2024-25 Early NHL Betting Odds Preview and 2023-24 Review
Looking to the 2024-25 NHL Season
The 2023-24 NHL season came to a close on Monday night as the Florida Panthers avoided an epic collapse by downing the Edmonton Oilers 2-1 in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals. That victory gave the Panthers their first championship in franchise history after falling short back in 1995-96 to the Avalanche and 2022-23 to the Golden Knights. Florida roared out of the gate, taking a 3-0 series lead, only to see Edmonton storm back to take the next three games, putting the Panthers in danger of becoming just the second team in NHL history to blow a 3-0 lead in the Stanley Cup Finals. Fortunately for them, they managed to scratch out a win, leaving Sid Abel and the 1941-42 Red Wings as the only team to suffer that ignominious fate.
On Monday night, after the teams traded first period goals, it was Sam Reinhart, who lit the lamp 57 times in the regular season, scoring his 10th goal of the playoffs in the second period to give Florida the advantage. They wouldn’t relinquish it the rest of the way, going back to the suffocating defensive style that carried them to wins in Games 1-3. When all was said and done, the Panthers killed off the final seconds with the puck trapped along the boards, not giving the Oilers a chance to even generate a solid scoring opportunity.
Connor McDavid, who scored eight goals and handed out 34 assists for 42 points in the postseason, putting him fourth all-time for postseason scoring performances, earned the Conn Smythe Trophy in a losing effort. He became just the sixth player ever to win the award without being on the Cup-winning squad and just the second skater. Reggie Leach of the Flyers, back in 1975-76, was the only other skater to accomplish that feat, scoring 19 goals and five assists in 16 playoff games for a Flyers team that fell short of a three-peat.
Now that the regular and postseason are in the rear-view mirror, there is plenty to look forward to during the offseason. The NHL Draft takes place Friday and Saturday while free agency starts in earnest beginning next Monday, July 1. What transpires over the next few weeks could easily shift the odds for next season’s potential favorites to win the Stanley Cup but these are the current odds according to DraftKings.
2024-25 Favorites to Win Stanley Cup
Florida Panthers +900
Dallas Stars +900
Edmonton Oilers +950
Colorado Avalanche +1200
New York Rangers +1200
Carolina Hurricanes +1200
New Jersey Devils +1300
Vegas Golden Knights +1600
Toronto Maple Leafs +1600
Vancouver Canucks +2000
Boston Bruins +2000
Winnipeg Jets +2000
Los Angeles Kings +2200
Tampa Bay Lightning +2500
Ottawa Senators +3500
Nashville Predators +3500
Detroit Red Wings +3500
Pittsburgh Penguins +4000
New York Islanders +4000
Minnesota Wild +4000
Buffalo Sabres +4000
St. Louis Blues +4500
Philadelphia Flyers +5000
Seattle Kraken +6000
Washington Capitals +7500
Montreal Canadiens +7500
Utah Hockey Club +7500
Calgary Flames +7500
Chicago Blackhawks +15000
Columbus Blue Jackets +15000
Anaheim Ducks +15000
San Jose Sharks +30000
These odds are likely to shift as players change teams over the next couple of weeks and we’ll revisit things as we see the dust settle. Congratulations to the Panthers on their first championship and to the Oilers for a spirited effort that fell just short. We’ll be back next week to touch on the first major trades and signings during free agency of the offseason as we wait to see what teams make moves in the coming days.
