NHL Futures Bets: Top Teams to Watch for the 2024-25 Stanley Cup

It’s never too early to start talking hockey and now is the perfect time to get started with your futures bets heading into the 2024-2025 season.

If you’re looking to get in on the action, you’ll want to study the odds and the teams that could make a serious push for the Cup. The odds give insight into which teams are considered contenders, by the bookmakers at least, but there’s more than just numbers to consider when placing your bets.

Here’s how the odds are looking and where we think these teams are looking like heading into the season.

Breaking Down the Best Odds for Stanley Cup Futures

As of now, the leading contenders for the Stanley Cup include the Edmonton Oilers, Florida Panthers, Dallas Stars, Colorado Avalanche, and New Jersey Devils. Most of these names look familiar from last season. Their odds may vary slightly depending on the sportsbook, but let’s break down what each team brings to the table.

Edmonton Oilers

• Best Odds: +850 (BetMGM)

The Edmonton Oilers head into the 2024-25 season as the betting favorites. With stars like Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, Edmonton’s offense is one of the most dynamic in the league.

Last season, they were a game away from winning it all, and this year, the Oilers look like they’re primed for another deep run. Looking at their lineup, we think they actually improved.

This offseason, the Oilers retained key depth players on their third line and brought in Viktor Arvidsson and Jeff Skinner to bolster their secondary scoring.

We see their main challenge as overcoming the loss of two young players — Philip Broberg and Dylan Holloway after St. Louis swooped in with offer sheets that Edmonton chose not to match.

With solid additions like Ty Emberson and Vasily Podkolzin, the Oilers have the potential to plug those gaps. New GM Stan Bowman will be under scrutiny, but as long as McDavid and Draisaitl are healthy, Edmonton will remain a major threat.

The odds sitting at +850, up from +1000 as the opener, show that even the bookmakers are liking some of these off-season moves.

• Betting Strategy. Edmonton’s +850 odds make them a nice-looking pick. However, keep an eye on their defense and goaltending. They’ve been heavily reliant on their top forwards, so any injury or slump could destroy their chances for the rest of the season. If you’re as confident in McDavid and company as we are, this is a solid futures bet.

Florida Panthers

• Best Odds: +1000 (DraftKings)

The Panthers made a surprise run to the Stanley Cup Final last season and walked away with their names etched into history. Their odds heading into this year at +1000 show that they’re still considered a top contender, though the roster looks a bit different.

Florida managed to re-sign Sam Reinhart to a team-friendly deal in July, which is huge given his scoring ability.

However, they lost several key pieces, including Vladimir Tarasenko, defensemen Brandon Montour and Oliver Ekman-Larsson, and backup goalie Anthony Stolarz. Sometimes, that’s the way the league goes.

While reuniting defenseman Nate Schmidt with coach Paul Maurice should help the blue line, the Panthers’ depth has taken quite a hit. Because of this, they dropped a bit in the odds going from +900 at the opener to +1000 at the present.

• Betting Strategy. Florida’s success will largely hinge on its offensive firepower and whether it can replace its defensive departures. It doesn’t look like they’ve done enough, but every season there are some surprises. If you believe in their ability to patch up those holes, betting on them at +1000 could land you a nice payday if they walk away with the Cup again. However, consider waiting to see how they start the season before pulling the trigger on a futures bet. We’re expecting these odds to shift quite a bit more a few weeks into the season.

Dallas Stars

• Best Odds: +1100 (FanDuel)

Dallas has been one of the more consistent teams over the last few years. However, this season they’re facing a big challenge after the retirement of veteran forward Joe Pavelski. Replacing his 18 years of leadership and production will be a tough pill.

The Stars tried to strengthen their defense by signing Matt Dumba, Brendan Smith, and Ilya Lyubushkin, but they also lost key contributors to their lineup with Chris Tanev and Jani Hakanpaa.

Goaltending remains one of their stronger areas with Jake Oettinger, but backup Casey DeSmith will need to prove he can step up in big games.

• Betting Strategy. At +1100, the Stars present a bit of a gamble. If they can stay healthy and find a way to replace Pavelski’s contributions, they could be a good value pick. If you like betting on teams with solid defensive play and strong goaltending, Dallas might be your team.

Colorado Avalanche

• Best Odds: +1300 (Caesars)

Colorado remains a dangerous team. Their odds at +1300, we think, don’t tell the whole story. They do reflect the uncertainties they face heading into the season, but we think they should be more around the +1100 mark. That means this could be a good bet for you.

Their biggest question mark is the status of captain Gabriel Landeskog, who has missed two full seasons and is working toward a potential return. Beyond that, Valeri Nichushkin’s suspension adds another wrinkle. Can he get back up on his feet?

Despite their cap restrictions, the Avalanche managed to re-sign Jonathan Drouin and add Oliver Kylington to the blue line. If Landeskog can return to his and Nichushkin makes an impact when eligible, Colorado’s depth will immediately improve.

• Betting Strategy. If you’re willing to bet on Colorado’s ability to manage their salary cap issues and if you’re optimistic about Landeskog’s return, their +1300 odds are easily worth a look. It’s a higher-risk bet, but the Avalanche have the talent to make a run if everything clicks.

New Jersey Devils

• Best Odds: +1300 (Caesars)

The Devils have quietly assembled one of the deepest rosters in the league.

Last season, they were a rising force, and now with some key offseason moves, we really think they look ready to challenge the elite teams.

At +1300, their odds are a steal. We’re confident these odds will increase over the first few months.

New Jersey addressed its biggest weakness — goaltending. By bringing in veteran Jacob Markstrom they really improved their game between the pipes.

They also bolstered their defense with the additions of Brett Pesce and Brenden Dillon. Not bad pickups. This allows them to manage the workload of young defensemen like Luke Hughes and Simon Nemec. This might not be the most dominant defense in the league, but easily a top-10 contender. 

They’ve also added veteran scorers Tomas Tatar and Stefan Noesen, giving their offense more punch. So, they’ve attacked both sides of the puck.

• Betting Strategy. The Devils are a steal pick at +1300. If Markstrom can do what he does with the goaltending and their young defensemen continue to develop, they could emerge as a serious Cup contender. With plenty of upside, this is a futures bet with solid potential returns. You’ll want to get in early on these guys.

Get Your NHL Futures Bets In Now!

The 2024-25 NHL season is shaping up to be an exciting one for futures bets. It’s still a bit early, but with preseason just around the corner and we’re only weeks away from the regular season, now is the time to start looking at the betting lines and odds.

The Edmonton Oilers, with their star power, are easily the favorites, but teams like Florida, Dallas, Colorado, and New Jersey each have their own path to Stanley Cup glory. Before you place your bets, consider the odds, study each team’s roster moves, and think strategically about your wager amounts. If you time it right, you could be cashing in when the Stanley Cup is hoisted next summer.