2025 NHL Stanley Cup Predictions and Futures Odds

by Ryan Cobbett - 10/11/2024

NHL Stanley Cup odds and predictions Jason Robertson Dallas Stars

We are back! Pucks have been dropping all across North America this week with teams returning to action. After an incredibly entertaining playoff set last season, it is now time to look ahead to what the playoffs could hold for us in the early summer months of 2025. As the 2024/25 NHL season is officially underway, lets take a look at who the conference favorites are as well as some dark horse candidates who are flaunting their value behind the favorites.

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Eastern Conference

New Jersey Devils +500

All they seemingly needed was to add a goalie to rocket their way up to the being the favorites in the Eastern Conference. Jacob Markstrom is one of the league’s better netminders, and now he anchors a Devils team that is no stranger to scoring as they have averaged 3.37 GF/G over the last two seasons. Dougie Hamilton is back and healthy, while offseason additions of Stefan Noesen and Paul Cotter will boost the offense. New Jersey should rival the likes of the Rangers in the Metro Division and are a step ahead of Florida and Boston, at least on paper.

Florida Panthers +550

Though they kept the core together, it is a bit surprising seeing the defending champions as the second odds on favorites in the Eastern Conference, as depth is not a strong suit for this squad. It is also a bit of a concern that Sergei Bobrovsky is 36 and Anthony Stolarz is no longer his backup. The Panthers will still compete for the top spot in the Atlantic Division, but I think Toronto is the far better team in that division, especially after poaching Stolarz and key role piece in Oliver Ekman-Larsson from Florida. Florida fans can’t complain, they got the Cup, but their winning window is closing.

New York Rangers +600

Similarly to the Panthers, the Rangers window is closing as well, but this feels like it could be their year. After taking home the Presidents Trophy last season, and getting a little better in the offseason, the Rangers are primed again for another deep playoff run. However, age may become a factor as the season progresses. Artemi Panarin, Chris Kreider, Mika Zibanejad, Vincent Trochek, Reilly Smith, and Jonathan Quick are all on the north side of 30 years old. They have one of the best goalies in the NHL in Igor Shesterkin, and it feels like a season where the Rangers will go all in at the deadline as they push for the Stanley Cup.

Toronto Maple Leafs +700

Look at that, perhaps another window closing? The Core Four is in, what could be, their final season as the core for the Maple Leafs, with John Tavares and Mitch Marner both entering the final year of their contracts with Toronto. The Maple Leafs have done a great job of adding a supporting cast around the four, with Max Domi, Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Chris Tanev, and improving in the crease by adding Anthony Stolarz. It will be interesting to see if they make any moves around the deadline to counter what the Rangers, Devils, Bruins, and Panthers do. The Toronto curse is not as notorious as the Curse of the Bambino, but it too has to end right? Toronto looks like a real Stanley Cup contender this season.

My Pick: Toronto Maple Leafs +700

If the Maple Leafs can get Stolarz to produce like he did as the Panthers backup, then Toronto is going to be the best team in the Eastern Conference. They are a deep squad and now finally look strong at the blueline. They have constantly come up short over the past few seasons, but I like for Toronto to put it all together this season and be the Eastern Conference representative.

Western Conference

Edmonton Oilers +390

It comes as no surprise here to see the Oilers as the favorites to be the Western Conference winners. They may have even improved over the course of the offseason as well by bringing in veteran forwards Jeff Skinner and Viktor Arvidsson while also keeping Adam Henrique. They also squashed any rumor of a Leon Draisaitl move by locking him up on a big extension. The Oilers need Stuart Skinner to play like he did last season, but he should not have a ton of weight on his shoulders with an offense like this in front of him. Edmonton is on a revenge tour this season after just falling short in the finals last year.

