The 2024-25 NHL common season is able to start, however it’s by no means too quickly to begin trying forward at potential Stanley Cup champions: the heavy betting favorites, the lengthy pictures and groups that could be flying beneath the radar.
The Edmonton Oilers, led by their celebrity duo of Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, are the early Stanley Cup favorites (+800) on BetMGM after their run to Recreation 7 of the Stanley Cup Closing in June.
It was a giant breakthrough 12 months for the Oilers after discovering restricted playoff success within the early a part of the McDavid-Draisaitl period, they usually solely added to their offense this offseason by signing Jeff Skinner and Viktor Arvidsson in free company. Purpose-scoring is not going to be an issue, however even with their standing as preseason favorites and with a dominant offense, they’ve a few of the largest flaws of any high contender. Their protection is severely restricted and flawed past the highest duo of Evan Bouchard and Mattias Ekholm, whereas there isn’t a assure beginning goalie Stuart Skinner will have the ability to duplicate his miracle postseason run. If one in all Bouchard or Ekholm will get injured, the remainder of the protection struggles or Skinner takes a giant step backward, issues may unravel fairly shortly come playoff time.
The defending champion Florida Panthers (+900) are proper behind the Oilers and are coming off a three-year run that has seen them win a Presidents’ Trophy (2022), lose the Stanley Cup Closing (2023) and win all of it (2024). On paper, the Panthers stay nearly as good as any staff within the NHL, with nearly no weaknesses. They’ll rating, they will defend, they usually have wonderful goaltending. It’s a must to actually attain to discover a potential flaw right here, and it’d merely be the fatigue issue. Regardless of how good your staff is, it’s actually, actually tough to make three consecutive journeys to the Stanley Cup Closing. However when it comes to expertise? This staff is nearly as good because it will get.
Free, every day sports activities updates direct to your inbox.
Free, every day sports activities updates direct to your inbox.
2025 Stanley Cup winner odds
All odds from BetMGM.
The Colorado Avalanche (+1100), Dallas Stars (+1100) and the New Jersey Devils (+1100) spherical out the highest 5.
Colorado’s top-end expertise is nearly as good as any staff within the league with Nathan MacKinnon, Mikko Rantanen and Cale Makar main the best way, however it does have some depth issues, particularly given the uncertainty surrounding forwards Gabriel Landeskog (who missed the previous two seasons as a consequence of knee accidents) and Valeri Nichushkin (who’s serving a suspension till at the least November).
Dallas was top-of-the-line groups within the league a 12 months in the past and has a gentle stream of younger expertise flowing by means of its group, however it did lose quite a bit this offseason with Joe Pavelski retiring and Chris Tanev leaving in free company.
The Devils are the really fascinating one right here. They had been an enormous disappointment in 2023-24, lacking the playoffs completely regardless of preseason Stanley Cup expectations. Accidents to a number of key gamers (Jack Hughes, Nico Hischier, Dougie Hamilton, Timo Meier) performed a giant position, as did a whole lack of goaltending. Accidents come down at the least partially to luck, however the Devils made an enormous transfer this offseason to bolster their goaltending by getting Jacob Markstrom from Calgary and likewise added Brett Pesce on protection. So long as they’re wholesome and Markstrom performs fairly effectively, they need to be a official contender.
Worth bets?
The Nashville Predators (+1600) and Vancouver Canucks (+2200) might be excellent worth bets.
The Predators had been already a playoff staff a 12 months in the past (an excellent one) and made three main splash additions this offseason with the signings of Steven Stamkos, Jonathan Marchessault and Brady Skjei — two 40-goal scorers and a powerful second-pairing defender, all becoming a member of a playoff staff.
Vancouver was the highest staff within the Pacific Division and has three excellent gamers on the high of its lineup (Elias Pettersson, Quinn Hughes and J.T. Miller), however numerous its success will come right down to how wholesome beginning goalie Thatcher Demko is.
Participant awards
As for particular person participant bets, McDavid is a heavy favourite for each the MVP (+150) and scoring title (-155) by a considerable margin. So long as he stays wholesome sufficient to get into the ballpark of 82 video games, he can be within the working for each. He has received three of the previous 4 scoring titles and has been within the high 5 of MVP voting eight years in a row. That features 4 consecutive years within the high three, with two wins throughout that point.
Jack Hughes (+1100) and New York Rangers ahead Artemi Panarin (+4000) are additionally nice choices to think about, given how good their groups must be.
Rangers goalie Igor Shesterkin is the highest favourite (+550) for the Vezina Trophy, simply narrowly forward of Winnipeg’s Connor Hellebuyck (+600) and Boston’s Jeremy Swayman (+600). Swayman could be one to keep away from at this level, given that he’s in a contract dispute with the Bruins, has missed all of coaching camp and stays unsigned.
Philadelphia Flyers younger phenom Matvei Michkov (+300), San Jose’s Macklin Celebrini (+450) and Dallas’ Logan Stankoven (+500) are the highest favorites for the Calder Trophy because the league’s rookie of the 12 months. Michkov and Celebrini (the No. 1 total choose on this 12 months’s draft) each have huge potential however might need some rising pains of their first style of NHL motion. They’re additionally going to be on dangerous groups. Stankoven has the bonus of already enjoying 43 video games within the NHL (common season and playoffs) and having a considerably higher staff round him.
(Picture of Connor McDavid: Steph Chambers / Getty Photographs)
