After the excitement of the Four Nations tournament, the NHL has resumed, and we are nearing the playoff stretch run. While there is still time for things to change, many of the top contenders have revealed themselves, and there are several clear favourites for the Stanley Cup.
In the eyes of oddsmakers, five primary teams have separated themselves as the class of the NHL and are poised to go on a run to the Stanley Cup. Below is a look at the five teams deemed the favourites for the 2025 Stanley Cup.
Edmonton Oilers (+600)
After making it to Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final last year, the Oilers have the experience to go the distance. This is why they have been the favourites for the Stanley Cup on most betting sites in Canada since the season began. The Oilers have two of the best players on the planet, Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, and several dynamic players in the supporting cast, like Evan Bouchard, Zach Hyman, and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins. As always seems to be the case for the Oilers, the question will be whether their goaltending can hold up once the playoffs begin.
Carolina Hurricanes (+650)
It may be a surprise for fans to see the Hurricanes listed as the second-likeliest team to win the Cup by oddsmakers. They currently have the ninth-most points in the league and haven’t been particularly dominant. However, following their acquisition of Mikko Rantanen, this team is loaded with talent. Sebastian Aho, Seth Jarvis, Andrei Svechnikov, and Jaccob Slavin round out a very deep roster. The Hurricanes have fizzled out in the playoffs before, and rumours continue to swirl around Rantanen. But if this team gets hot, the talent is certainly there.
Florida Panthers (+800)
It is hard to argue with oddsmakers’ inclusion of the Panthers as one of the favourites on sports betting sites. This is a team that has played in the previous two Stanley Cup Finals, including last year, where they emerged victorious. They are a physical team that makes for an incredibly difficult opponent. Matthew Tkachuk, Alex Barkov, and Sam Reinhart are some of the most gifted players in the league, and their depth may be second to none. They have big-game experience, so it is hard to argue against the Panthers as a leading contender to make another deep postseason run.
Dallas Stars (+900)
The Dallas Stars have quietly been one of the league’s top teams over the past several years. They made the Conference Finals in the last two seasons, and sportsbooks are giving them high chances to break through and win it all this year. It is not hard to see why. This is unquestionably one of the most talented teams in the NHL. They have one of the league’s top goaltenders, Jake Oettinger, and a well-rounded roster in front of him that includes forwards like Jason Robertson, Wyatt Johnston, and Matt Duchene, as well as defensemen like Miro Heiskanen. They are legitimately dangerous.
Toronto Maple Leafs (+1100)
Betting on the Leafs in the playoffs is typically something of a foolhardy endeavour. This is a team that has made the playoffs the past eight years and made it out of the first round just once. Not great! But the Leafs are determined to snap the league’s longest Stanley Cup drought, and this team appears to be better equipped than past iterations to do so. They have the same high-end skill, with Mitch Marner, Auston Matthews, and William Nylander leading the way. But they also have gotten better goaltending and a more defensive system from new coach Craig Berube.
