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Top Stanley Cup Contenders Leading into 2025 NHL Playoffs
The 2025 NHL Playoffs begin on Saturday, April 19th.
The first round matchups are set, and each team’s path to the Stanley Cup has been laid out.
There are several top contenders in these NHL Playoffs, with probably about 10 of the 16 teams having a very real chance of lifting the Stanley Cup this year.
Below, I will look at the odds of the top 5 contenders entering the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The odds were taken from a popular Canadian sportsbook recommended by HowToBet.ca.
You can also check out their NHL Playoffs betting guide.
Dallas Stars // +750
PHOTO: NHL Network/Facebook
I’m surprised that the Stars are considered favorites to win this year’s Stanley Cup. The team has tremendous forward depth, but it sounds like their superstar defenseman, Miro Heiskanen, will miss the first round of the playoffs. The loss of Heiskanen will make it that much more difficult for the Stars’ backend to shut down Nathan MacKinnon and the Avs. I’ve seen series odds that show the Avs as favorites in that first-round series, so it’s surprising to see the Stars as Cup favorites.
That said, if they get through that series and get fully healthy with Heiskanen returning to the lineup, then this roster is as deep as any in the NHL, and they could be primed for a deep run.
Florida Panthers // +750
Last year’s Stanley Cup champions are co-favorites heading into this year’s playoffs. The Panthers should get Matthew Tkachuk and Alexander Barkov back in the lineup to start the playoffs, and Aaron Ekblad will be back after the first two games due to his suspension. The Panthers have a very difficult first round vs the Tampa Bay Lightning, but if they can get through that series and get everyone who has been out of the lineup in the past couple months up to speed, then they could steamroll the rest of the playoffs.
Colorado Avalanche // +775
As I mentioned above, I’m surprised that the Avalanche and Stars both have this short of odds to win the Cup, considering they play each other in the first round.
The Avs have Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar, which is enough for a deep run.
Carolina Hurricanes // +800
I’m not sold on the Hurricanes this year. They do have a straightforward first-round matchup with a New Jersey Devils team that backed into the playoffs after losing Jack Hughes a month or two ago. That said, I still don’t think this team made the right moves throughout the season, taking a step backward instead of forward in their roster construction.
Edmonton Oilers and Golden Knights // +850
These are the two teams I believe are most likely to emerge from the Western Conference. The Oilers made it to game 7 of last year’s Stanley Cup Finals, and they have a very similar roster. If they can get McDavid, Draisatl and company rolling at the right time then I think they’re the best team in the league.
The Golden Knights have arguably the best roster makeup in the league. They have depth, as well as superstars like Jack Eichel and Mark Stone, as well as a very solid back line with Alex Pietrangelo, Shea Theodore, Brayden McNabb, etc. I would not be surprised to see Vegas win another Cup with this core.
PHOTO: NHL Network/Facebook
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