The 2025 NHL Playoffs are underway, and Stanley Cup odds are already seeing significant changes. For example, the Colorado Avalanche, initially strong contenders, saw their odds lengthen from +500 after winning Game 1 to +1050 after losing the next two games against the Dallas Stars, even with captain Gabe Landeskog back. Following the first two games of each series, betting odds for all 16 teams still competing have been updated.
SportsLine expert Jimmie Kaylor has analyzed the latest betting trends and futures odds, offering his top predictions for the Stanley Cup, Eastern and Western Conference champions, and the Conn Smythe Trophy winner.
Kaylor has a history of successful NHL picks, including accurately predicting the first goal scorer and final score total in a past 4 Nations Face-Off game, and hitting high-payout parlays during the recent season.
Having reviewed the updated NHL odds, Kaylor provides his top futures bets for the Stanley Cup and individual player awards.
2025 NHL Stanley Cup Odds (Updated 4/24)
| Team | Current Odds | Opening Odds |
|---|---|---|
| New Jersey Devils | +15000 | +1300 |
| Montreal Canadiens | +15000 | +15000 |
| St. Louis Blues | +10000 | +4500 |
| Ottawa Senators | +10000 | +4000 |
| Minnesota Wild | +4000 | +4000 |
| Edmonton Oilers | +2500 | +1000 |
| Tampa Bay Lightning | +1600 | +2000 |
| Colorado Avalanche | +1050 | +1000 |
| Vegas Golden Knights | +950 | +1200 |
| Los Angeles Kings | +900 | +2200 |
| Washington Capitals | +850 | +10000 |
| Dallas Stars | +850 | +1000 |
| Toronto Maple Leafs | +750 | +1600 |
| Florida Panthers | +750 | +900 |
| Winnipeg Jets | +700 | +2200 |
| Carolina Hurricanes | +500 | +1100 |
Ticket & Handle Insights:
- Highest Ticket %: Avalanche 10.6%, Knights 8.7%, Maple Leafs 8.4%
- Highest Handle %: Avalanche 11.0%, Maple Leafs 8.4%, Golden Knights 7.9%
- Biggest Liabilities: Blues, Canadiens, Red Wings
Matthew Rasp, a Senior Trader at BetMGM, noted that while favorites like the Panthers and Lightning are being overlooked by bettors, the biggest liabilities for the sportsbook currently are longshots like the Blues and Canadiens. He added, “BetMGM really wants the Stanley Cup to stay in Florida.”
After the initial two games of the playoff series, Stanley Cup odds have continued to shift. The Dallas Stars saw their odds improve significantly from +2200 to +850, becoming a top contender, while the Carolina Hurricanes, after a dominant start, are now favored to win the Cup.
Despite their recent difficulties, Kaylor maintains his pick of the Colorado Avalanche to win the Stanley Cup, while also expressing admiration for the Toronto Maple Leafs.
- Best Stanley Cup Bet: Colorado Avalanche +750 (placed April 17)
- Stanley Cup Sleeper: Maple Leafs +1200 (placed April 17)
2025 Eastern Conference Odds (Updated 4/24)
| Team | Current Odds | Opening Odds |
|---|---|---|
| New Jersey Devils | +8000 | +625 |
| Montreal Canadiens | +8000 | +10000 |
| Ottawa Senators | +5000 | +2000 |
| Tampa Bay Lightning | +800 | +1000 |
| Washington Capitals | +425 | +9000 |
| Toronto Maple Leafs | +350 | +800 |
| Florida Panthers | +340 | +500 |
| Carolina Hurricanes | +200 | +525 |
- Favorite: Hurricanes +200
- Highest Ticket Percentage: Capitals 16.5%
- Highest Handle Percentage: Hurricanes 37.6%
- Biggest Liability: Red Wings
Regarding the Eastern Conference, Kaylor finds the value on favorites like the Hurricanes or Panthers less appealing, but still selects Florida as his pick to win the conference. His sleeper choice for the East is the Toronto Maple Leafs.
- Best Eastern Conference Bet: Panthers (+340)
- Eastern Conference Sleeper: Maple Leafs (+575)
2025 Western Conference Odds (Updated 4/24)
| Team | Current Odds | Opening Odds |
|---|---|---|
| St. Louis Blues | +5000 | +2200 |
| Minnesota Wild | +1500 | +1600 |
| Edmonton Oilers | +1400 | +500 |
| Colorado Avalanche | +550 | +500 |
| Vegas Golden Knights | +450 | +650 |
| Los Angeles Kings | +400 | +1000 |
| Dallas Stars | +400 | +500 |
| Winnipeg Jets | +310 | +1000 |
- Favorite: Jets +310
- Highest Ticket Percentage: Avalanche 16.9%
- Highest Handle Percentage: Jets 37.9%
- Biggest Liability: Blues
The first-round series between the Dallas Stars and Colorado Avalanche features two strong Western Conference teams, and the winner is expected to become the favorite for the Stanley Cup. Kaylor favors Colorado in this series, citing potential injury concerns for the Stars. He sees the Vegas Golden Knights as a potential sleeper in the West.
- Best Western Conference Bet: Avalanche (+380)
- Western Conference Sleeper: Vegas Golden Knights (+450)
2025 Conn Smythe Trophy Odds (Updated 4/24)
| Player | Current Odds |
|---|---|
| Matthew Tkachuk | +2000 |
| Alex Ovechkin | +2000 |
| Sebastian Aho | +1600 |
| Nathan MacKinnon | +1600 |
| Connor Hellebuyck | +1000 |
The Conn Smythe Trophy is historically awarded to the top performer on the Stanley Cup-winning team, and Kaylor anticipates this trend continuing this year. He predicts the winner of the Stars-Avalanche series will likely produce the Conn Smythe recipient.
Looking at potential Conn Smythe candidates from Colorado, Kaylor notes that Cale Makar won the award during the Avalanche`s last Cup run. While Nathan MacKinnon at +1600 is tempting, Makar at +3000 offers particularly strong value.
For a Conn Smythe sleeper, Kaylor points to Valeri Nichushkin, who could be crucial to Colorado`s success on a deep playoff run. His long opening odds of 300-1 have shortened to 150-1.
- Best Conn Smythe Bet: Makar +3000 (Placed April 24)
- Conn Smythe Sleeper: Valeri Nichushkin (+15000)
For additional NHL Playoff analysis, SportsLine expert Matt Severance has a strong record, with a 119-62 run on his NHL picks.
