Who Are the True Stanley Cup Favourites in 2025-26?
Calendar icon Published 08 Oct 17:04

Who Are the True Stanley Cup Favourites in 2025-26?

Juan Pablo Aravena Juan Pablo Aravena

The 2025-26 NHL season started on Tuesday, October 7, with three games. However, it’s never too early to predict which teams should be considered the favourites to fight for the 2025-26 Stanley Cup.

Meet the Panthers, the Biggest Favourite

The first team to be considered a favourite – and the team everybody wants to beat – is the Florida Panthers, winners of the previous two editions of the Stanley Cup. A dynasty in the making and an organization with all the pieces in place to continue as a contender in the Eastern Conference for years to come, the Panthers have maintained the core of the team that won in 2025-26. 

Even though Matthew Tkachuk will be sidelined until December at the earliest due to a groin injury, Florida have enough pieces to remain a dangerous unit.

Perhaps surprisingly, they aren’t opening the season as the odds-on favourites to win the title. Their +1002 line ranks seventh in the league and third in the Eastern Conference, behind the Carolina Hurricanes and the Tampa Bay Lightning. 

However, if the 2024-25 season taught us anything, it’s that it’s not the smartest move to bet against Florida. Even if they won’t be at full strength until midway through the campaign, it’s not wise to overlook what they can do. Few teams are as deep as the Panthers on both ends of the ice.

Even without Tkachuk and Aleksander Barkov, who might miss the entire season while rehabbing from a serious knee injury, their collection of talent is impressive. Carter Verhaeghe, Sam Bennett, Brad Marchand, Sam Reinhart, Aaron Ekblad, and Sergei Bobrovsky are among their best players. 

Still, not having Tkachuk and Barkov certainly makes the Panthers slightly less dangerous than they were a few months ago.

Contenders in the Eastern Conference

The Panthers aren’t the only team capable of winning the Stanley Cup in 2025-26. The Carolina Hurricanes and the Tampa Bay Lightning are two of the best sides in the league, listed as the first and second favourites at +752 and +802, respectively. 

The Hurricanes have some questions on the blueline to open the season due to the injuries of Jaccob Slavin and K’Andre Miller, but other than that, few teams can match their depth across the roster. 

Carolina’s biggest strength lies in goal, where Frederik Andersen and Pyotr Kochetkov form one of the league’s top tandems. 

Andersen made 22 regular-season appearances for the Hurricanes last year and went 13-8-1 with a 2.50 GAA and .899 save percentage, while Kochetkov earned a 27-16-3 record with two shutouts, a 2.60 GAA, and .897 save percentage across 47 regular-season appearances. 

Playoff success often comes down to defence, but the Canes are just as strong up front, with Sebastian Aho, Logan Stankoven, Nikolaj Ehlers, and Seth Jarvis as standout performers.

As for the Lightning, they have one of the best scorers in the world in Nikita Kucherov, who finished the 2024-25 season with 37 goals and 121 regular-season points. 

He’s recorded over 100 points in five of the last seven seasons and remains the main reason why Tampa Bay are expected to make another deep postseason run in an Eastern Conference that could be wide open given how depleted the Panthers will be. 

Kucherov doesn’t play alone, though, and some other Bolts players to watch are Jake Guentzel, Brayden Point, Victor Hedman, and star goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy.

Contenders in the Western Conference

It’s not a stretch to say that two of the best players in the world reside in the Western Conference, as Connor McDavid leads the Edmonton Oilers, and Nathan MacKinnon is the star of the Colorado Avalanche. 

Unsurprisingly, Edmonton and Colorado enter the season among the top Stanley Cup favourites out West. The Oilers have the third-best overall odds of winning the title at +802, and the Avs are at +902. 

It’s easy to understand why oddsmakers expect Edmonton to go on another deep run. They’ve recently re-signed McDavid, and if the star centre isn’t enough, the Oilers also have Leon Draisaitl boosting their offence. The duo combined for 206 points in the regular season. 

The Avs will rely on McKinnon and star defenseman Cale Makar to make another deep playoff run. But they already fell short in 2024-25, and it’s hard to see any differences from the roster they had last season. 

The same thing can be said about the other two top teams in the Western Conference, the Dallas Stars and the Vegas Golden Knights. Both franchises have been building rosters capable of competing for years to come, not just be a one-year wonder. 

The Stars rank sixth in the odds at +1002, while the Golden Knights sit fourth with +852, sandwiched between Edmonton and Colorado.

Despite what the odds indicate, Dallas have a decisive edge among these four teams in Jake Oettinger, who’s widely considered one of the best goaltenders in the world. If he’s able to bounce back from his disastrous playoff run in 2024-25, the Stars will be a dangerous team once again, especially after adding Mikko Rantanen last season. Will this be the year when they finally meet expectations?

What the Odds Say About the 2025-26 Stanley Cup Winner

Here are the Top 10 favourites to win the 2025-26 Stanley Cup according to the odds*:

  1. Carolina Hurricanes +752
  2. Tampa Bay Lightning +802
  3. Edmonton Oilers +802
  4. Vegas Golden Knights +852
  5. Colorado Avalanche +902
  6. Dallas Stars +1002
  7. Florida Panthers +1002
  8. New Jersey Devils +1303
  9. Toronto Maple Leafs +2005
  10. Los Angeles Kings +2205

* Odds are taken from Tonybet on October 7, 2025, at 4 PM EDT. They are subject to change at any point.

Disclaimer: The content provided on this page, including all hockey predictions, odds, and related information, is for entertainment and informational purposes only. While we strive to ensure accuracy and timeliness, we do not guarantee the correctness or reliability of any predictions, data, or information presented here. 

Responsible Betting: Betting should be fun and enjoyable, not a solution to financial problems. Always gamble within your means. The outcomes of sporting events are unpredictable, and there is always a risk of losing your stake. Only bet with money you can afford to lose. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, seek help from a professional organization. For support, visit https://canadasafetycouncil.org/gambling-addiction/ 

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