile group, while Jake Oettinger is one of the most consistent goalies in the league and can shut down any team he contends against.

We’ll admit that there’s nothing flashy about Dallas, but their depth, structure, and recent playoff experience make them a serious threat for the playoffs. If they can get over their late-round scoring issues, this might be their year.

Vegas Golden Knights: +1000

No team loves a headline move like Vegas. This year, it was Mitch Marner, coming over from Toronto in a sign-and-trade that gives the Golden Knights one of the slickest playmakers to pair with Jack Eichel. Marner put up 102 points last year, and Vegas believes a pressure-free setting could unlock even more.

With Eichel, Mark Stone, Tomas Hertl, and now Marner in the mix, this is a top-6 that oozes talent. Vegas may have sacrificed some wing depth to get stronger at center, but they still finished last season 5th in goals and 2nd on the power play. Not a bad finish, but it’s proof that the scoring machine isn’t slowing down.

Defensively, losing Alex Pietrangelo to injury definitely hurts. He played 22+ minutes a night and anchored their blue line play. Replacements like Noah Hanifin and Shea Theodore will need to step up, and young Kaedan Korczak could be a breakout candidate.

In the net, Adin Hill is the guy. He was great last postseason, and he’ll be expected to carry the load again with Akira Schmid backing him up. That’s not a bad combo in the crease.

Florida Panthers: +1100

3 straight trips to the Final and 2 Stanley Cups to show for it. The Panthers are officially a dynasty-in-the-making, and they’re going for a 3-peat with much of the same roster. But other teams are on their heels, and it won’t be easy.

Aleksander Barkov and Matthew Tkachuk are both sidelined to start off the season. That’s 2 elite two-way forwards missing from a team that thrives on system play and relentless pressure. Sam Reinhart and Sam Bennett are more than capable of picking up the slack, and new addition Brad Marchand brings even more grit and championship experience.

Aaron Ekblad returns to anchor the blueline, and Sergei Bobrovsky remains the starter in net after another strong playoff run. The question is how much gas this team has left in the tank. They’ve played more hockey than anyone over the past 3 years, and their roster is showing some age. It’s tough to keep this run going.

Still, until someone knocks them off, Florida’s not going anywhere and will surely make the playoffs. At +1100, they offer strong value if they can stay healthy by the spring.

Tampa Bay Lightning: +1200

Tampa simply won’t quit. They lost Steven Stamkos to free agency, but Nikita Kucherov and Brayden Point are still solid, and Jake Guentzel is the kind of plug-and-play sniper who can step into a top role without missing a beat. 

Victor Hedman continues to anchor the back end, and with Andrei Vasilevskiy healthy again, this team can shut things down when it matters most, even against the strongest teams. Ryan McDonagh is back to bring some of that old-school Lightning flavor, and the only real question is how much their depth can contribute.

There are some outstanding questions, however. Can Anthony Cirelli find his scoring touch again? Will they get another Yanni Gourde-type surprise? We have to keep in mind that Tampa isn’t the powerhouse it once was, but it’s still dangerous. With experience, goaltending, and a few proven stars, this team could easily get hot and go on another run.

New Jersey Devils: +1800

The Devils are easily the wild card of the bunch. If they can stay healthy, they just might be the most dangerous team in the Metro. But that’s a big “if.”

Jack Hughes and Jesper Bratt are always electric together. Nico Hischier anchors the second line and handles all the dirty work. Luke Hughes has the potential to become a top-pair defenseman and with his new contract he’ll be around until 2031-2032. The rest of the blue line is young, fast, and aggressive, with Dougie Hamilton and Simon Nemec leading the charge.

Offensively, they struggled at 5-on-5 last year. That has to change if they want to be taken seriously and make a deep run. The goaltending duo of Jacob Markstrom and Jake Allen is solid enough, assuming Markstrom returns to pre-injury form.

The Devils might not be a safe bet, but they’re an intriguing one, especially at +1800.

Lock In Your NHL Futures Bets

This year’s Stanley Cup futures race is as wide open as it’s been in years. The Oilers easily have the star power, and Carolina is loaded. Colorado, Dallas, Vegas, and Florida all feel like safe bets, while Tampa and New Jersey are lurking in the top 8 with high ceilings.

Want to bet with your head and not just your heart? Follow the roster moves, watch the early-season chemistry, and keep an eye on goaltending. Because when it comes to futures betting in the NHL, the right goalie at the right time can change everything for a team’s run.