2024 NHL Stanley Cup Odds and Predictions

It has been an awfully long time since the Stanley Cup was won by a Canadian team; 21 seasons to be exact. A young Patrick Roy and his Montreal Canadiens did the job back then, but 2024 could be Canada’s best chance since then.

The Edmonton Oilers and Vancouver Canucks are two of the most talented teams in the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs and closing in on punching their ticket to the next round. The odds are decent, so a small bet on Canada makes a lot of sense.

According to the latest Stanley Cup odds of the leading betting apps and sites, three of the top five teams to win are from the Eastern Conference. The Hurricanes, Panthers, and Rangers all hail from the East.

The Western Conference’s Colorado Avalanche and Edmonton Oilers are within reach of the top odds. The Vancouver Canucks are also undervalued, so the West is in a solid position.

Despite the threat from the Hurricanes, Panthers, and Rangers, I would not be surprised if a Western Conference team is favored soon. Additionally, the West includes a very good playoff team and defending champion Vegas Golden Knights.

• Atlantic; +230
• Pacific; +260
• Metropolitan; +310
• Central; +310

The Oilers, Canucks, and defending Stanley Cup champion Vegas Golden Knights are a pretty stout combination of teams to have in your corner. With the Toronto Maple Leafs on life support, the Atlantic Division is less desirable at +230 odds.

At +260, the Pacific Division is the best place to look for a value bet on a divisional winner. The Oilers and Canucks are both playing in great form, while the experienced Golden Knights aren’t giving up an inch to the 113-point Dallas Stars.

With that in mind, the Pacific Division represents the best betting value at +260 odds.

Eastern Conference

• Florida Panthers (1A) vs. Tampa Bay Lightning (WC1)
• Boston Bruins (2A) vs. Toronto Maple Leafs (3A)
• New York Rangers (1M) vs. Washington Capitals (WC2)
• Carolina Hurricanes (2M) vs. New York Islanders (3M)

Western Conference

• Dallas Stars (1C) vs. Vegas Golden Knights (WC2)
• Winnipeg Jets (2C) vs. Colorado Avalanche (3C)
• Vancouver Canucks (1P) vs. Nashville Predators (WC1)
• Edmonton Oilers (2P) vs. Los Angeles Kings (3P)

The Panthers surprised many with a miracle run to the Cup Finals last June, but those who were paying attention saw that coming. The Cats have it all and play a heavy brand of hockey that can simply wear down the opposition over a physical, seven-game series.

Up front, the Panthers are loaded with skill and grit. Aleksander Barkov can score, while simultaneously shutting down the opposition’s top players. The team also has Matthew Tkachuk can do it all, in any situation, while bringing the necessary size and snarl required to cause fear in opposing defencemen.

Florida also enhanced their lineup at the trade deadline, bolstering their scoring punch by securing Kyle Okposo and Vladimir Tarasenko. One of the NHL’s deepest forward groups continues to improve.

On the back end, the Panthers likely possess the best defensive corps in hockey. Aaron Ekblad and Brandon Montour are lethal on the power play, while Gustav Forsling has morphed into an incredible shutdown defender.

Head coach Paul Maurice knows what it takes to win in the playoffs, and the veteran has enjoyed great success in the postseason to date. In goal, Sergei Bobrovsky remains a gamebreaker, and provides the necessary safety net for Florida between the pipes.

🗣️ ONTO THE NEXT SERIES! pic.twitter.com/bS2gqcvfta

— Florida Panthers (@FlaPanthers) April 30, 2024

While the Panthers are built to win a seven-game series, they didn’t need nearly that many games to open the Stanley Cup Playoffs with a win. The Panthers outmuscled the Lightning to defeat their in-state rival in five.

The Panthers played terrific team hockey from all their lines. This team is loaded, so winning the Stanley Cup 2024 is definitely on the table.

The Hurricanes have really improved their position in the second half of the regular season. This has long been an impressive roster, but they’ve struggled with depth in the scoring department. Now, Sebastian Aho, Andrei Svechnikov, and Martin Necas have some support up front.

Getting Jake Guentzel and Evgeni Kuznetsov at the NHL’s trade deadline was a stroke of genius, that instantly pumped new life and scoring ability into the roster. This has morphed into a dynamic offensive group, without sacrificing their rigid defensive structure.

The Canes boast the top forwards corps in all of hockey as we approach the Stanley Cup playoffs. Given their path as the likely top Metropolitan team, it should allow for a comfortable route to the Eastern Conference Finals.