Colorado Avalanche +550

Colorado is finally going to be at or nearly at full health for the first time in a very long time. Artturi Lehkonen and Gabriel Landeskog are expected to return this season, and even Valeri Nichushkin is slated to return as well. This would give the Avalanche incredible depth behind Nathan MacKinnon and Miko Rantanen. It also helps that they extended Casey Mittelstadt. Colorado is going to be very good this season. The only remaining question for the Avs is, are Alexander Georgiev and Justus Annunen good enough between the pipes to get them to the Stanley Cup Finals?

Dallas Stars +550

Losing a locker room guy like Joe Pavelski hurts any team, but the Dallas Stars still rep a perfect blend of veteran presence and budding stars. Veteran captain Jamie Benn has been with Dallas for his whole career and is itching for a Cup. Benn, along with Tyler Seguin, Matt Duchene, and Mason Marchment, lead the young core of Jason Robertson, Roope Hintz, Miro Heiskanen, Wyatt Johnston, Thomas Harley, and Logan Stankoven, who have all proven they are capable of being big time producers in the NHL. Now you can add youngsters Oskar Back and Mavrik Bourque, who could boost the offense. Dallas is locked and loaded and showcases the best depth in the league. It’s starting to feel like 1999 in Dallas.

Nashville Predators +750

Talk about a resurgence for this franchise. After seemingly selling two seasons ago, the Predators are projected to be right back in the thick of things thanks to a stellar offseason where the front office pushed the ‘All-In’ button. Though they shipped out Ryan McDonagh and top prospect Yaroslav Askarov, they brought in Steven Stamkos, Jonathan Marchessault, Brady Skjei, and the always reliable Scott Wedgewood. If that isn’t enough for this season, that’s ok Preds fans because you also own two first rounders and two second rounders in the 2025 Draft. Nashville could use that capital on deadline additions or boost their future core. As for this season, Filip Forsberg finally has some top offensive guys around him, which can only boost his and the teams play. Though they may be a step behind the Stars and Avalanche in the Central Division, anything can happen in the postseason. No one wants to play this team in the seven-game set.

My Pick: Dallas Stars +550

The Stars seemed to be the best team on paper last season and are right up there again this year. Their road to the Stanley Cup was perhaps the most difficult last season after fending off Vegas and Colorado before falling to the hottest team in the league in Edmonton. However, the Stars didn’t beat themselves. They play clean hockey and are getting consistent production up and down the roster. They have been one of the best road teams over the past few seasons. And despite having some veterans, they are one of the youngest teams in the league with a roster full of young energetic players. They have been a consistent playoff team over the last five years, but now they have upped their game and have been, and will be, a consistent contender for the Stanley Cup.

NHL Stanley Cup Predictions

Based off my two conference winners, we would have a Stanley Cup Finals series between the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Dallas Stars. Right off the bat, you would have a great storyline as the Core Four is nearing the end of its run, while the Maple Leafs have two former Stars in Max Domi and Chris Tanev, and the Stars have former Maple Leaf Ilya Lyubushkin. The matchup on paper would showcase two teams with incredible offensive potential with wild card goalies. Jake Oettinger has the ceiling of being one of the best netminders in the NHL, but he has only shown glimpses of that potential and has not been as consistent as fans hope he can be. As for Anthony Stolarz, he is coming off an elite season posting elite numbers. However, that was in limited time as the backup in Florida. Will his numbers look the same despite seeing increased time?

Despite the questions in net, Dallas would be the better team and are my pick to be the 2024/25 Stanley Cup Champions. Their depth is incredible. Jason Robertson has the potential be a Top 15 scorer in the NHL, while Roope Hintz, Matt Duchene, Wyatt Johnston, Jamie Benn, Miro Heiskanen, Mason Marchment, and Tyler Seguin all have the potential produce 55+ points in a season. Not to mention the young guns like Logan Stankoven, Mavrik Borque, and Oskar Back. The Leafs wouldn’t be able to match the depth, and I would give the slight edge to Oettinger over Stolarz. Don’t be surprised if Dallas brings Stanley home this season.

My Pick: Dallas Stars +1100

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Start:	December 21, 2024 @ 4:30 PM
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2025 NHL Stanley Cup Predictions and Futures Odds

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