Early NHL Stanley Cup 2025 Odds: Will the Cup Stay in Florida?

• • Head Coach: Paul Maurice
  • 2023-24 Record: 52-24-6 (Stanley Cup Champions)
  • Stanley Cup Titles: 1
  • Key Players: Aleksander Barkov, Matthew Tkachuk, Carter Verhaeghe, Sergei Bobrovsky

The Florida Panthers are the 2024 Stanley Cup champs after edging out the Edmonton Oilers in seven games on home ice. They nearly collapsed and coughed up a 3-0 series lead but prevailed in a 2-1 victory in Game 7!

Are the Panthers a serious threat to win back-to-back Stanley Cups? Given the core of this team will return, the Panthers will have a legitimate chance to get back into the winner’s circle.

Gonna watch Reino’s Stanley Cup Final-winning goal on repeat 🔁 pic.twitter.com/yZqiUfm7H0

— Florida Panthers (@FlaPanthers) June 25, 2024

Aside from Sam Reinhart, the Panthers have the vast majority of their top talent on contract for 2024-25. Reinhart was in a contract year in 2023-24, and will undoubtedly seek a high asking price after a strong season. Will the Panthers pony up and come to a deal with him?

Also, defenseman Brandon Montour’s contract is worth keeping tabs on. He was integral in the Panthers’ league-leading 2.41 goals against per game.

Winning back-to-back Stanley Cups is not easy, either. Since 1997, only three teams have won consecutive championships — the Tampa Bay Lightning were the most recent team to pull off the feat in 2020.

With the Panthers winning in late June, there isn’t much turnaround to the pre-season for the 2024-25 campaign in September!

• • Head Coach: Kris Knoblauch
  • 2023-24 Record: 49-27-6 (Stanley Cup Finalists)
  • Stanley Cup Titles: 5
  • Key Players: Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, Zach Hyman, Evan Bouchard

Following a 2-7-1 start to the 2023-24 season, the Oilers did the improbable and reached the Stanley Cup Final. Head coach Jay Woodcroft was swiftly fired after the miserable stretch and replaced with AHL coach Kris Knoblauch.

Ultimately, the Oilers came two goals away from winning the franchise’s first Stanley Cup since 1990. They stormed back from a 3-0 series deficit only to lose Game 7 in Sunrise, FL.

Despite the loss, McDavid won the Conn Smythe for the MVP of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

A performance for the ages. 👏

With an incredible 42 points in 25 #StanleyCup Playoffs games, Connor McDavid is your Conn Smythe Trophy winner. pic.twitter.com/P3qw9Pv7bE

— NHL (@NHL) June 25, 2024

As long as McDavid is on this team, the Oilers are always going to have a chance. Leon Draisaitl is expected to play out the final year of his contract in Edmonton, so the offensive prowess that makes this team good will remain together.

Zach Hyman is under contract with the Oilers next season, too. In addition to Evan Bouchard, that gives the Oilers their top four point getters returning. However, unrestricted free agents Connor Brown, Mattias Janmark, and Warren Foegele are key role players that would be missed.

The concern for the Oilers entering the playoffs was whether goaltender Stuart Skinner would hold up in the crease. He fought through a rough patch and benching to lead the Oilers to Game 7. Which Skinner will we see in Edmonton next season?

If anything, the Oilers will once again be the most entertaining team in the NHL to watch in 2024-25! We’ll see if they can pull off what Florida did after losing in the Stanley Cup Final to respond with a title in the next year.

• • Head Coach: Rod Brind’Amour
  • 2023-24 Record: 52-23-7 (Loss 2nd Round)
  • Stanley Cup Titles: 1
  • Key Players: Sebastian Aho, Seth Jarvis, Andrei Svechnikov, Teuvo Teravainen

In 2024, the Carolina Hurricanes had a disappointing second-round exit to the New York Rangers in six games. The Hurricanes were favorites at times throughout the season on all sports betting apps and sites but were unable to make it to the Eastern Conference Finals.

On the bright side, the front office was able to ink head coach Rod Brind’Amour to a five-year extension. His status for the 2024-25 was not assured before Brind’Amour came to terms with the Hurricanes.

Despite Martin Necas and Brady Skjei potentially playing elsewhere next season, Brind’Amour is aware this squad has unlimited talent. Regardless of Necas, the Hurricanes will be bringing back two of the best playmakers in the NHL: Sebastian Aho and Seth Jarvis.

Sebastian Aho with a beautiful feed to set up Seth Jarvis. 😍 pic.twitter.com/J1NoR3dWsP

— NHL (@NHL) March 17, 2024

Aho and Jarvis led the Hurricanes in points this past season. Moreover, what makes me most optimistic about left-winger Andre Svechnikov’s continued growth. In a year cut short due to injuries, he scored 19 goals and 33 assists with a +/- of +13 in 58 games.

Carolina was one of the most well-balanced teams in the NHL in 2023-24. They were fourth in goals against (2.57) and ninth in goals scored (3.38) per game. I expect more of the same from the Hurricanes in 2024-25!