Looking Back: The Best Odds Storylines of the 2025-26 Season

Sportsbooks opened the 2025-26 season with the Florida Panthers as back-to-back defending champions and the top favorite at +700, with the Carolina Hurricanes right behind as co-favorites at +750. Carolina carried that value all year — sitting at +475 to win it all heading into the playoffs — before putting together one of the most dominant postseason runs in recent memory.

• Carolina Hurricanes: opened the season at +750, entered the Cup Final as -155 favorites over Vegas, and closed it out in 6 games.

• Playoff dominance: Carolina went 16-3 overall in the postseason, including first- and second-round sweeps and a 3-0 shutout in the clinching Game 6.

• Jordan Staal: became the oldest Conn Smythe Trophy winner in NHL history at 37, capping a storybook playoff run.

• Golden Knights value: Vegas reached the Cup Final for the third time in nine seasons, rewarding bettors who backed them at mid-season plus-money odds.

It was a reminder that championship value doesn't always come from the flashiest offseason additions — Carolina's steady, well-built roster paid off both on the ice and at the sportsbook.

Looking Ahead: 2027 Stanley Cup Odds

With the 2025-26 season behind us and the Hurricanes celebrating their first title in 20 years, oddsmakers have already released early lines for the 2027 Stanley Cup. Carolina isn't a runaway favorite to repeat — the board is unusually tight at the top:

• Colorado Avalanche: +600 to +800 depending on the book — the Presidents' Trophy winners and current favorite at several major sportsbooks.

• Carolina Hurricanes: +650 to +750 — the defending champions, right on Colorado's heels.

• Florida Panthers: +650 to +750 — shortened after signing goaltender Jacob Markstrom and trading for Brady Tkachuk this offseason.

• Vegas Golden Knights: +850 — back-to-back Cup Final trips give them plenty of respect from bettors.

• Edmonton Oilers: +800 to 11-1 — a perennial contender that continues to be in the mix year after year.

• Tampa Bay Lightning: +1200 — the value pick among the league's proven winners.

Worth watching: the Minnesota Wild have been aggressively pursuing a top-line center this offseason, and if they're able to land a name like Dylan Larkin, their odds could shorten fast — they're already viewed as a team on the rise after winning a tough first-round series a year ago.

A Quick Betting Reminder

One trend worth keeping in mind: over the past 10 years, the average opening Stanley Cup odds for the eventual champion have been around +1295. Chalk favorites win their share, but plenty of value has historically been found further down the board — so don't be afraid to look past the top of the list.

Odds are courtesy of major sportsbooks and are subject to change throughout the season. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call 1-800-GAMBLER.