With the 2025 NHL Playoffs currently in full swing, the odds for winning the Stanley Cup have shifted considerably as teams head into the Conference Finals. In the Western Conference, the Dallas Stars are set to face the Edmonton Oilers. Meanwhile, the defending champions, the Florida Panthers, will compete against the Carolina Hurricanes in the Eastern Conference.
The first game of the Panthers vs. Hurricanes series is scheduled for Tuesday, followed by Game 1 between the Oilers and Stars on Wednesday. Now that the NHL playoffs field has narrowed down to four teams, the oddsmakers at BetMGM have released the updated and current odds for the 2025 Stanley Cup.
Expert Analysis and Picks
SportsLine expert handicapper Jimmie Kaylor has analyzed the most recent betting trends and NHL futures odds available from BetMGM. Based on this analysis, he has locked in his top selections for both the Stanley Cup winner and the Conn Smythe Trophy.
Kaylor boasts a strong track record. In the 4 Nations Face-Off Final, he correctly predicted Nathan MacKinnon to score the first goal (resulting in a 13-1 payout) and the game finishing under 5.5 total goals (final score was 3-2). More recently, Kaylor successfully hit a five-leg same-game parlay for the Avalanche vs. Red Wings game with a payout of nearly 7-1. On the final night of the regular season, he shared a five-leg NHL parlay that paid out at almost 13-1.
Having reviewed the latest NHL odds from BetMGM, Kaylor has finalized his top futures bets for the Stanley Cup and individual NHL player awards.
Updated 2025 NHL Stanley Cup Odds (as of May 19 at BetMGM)
| Team | Current Odds | Opening Odds |
|---|---|---|
| Carolina Hurricanes | +300 | +1100 |
| Dallas Stars | +275 | +1000 |
| Florida Panthers | +250 | +900 |
| Edmonton Oilers | +240 | +1000 |
Betting Trends Insights:
- Highest Ticket %: Maple Leafs 11.4%, Avalanche 10.4%, Capitals 8.2%
- Highest Handle %: Maple Leafs 12.8%, Avalanche 11.1%, Golden Knights 8.4%
- Biggest Liabilities: Maple Leafs, Avalanche, Capitals
From the outset, Jimmie Kaylor`s pick to win the 2025 Stanley Cup was the team that would emerge victorious from the first-round series between the Stars and Avalanche. The Dallas Stars ultimately won that series and then proceeded to convincingly defeat the Winnipeg Jets in the second round. While Dallas will face significant challenges in containing superstars like Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, the Stars possess impressive depth and overall balance. In the Eastern Conference, Kaylor`s earlier prediction was for the Panthers to reach the Stanley Cup Final, and he stands by this forecast heading into Game 1 of their series.
Best Bet for Stanley Cup: Dallas Stars +275 (placed May 18)
2025 NHL Conn Smythe Trophy Odds (as of May 19 at BetMGM)
| Player | Current Odds | Opening Odds (1st Round) |
|---|---|---|
| Leon Draisaitl | +1100 | +2200 |
| Sergei Bobrovsky | +800 | +3000 |
| Frederik Andersen | +550 | +10000 |
| Mikko Rantanen | +400 | +3500 |
| Connor McDavid | +350 | +1300 |
Last year, Connor McDavid was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy despite his team not winning the Stanley Cup Final. It is considered unlikely that history will repeat itself in 2025. Therefore, Jimmie Kaylor`s top pick for this award is the player most likely to win it from the team he is predicting to lift the Stanley Cup. Based on his Stanley Cup pick, that player is Dallas Stars winger Mikko Rantanen.
Best Bet for Conn Smythe Trophy: Mikko Rantanen +400 (Placed May 19)
Sleeper Pick for Conn Smythe Trophy: Sergei Bobrovsky (+800)
Additional Expert NHL Picks
Note: Information regarding further expert picks from SportsLine is available for those seeking more NHL Playoff insights.
