The 2024-25 NHL regular season will conclude on Thursday, April 17th, setting the stage for the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs to begin on Saturday, April 19th. The playoff bracket is set, with the Winnipeg Jets leading the league with 116 points. The Washington Capitals, with Alex Ovechkin, who holds the record for most goals scored, are the top seed in the Eastern Conference. As the 2025 NHL Playoffs approach, BetMGM has released the Stanley Cup odds for all 16 participating teams.
SportsLine`s expert handicapper, Jimmie Kaylor, has analyzed the latest betting trends and NHL futures odds from BetMGM. He has shared his top picks for the Stanley Cup, as well as the Eastern and Western Conference winners, and the Conn Smythe Trophy.
In the 4 Nations Face-Off Final, Kaylor correctly predicted Nathan MacKinnon to score the first goal and the game to have under 5.5 goals. MacKinnon indeed scored first, resulting in a 13-1 payout, and the game ended 3-2 for Canada.
Kaylor also recently hit a five-leg same-game parlay in a game between the Avalanche and Red Wings, resulting in a payout of almost 7-1.
Kaylor has examined the newest NHL odds from BetMGM and has made his premier futures bets for the Stanley Cup and NHL player awards.
2025 NHL Stanley Cup Odds (at BetMGM)
| Current Odds | Opening Odds | |
| Montreal Canadiens | +8000 | +15000 |
| St. Louis Blues | +4000 | +4500 |
| New Jersey Devils | +4000 | +1300 |
| Minnesota Wild | +4000 | +4000 |
| Ottawa Senators | +3500 | +4000 |
| Los Angeles Kings | +2000 | +2200 |
| Toronto Maple Leafs | +1200 | +1600 |
| Tampa Bay Lightning | +1100 | +2000 |
| Winnipeg Jets | +1000 | +2200 |
| Washington Capitals | +950 | +10000 |
| Vegas Golden Knights | +850 | +1200 |
| Edmonton Oilers | +850 | +1000 |
| Carolina Hurricanes | +800 | +1100 |
| Colorado Avalanche | +775 | +1000 |
| Florida Panthers | +750 | +900 |
| Dallas Stars | +750 | +1000 |
Highest Ticket %:
- Avalanche 10.4%
- Knights 8.3%
- Maple Leafs 8.2%
Highest Handle %:
- Avalanche 11.0%
- Jets 10.6%
- Hurricanes 10.0%
Biggest Liabilities:
- Blues
- Canadiens
- Red Wings
The Stanley Cup odds at BetMGM suggest the Panthers and Hurricanes are the leading teams in the Eastern Conference. In the Western Conference, it`s more open, with the Stars, Avalanche, Oilers, and Knights all considered strong contenders.
It seems unusual that strong teams like the Stars and Avalanche are facing each other in the first round, as both are capable of a championship run. It`s predicted that the winner of the Colorado-Dallas series will represent the Western Conference in the Stanley Cup Final.
In the Eastern Conference, the Panthers appear to be the team to beat.
Best Bet: Colorado Avalanche +775
2025 NHL Playoff Odds to Win the Eastern Conference (at BetMGM)
| Current Odds | Opening Odds | |
| Montreal Canadiens | +4000 | +10000 |
| Ottawa Senators | +1600 | +2000 |
| New Jersey Devils | +1600 | +625 |
| Toronto Maple Leafs | +575 | +800 |
| Washington Capitals | +450 | +9000 |
| Tampa Bay Lightning | +400 | +1000 |
| Carolina Hurricanes | +350 | +525 |
| Florida Panthers | +340 | +500 |
- Favorite: Panthers +340
- Highest Ticket Percentage: Capitals 16.8%
- Highest Handle Percentage: Hurricanes 38.1%
- Biggest Liability: Red Wings
The value for the Hurricanes (+350) and Panthers (+340) might not be ideal, but Florida is still the pick for the Eastern Conference. A sleeper pick is the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Best Bet: Panthers (+340)
Sleeper: Maple Leafs (+575)
2025 NHL Playoff Odds to Win the Western Conference (at BetMGM)
| Current Odds | Opening Odds | |
| Minnesota Wild | +2000 | +1600 |
| St. Louis Blues | +1800 | +2200 |
| Los Angeles Kings | +950 | +1000 |
| Winnipeg Jets | +525 | +1000 |
| Vegas Golden Knights | +450 | +650 |
| Edmonton Oilers | +450 | +500 |
| Colorado Avalanche | +450 | +500 |
| Dallas Stars | +340 | +500 |
- Favorite: Stars +340
- Highest Ticket Percentage: Avalanche 16.9%
- Highest Handle Percentage: Jets 40.2%
- Biggest Liability: Blues
The Stars and Avalanche are set to compete in the first round, a matchup featuring arguably the two strongest teams in the Western Conference. The winner of this series will likely become the favorite for the 2025 Stanley Cup. Colorado is favored in this series, with Vegas as a potential sleeper.
Best Bet: Avalanche (+450)
Sleeper: Vegas Golden Knights (+450)
2025 NHL Odds to Win the Conn Smythe Trophy (at BetMGM)
| Current Odds | |
| Aleksander Barkov | +2500 |
| Jake Oettinger | +2500 |
| Leon Draisaitl | +2200 |
| Cale Makar | +2200 |
| Jack Eichel | +2000 |
| Connor Hellebuyck | +1500 |
| Nathan MacKinnon | +1400 |
| Connor McDavid | +1300 |
Historically, the Conn Smythe Trophy usually goes to the best player from the Stanley Cup-winning team. Last year, Connor McDavid was only the sixth player to win it while not winning the Stanley Cup. This year, it`s expected the winner will be a Stanley Cup champion, likely from the Stars-Avalanche series.
When Colorado last won the Stanley Cup, Cale Makar received the Conn Smythe. While Nathan MacKinnon at 14-1 is appealing, Makar at 22-1 offers better value.
Best Bet: Makar +2200
Most Likely Stanley Cup Final Matchups (at BetMGM)
| Current Odds | |
| Hurricanes vs. Avalanche | +1600 |
| Hurricanes vs. Stars | +1600 |
| Panthers vs. Avalanche | +1600 |
| Panthers vs. Stars | +1600 |
BetMGM oddsmakers consider these four teams as the top contenders in their respective conferences. Colorado is expected to win their first-round series against the Stars and ultimately the Western Conference. The Panthers are also expected to win the Eastern Conference for the second year in a row.
Best bet: Avalanche vs. Panthers (+1600)
Looking for more NHL Playoff picks? SportsLine expert Matt Severance has a strong 119-62 record (+2440) on NHL picks. Visit SportsLine now for all his NHL picks.