In goal, big Danish netminder Frederik Andersen is healthy again. The pairing with young Russian Pyotr Kochetkov provides elite goaltending for the rest of the way.

The group that had many questions asked to answer last spring following another early exit, but there are no more excuses. This is an elite roster, with seemingly zero holes.

Carolina currently sits atop the league in terms of expected goal differential at even strength. This is a telltale statistic that they will control the play and get the bulk of chances against any opponent this Spring.

TWO GOALS IN 10 SECONDS TO TAKE THE LEAD

IT'S PANDEMONIUM IN RALEIGHWOOD pic.twitter.com/gSrIHBGnGz

— Carolina Hurricanes (@Canes) April 23, 2024

The Hurricanes have thoroughly controlled their first-round matchup against the New York Islanders. Their only lapse was a 3-2 loss in double OT at USB Arena in Game 4. With a chance to sweep the Isles, the Hurricanes were foiled by Semyon Varlamov’s 42-save game.

Despite the goalie’s valiant effort, the Islanders are on dire life support. Even if the they steal another game, it almost feels inevitable that the Hurricanes’ depth will ultimately be too much to handle.

The final Stanley Cup betting favorite I want to highlight are the resurgent Edmonton Oilers. Their season started poorly, but a coaching change to Kris Knoblauch has pumped new life into this talented roster.

On top of that, GM Ken Holland did his best to provide more depth to this team, delivering much-needed help to Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. As a result, the Oilers have a battle-tested and playoff-ready group, prepared for the physicality the NHL’s postseason brings.

Expect Evander Kane, Zach Hyman, Corey Perry, and newly-acquired Adam Henrique to all have big roles in Edmonton’s playoff success this year. Those four players should do well to protect the star talents in any series.

On the back end, the group has it all with skill, skating ability, size, and snarl on the blue line. Troy Stecher has fit in nicely since his recent trade, and youngster Evan Bouchard has this power play more dangerous than ever. This is a loaded and complete roster, and they have McDavid, who can still win games on his own.

Connor McDavid factored on the @EdmontonOilers' opening goal and became the first player to hit the 10-point mark in the 2024 #StanleyCup Playoffs.

Catch the third period on @TBSNetwork, @SportsonMax, Sportsnet and @TVASports. #NHLStats: https://t.co/NPWQLRy0ZO pic.twitter.com/yivGEJNnUG

— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) April 29, 2024

There were concerns with the Oilers’ goaltending entering the NHL Playoffs, but Stuart Skinner has held up well. He is coming off a monster performance versus the Los Angeles Kings in Game 4.

Skinner made 33 saves to shutout the Kings in a 1-0 win at the Staples Center. With a 2.48 GAA and 0.919 save percentage, Skinner has proven to be a valuable asset and not a liability between the pipes in Edmonton this postseason.

Many sports bettors were scared to back the Oilers due to their goaltending, but that’s proven to be false thus far. +500 seems too high for a strong team like this one, making Edmonton one of the best Stanley Cup picks.

Much like the Hurricanes and the Golden Knights, the Avalanche enhanced their team at the NHL’s trade deadline. Colorado went out and secured Casey Mittelstadt, Yakov Trenin, and Sean Walker in an impressive trio of trades.

The injection of fresh blood provides better balance and protection to a top-heavy lineup. In the post-season, you need all four lines as four rounds of seven games each can take a real toll on the players.

Colorado now has all kinds of depth and skill throughout the lineup, and don’t be surprised to see team captain Gabriel Landeskog return from a lengthy injury at some point this postseason.

The Avs have elite game-breaking skill that Carolina or Florida don’t really possess and have the experience of winning the Stanley Cup back in 2022. Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar are dynamic skaters, and their speed can change games and playoff series.

The Avalanche are … Avalanche-ing.

That's three goals in 8 minutes to extend their lead to 4-1 🚨 pic.twitter.com/hHfc4HXcMj

— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) April 28, 2024

Despite some question marks between the pipes, it’s impossible to count out the Avalanche in any seven-game series. They boast an elite home-ice advantage and coach Jared Bednar is among the best in-game strategists within the sport.

The Avalanche were matched up against a talented and deep Winnipeg Jets team in the first round. In fact, the Jets were awarded home-ice advantage on the after finishing the regular season with more points than the Avs.

However, Colorado has made it look easy through the first four games. On the verge of beating a quality Jets squad and advancing to the second round, the Avalanche are among the Stanley Cup 2024 favorites.