In the modern NHL, winning three consecutive Stanley Cups is an exceptionally difficult feat; it hasn`t occurred since 1983, and in the salary cap era (since 2005), even repeat champions are rare. Despite this formidable challenge, the two-time Cup holders, the Florida Panthers, are setting their sights on an unprecedented third consecutive title. Sportsbooks initially offered favorable odds of +700 for their victory, which further improved to +600 following strategic, team-friendly contract extensions with key players. Even superstar Matthew Tkachuk`s offseason groin surgery did little to deter betting interest in Florida. However, a significant knee injury to captain Aleksander Barkov, sidelining him for the entire regular season, caused their odds to dip to +1000. Nevertheless, public support for the Panthers remains robust: ESPN BET reports they account for 17.1% of all Stanley Cup bets and 21.4% of the total money wagered. Some bookmakers, such as Caesars Sportsbook, maintained their favorite status without any adjustment. Experts suggest that while these injuries might impact their regular season performance, the Panthers consistently pose a major playoff threat, especially if Barkov can make a return.
Crowded Field of Stanley Cup Challengers
Beyond the formidable Panthers, a strong contingent of other teams is actively contending for the Stanley Cup, with seven teams currently exhibiting odds of +1000 or shorter on ESPN BET. Among the foremost favorites, carrying +800 odds, are the Carolina Hurricanes, Colorado Avalanche, and the Edmonton Oilers. Following closely in the next tier, at +900, are the Dallas Stars, Vegas Golden Knights, and the Florida Panthers themselves, with the Tampa Bay Lightning positioned at +1000. Betting odds demonstrate considerable variation across different sportsbooks; for instance, BetMGM lists both Vegas and Edmonton as co-favorites, while DraftKings designates Carolina as its sole top contender. Despite their proven talent and recent strong performances, the Hurricanes have not garnered as much public betting attention compared to the Avalanche and Golden Knights. Interestingly, American bettors are increasingly turning their focus north of the border. The Toronto Maple Leafs have emerged as one of the most heavily-bet teams for the Stanley Cup across the market, capturing 10.6% of tickets and 15.0% of the handle at BetMGM, which subsequently lowered their odds from +2000 to +1600. The Montreal Canadiens are also attracting a notable amount of public interest. Generally, bookmakers express little concern about Canada`s 33-year Stanley Cup drought finally ending, with Edmonton being the potential exception. Experts emphasize the absence of a clear, short-odds favorite, indicating a more open race at the top with a larger pool of contenders spanning both the elite and second-tier teams.
Hart Memorial Trophy: McDavid Leads the Pack
The upcoming NHL season will commemorate the 100th awarding of the Hart Memorial Trophy, recognizing the league`s most valuable player. Connor McDavid of the Edmonton Oilers stands as the overwhelming favorite at +200 odds, maintaining a significant lead over Nathan MacKinnon (Colorado Avalanche, +475) and Nikita Kucherov (Tampa Bay Lightning, +650), both of whom are former Hart Trophy winners themselves. While McDavid`s preseason odds are not unprecedented, they are particularly notable given his consistent performance and recent off-ice developments. On the eve of Opening Night, McDavid solidified his future with the Oilers by signing a two-year, $25 million contract extension, putting an end to considerable free agency speculation after the team`s second consecutive Cup Final defeat. Kirill Kaprizov of the Minnesota Wild is also generating considerable buzz in the Hart betting markets, currently at +1200. This follows his record-setting eight-year, $136 million contract signed in late September, which has translated into the most wagers and handle for the award at ESPN BET. Bettors are also exploring the possibility of a goaltender repeating as Hart Trophy winner, a scenario that last occurred with Connor Hellebuyck`s success last season. Bookmakers across BetMGM, DraftKings, and ESPN BET are reporting liabilities on goalies such as Hellebuyck (+3000), Andrei Vasilevskiy of Tampa Bay (100-1), and Igor Shesterkin of the New York Rangers (100-1). However, experts largely view a goalie repeating as “unlikely,” a sentiment supported by historical data: out of 99 Hart Trophy awards, only nine have gone to goaltenders, and only Dominik Hasek managed to win it in consecutive years (1997 and 1998).
Calder Memorial Trophy: The Rise of Ivan Demidov
The betting market for the Calder Memorial Trophy, recognizing the league`s rookie of the year, often exhibits unusual patterns. Industry analysts note that the overall betting volume for the Calder winner is comparatively smaller than other NHL future markets. This is largely attributed to a lack of familiarity with the names in contention, many of whom are European or play in less-followed international leagues before joining the NHL. Consequently, these markets frequently see one standout name emerge as the preseason favorite. This can sometimes lead to the favorite fulfilling expectations, as was the case with Connor Bedard (-135) in 2023-24 and Auston Matthews (-130) in 2016-17. However, it doesn`t always play out that way, as evidenced when Connor McDavid, initially a +130 favorite in 2015-16, lost the award to Artemi Panarin (+2200) due to injury. This year, the name dominating the conversation is Ivan Demidov of the Canadiens, who is an overwhelming favorite at +165 odds on ESPN BET. The next closest contenders—Oilers forward Isaac Howard, San Jose Sharks forward Michael Misa, and Wild defenseman Zeev Buium—are tied for second at a distant +1200. Demidov`s favorite status appears to be driven primarily by bettor activity rather than expert consensus. At ESPN BET, he accounts for a staggering 73.1% of the handle for the award, also leading in both tickets and money wagered at BetMGM. This enthusiasm is largely fueled by the “media frenzy” surrounding his impressive debut at the end of last season, making him an early standout favorite. Blackhawks defenseman Sam Rinzel (+2500) is the only other player attracting significant attention, becoming a liability for bookmakers like DraftKings due to his long odds.
Duncan Priestley