With the 2024-25 NHL regular season drawing to a close in under a month, the contenders for the Stanley Cup are becoming clearer. The top teams have emerged, and Washington Capitals` Alex Ovechkin is closing in on Wayne Gretzky`s all-time NHL goal record from 1999. In NHL awards discussions, the Hart Trophy race is now primarily between two players, and the Calder Trophy competition is extremely tight. As the regular season winds down, recent NHL betting odds have seen significant shifts.
Sports betting expert Jimmie Kaylor has analyzed the latest NHL futures odds and has revealed his top picks for the Stanley Cup, Hart Memorial Trophy, James Norris Memorial Trophy, and Calder Memorial Trophy.
In a recent prediction, Kaylor correctly picked Nathan MacKinnon as the first goal scorer and the game to have under 5.5 goals. MacKinnon indeed scored first, resulting in a 13-1 payout, and the game finished 3-2.
This week, Kaylor also successfully predicted a five-leg parlay in the Avalanche vs. Red Wings game, yielding a payout of almost 7-1.
Kaylor has now examined the newest NHL odds and has locked in his best futures bets for the Stanley Cup and NHL player awards.
2025 Stanley Cup Odds
| Team | Current Odds | Last Week Odds | Opening Odds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Winnipeg Jets | +1100 | +1200 | +2200 |
| Vegas Golden Knights | +1100 | +1100 | +1000 |
| Carolina Hurricanes | +1000 | +1050 | +1100 |
| Washington Capitals | +1000 | +1000 | +10000 |
| Colorado Avalanche | +750 | +800 | +1000 |
| Edmonton Oilers | +750 | +700 | +1000 |
| Dallas Stars | +600 | +600 | +1000 |
| Florida Panthers | +550 | +550 | +900 |
There was minimal change in Stanley Cup odds this week, with only the Avalanche and Hurricanes improving slightly. The Oilers saw a small decrease, while the Stars and Panthers remain the top favorites. Colorado is currently performing very well but is still likely to face Dallas in the first playoff round.
Best Value Bet: Colorado Avalanche +750
Hart Memorial Trophy Odds
| Player | Current Odds | Last Week Odds | Opening Odds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Leon Draisaitl | +425 | +250 | +2200 |
| Nathan MacKinnon | +180 | +350 | +550 |
| Connor Hellebuyck | -185 | -220 | +15000 |
With Draisaitl injured, the Hart Trophy race has become a two-player contest between Hellebuyck and MacKinnon. Hellebuyck is still favored, but MacKinnon has narrowed the gap, with his odds nearly halving this week. Given the Avalanche`s current form, MacKinnon has a strong chance to win the Hart Trophy consecutively. MacKinnon has the most bets placed on him, but Hellebuyck represents the biggest potential loss for betting platforms.
Best bet: Nathan MacKinnon (+180)
James Norris Trophy Odds
| Player | Current Odds | Last Week Odds | Opening Odds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quinn Hughes | +5000 | +4000 | +600 |
| Zach Werenski | +360 | +325 | +10000 |
| Cale Makar | -700 | -650 | +250 |
There`s no change in the Norris Trophy outlook – Makar is clearly the frontrunner. Makar accounts for 53.5% of the total money wagered and 25.9% of all bets, but Hughes poses the largest liability for betting platforms.
Best value bet: Cale Makar (-750) at 3+ units
Calder Memorial Trophy Odds
| Player | Current Odds | Last Week Odds | Opening Odds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Matvei Michkov | +8000 | +800 | +350 |
| Dustin Wolf | +1800 | +1000 | 1500 |
| Macklin Celebrini | -120 | -225 | +400 |
| Lane Hutson | -110 | +260 | +700 |
The Calder Trophy race is likely to be decided in the final week of the regular season. Hutson may surpass Celebrini as the favorite next week. However, Michkov remains the biggest potential payout risk for betting platforms.
Best Bet: Lane Hutson (-110)
Looking for More NHL Predictions?
Sports expert Matt Severance is currently on an impressive 59-23 run on NHL picks. Visit sports prediction sites for all of his NHL selections.
