NHL Stanley Cup 2025-26 Odds and Predictions: Will the Panthers Three-peat?

Florida Panthers – Three-peat in Sunrise?

• • Head Coach: Paul Maurice
  • 2024-25 Record: 47-31-4 (Stanley Cup champs)
  • Stanley Cup Titles: 2
  • Key Players: Matthew Tkachuk, Sam Reinhart, Sam Bennett, Aaron Ekblad

The Florida Panthers can become the first team since the 1983 New York Islanders to three-peat as Stanley Cup champs. Only four franchises and five different teams (Toronto Maple Leafs twice) have three-peated before, so the Panthers have an opportunity to join an elite group.

THE FLORIDA PANTHERS ARE 2025 STANLEY CUP CHAMPIONS 🏆 pic.twitter.com/D4P8MiMxmP

— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) June 18, 2025

The Panthers would also be known as one of the greatest NHL teams of all time if they can pull it off. However, there was some pessimism that the Panthers couldn’t be the same team, given roster turnover. That has been put to rest after re-signing their big offseason targets.

Sam Bennett, Aaron Ekblad, and Brad Marchand all re-signed to stay in Sunrise with the Panthers. Bennett landed an eight-year contract worth $64 million in late June. The star realized the best situation is with the Panthers in Florida, so that’s a big boost for the franchise.

Ekblad and Marchand could have received more money but opted to stay to build a dynasty. The physicality that makes the Panthers so dangerous will be back for the 2025-26 season. It’s the type of formula that wins Stanley Cups, and the Panthers have proven it two years in a row.

Additionally, it was recently announced that the Panthers don’t have any intentions to trade second-line forward Evan Rodrigues. Although Rodrigues doesn’t rank as one of the stars, he is a valuable depth piece that is another member of the Stanley Cup team expected to be back for 2025-26.

In 2024-25, the Panthers conceded 2.72 goals per game, for seventh in the NHL. They finished first in the playoffs, allowing an average of 2.43 goals per game en route to the Cup. This season, the Panthers will have that same championship pedigree in the defensive zone and on the forecheck.

Sam Bennett lays a HUGE hit on Jaccob Slavin who is then slow to get up 🤕 pic.twitter.com/wPHNHspamd

— Gino Hard (@GinoHard_) May 25, 2023

Additionally, starting goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky is returning to Florida. Bobrovsky had another strong campaign, with a 2.20 GAA and 0.914 save percentage in 23 games in the playoffs. He is a pillar of the defense and benefits greatly from playing on this hard-hitting Panthers team.

The team is strong on offense as well. With 4.09 goals per game, the Panthers led the playoffs in scoring. The champions will return all their top playmakers, including Carter Verhaeghe, Matthew Tkachuk, and Aleksander Barkov.

There is a strong case to be made for the Panthers to three-peat for your 2025-26 Stanley Cup betting picks!

Edmonton Oilers – McDavid’s Time Finally?

• • Head Coach: Kris Knoblauch
  • 2024-25 Record: 48-29-5 (Lost Stanley Cup Final)
  • Stanley Cup Titles: 5
  • Key Players: Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, Evan Bouchard, Zach Hyman

The Edmonton Oilers did everything they could to put them in a position to win the Stanley Cup for the second straight year. It wasn’t enough, though, as the Oilers fell in six games to the Panthers. They got outplayed and outmuscled against a team that is simply built better for playoff hockey.

Nevertheless, it’d be foolish to discard a team with Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. As long as these two are healthy and on the ice, the Oilers are always going to have a shot. They were one win away from the Cup in 2024 and two wins off in 2025. You can’t count the Oilers out as a potential winner this year.

Connor McDavid's fantastic solo goal comes in on our countdown at No. 45! 💨 pic.twitter.com/XqrmxtbIOm

— NHL (@NHL) July 13, 2025

However, it might be more difficult without a couple of depth pieces on their roster. Forwards Corey Perry and Evander Kane played crucial roles in the postseason but will be absent from the team in 2025-26. Kane signed with the Vancouver Canucks, while Perry is off to Los Angeles.

The Oilers added forward Andrew Mangiapane on a two-year, $7.2 million deal to help the third line with Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Trent Frederic. Matthew Savoie and Vasily Podkolzin figure to join Draisaitl on the second line. The offensive production should still be there for the Oilers in 2025-26.

However, they still don’t have an answer between the pipes. Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard remain atop the depth chart. They both can get hot in spurts, but consistency is a major problem. The Oilers were 14th in the regular season, with 2.87 goals against per game. That number reached 3.32 goals in the playoffs, for the 11th-best mark!

They could very well work out a trade, perhaps Jeremy Swayman, or sign a free agent to try and bolster their crease. Carter Hart, who was recently found not guilty of sexual assault, could be an option. That being said, Hart remains ineligible, and the Oilers may not want to add him to their roster.

Sticking with Skinner and Pickard doesn’t evoke the most confidence in the Oilers this season. I don’t believe the Oilers did enough in the offseason to put them ahead of the Panthers, so their odds to win the Stanley Cup appear correct. We’ll see what adjustments the Oilers make before the puck drops on the 2025-26 season, but I’m not convinced they are a championship team.

Carolina Hurricanes – Was Ehlers the Missing Piece?

• • Head Coach: Rod Brind’Amour
  • 2024-25 Record: 47-30-5 (Loss ECF)
  • Stanley Cup Titles: 1
  • Key Players: Sebastian Aho, Seth Jarvis, Nikolaj Ehlers, Andrei Svechnikov

The Carolina Hurricanes will try to get over the hump after exiting the Eastern Conference Final in five games a season ago. Are they a different team from the last seven years? The Hurricanes have gone to the postseason every year since the 2018-19 campaign.

All have ended in disappointment, which includes three unsuccessful trips to the conference finals. It was the same story for the Hurricanes in 2024-25, as the Florida Panthers made easy work of Carolina. What changes this season?

Fortunately, the Hurricanes addressed a huge need on the first line. There was an upgrade available on left wing, and the front office took note. The Hurricanes managed to ink one of the most prized free agents in the offseason.

Former Winnipeg Jet, Nikolaj Ehlers, signed a six-year, $51 million contract to play for the Hurricanes.

HERE WE GO 🤩

Nikolaj Ehlers has signed with the @Canes for six years! 🌀 #NHLFreeAgency pic.twitter.com/wEWbkOapPm

— NHL (@NHL) July 3, 2025

However, a gaping hole remains on the second line at center. After Sebastian Aho anchors the first line, the Hurricanes don’t have another reliable center behind him. Jesperi Kotkaniemi and Jordan Staal don’t move the needle much.

Last year, the defense was in solid form, with 2.8 goals against per game, while the offense ranked ninth in goals with 3.24 per contest. Goaltender Frederik Anderson is coming off another reliable campaign and a strong effort in the playoffs with a 2.02 GAA and 0.907 save percentage.

The Hurricanes are a solid, well-balanced team that should find more success in the Eastern Conference. The addition of Ehlers gives the offense more firepower up front. That said, they still don’t look physical enough to give the Panthers a problem, though!