NHL Playoffs 2025: Stanley Cup Odds, Expert Predictions, and Futures Bets

As the 2025 NHL Playoffs intensity builds, the betting odds for the Stanley Cup championship have seen significant shifts. For instance, the Colorado Avalanche, after securing a 1-0 lead in their first-round series, subsequently lost two consecutive games to the Dallas Stars, even with their captain, Gabe Landeskog, returning. This dip in performance affected their odds, moving them from +500 favorites after Game 1 to a more modest +1050 after Game 3. With all playoff series having completed at least two games, the odds for the remaining 16 teams vying for the Stanley Cup have been updated.

Jimmie Kaylor, a seasoned expert handicapper from SportsLine, has analyzed the latest betting trends and NHL futures odds. He has provided his top selections for winning the Stanley Cup, the Eastern and Western Conference titles, and the prestigious Conn Smythe Trophy awarded to the playoff MVP.

Kaylor has a history of successful predictions. In the 4 Nations Face-Off Final, he correctly predicted Nathan MacKinnon as the first goal scorer, resulting in a 13-1 payout, and also hit the under on the total goals (under 5.5) in a game that finished 3-2. More recently, he landed a five-leg same-game parlay in an Avalanche vs. Red Wings matchup for nearly a 7-1 payout and a five-leg NHL parlay on the regular season`s final night for almost a 13-1 return.

Having reviewed the current NHL odds, Kaylor has finalized his premier futures bets for both the Stanley Cup and individual player awards.

2025 NHL Stanley Cup Odds (Updated 4/24)

• 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

According to Matthew Rasp, a Senior Trader, the sportsbook`s biggest liabilities currently are two longshots, the Blues and Canadiens. He notes that while teams like the Panthers and Lightning are strong contenders, the public is not wagering heavily on them, and BetMGM would prefer the Stanley Cup to be won by a Florida team.

The odds have indeed shifted significantly since the start of the series. The Dallas Stars, initially a +2200 longshot, are now among the top contenders at +850. The Carolina Hurricanes have shown dominance and are presently favored to win the championship.

Despite their recent setbacks, Colorado remains Jimmie Kaylor`s pick to win the Stanley Cup. He also continues to be impressed by the Toronto Maple Leafs.

2025 NHL Playoff Odds to Win the Eastern Conference (Updated 4/24)

• Favorite: Hurricanes +200
• Highest Ticket Percentage: Capitals 16.5%
• Highest Handle Percentage: Hurricanes 37.6%
• Biggest Liability: Red Wings

While the current value on the Hurricanes (+350) or Panthers (+340) isn`t particularly appealing from a betting perspective, Florida is Kaylor`s chosen team to emerge from the Eastern Conference. His sleeper pick for the conference is the Toronto Maple Leafs.

2025 NHL Playoff Odds to Win the Western Conference (Updated 4/24)

• Favorite: Jets +310
• Highest Ticket Percentage: Avalanche 16.9%
• Highest Handle Percentage: Jets 37.9%
• Biggest Liability: Blues

A notable first-round matchup pits the Stars against the Avalanche, a series featuring arguably the two strongest teams in the Western Conference currently. The winner of this series is expected to become the favorite for the 2025 Stanley Cup. Kaylor favors Colorado in this series, partly due to significant injuries affecting the Stars. The Vegas Golden Knights are identified as a potential sleeper team in the West.

2025 NHL Odds to Win the Conn Smythe Trophy (Updated 4/24)

Historically, the Conn Smythe Trophy is most often awarded to the top performing player on the Stanley Cup-winning team. While there have been exceptions, such as McDavid last year (only the sixth player to win while his team didn`t win the Cup), the expectation is that this year`s winner will also be a champion. Jimmie Kaylor`s early prediction is that the Conn Smythe winner will come from the team that ultimately wins the closely watched Stars-Avalanche series.

When Colorado last claimed the Stanley Cup, Cale Makar was the recipient of the Conn Smythe. While Nathan MacKinnon at 16-1 odds is tempting, the value on Makar at 30-1 is considered too favorable to overlook. For potential sleeper candidates, Valeri Nichushkin could play a critical role if Colorado makes a deep playoff run. His odds initially opened at 300-1 but have been wagered down to 150-1.