In the last two seasons, the NHL has shown that long-shots do have a chance. On the back of the Las Vegas Golden Knights remarkably making the Stanley Cup Finals two seasons ago and the St. Louis Blues massive turnaround last season to win the Stanley Cup. It seems that the motto “expect the unexpected” is apt for this upcoming season.
Let’s take a look at the prices before the season starts.
NHL Outright Betting Overview
The Tampa Bay Lightning are the favourites to win the Stanley Cup at +700. The Boston Bruins, Las Vegas Golden Knights and Toronto Maple Leafs are all joint second-favourites at +1000.
Reigning champions St. Louis Blues are +1500 to retain their title. The rank outsiders are the Ottawa Senators at +25000 to climb to the top of the mountain this year. There may be value in the Predators at +1700 or the Avalanche at +1200 given the teams they could be up against in the Western Conference. However, the bookies believe that the Tampa Bay Lightning has a bit more than anyone else this year.
Please note that prices shown are accurate at the time of writing but may change.
NHL Stanley Cup Outright Odds
| Tampa Bay Lightning | +700 |
| Boston Bruins | +1000 |
| Vegas Golden Knights | +1000 |
| Toronto Maple Leafs | +1000 |
| Colorado Avalanche | +1200 |
| St. Louis Blues | +1500 |
| Nashville Predators | +1700 |
| San Jose Sharks | +1800 |
| Washington Capitals | +1800 |
| Calgary Flames | +1800 |
| Dallas Stars | +2000 |
| Winnipeg Jets | +2200 |
| Pittsburgh Penguins | +2200 |
| Florida Panthers | +2200 |
| Carolina Hurricanes | +2800 |
| New York Islanders | +2800 |
| Philadelphia Flyers | +3000 |
| New Jersey Devils | +3300 |
| Chicago Blackhawks | +3500 |
| Arizona Coyotes | +4000 |
| Montreal Canadiens | +4000 |
| Edmonton Oilers | +4000 |
| New York Rangers | +4000 |
| Columbus Blue Jackets | +4500 |
| Vancouver Canucks | +4500 |
| Minnesota Wild | +5000 |
| Buffalo Sabres | +7000 |
| Anaheim Ducks | +7000 |
| Los Angeles Kings | +7000 |
| Detroit Red Wings | +10000 |
| Ottawa Senators | +25000 |
Eastern Conference
This is viewed as the strongest conference this year by many including the bookmakers. The Lightning, Maple Leafs and Bruins are all vying to win the Eastern Conference and progress to the Stanley Cup Finals.
| Tampa Bay Lightning | +320 |
| Toronto Maple Leafs | +450 |
| Boston Bruins | +570 |
| Washington Capitals | +950 |
| Florida Panthers | +1100 |
| Pittsburgh Penguins | +1300 |
| Carolina Hurricanes | +1300 |
| New Jersey Devils | +1400 |
| New York Islanders | +1700 |
| Montreal Canadiens | +1900 |
| Philadelphia Flyers | +1900 |
| Columbus Blue Jackets | +2000 |
| New York Rangers | +2000 |
| Buffalo Sabres | +3700 |
| Detroit Red Wings | +5000 |
| Ottawa Senators | +12500 |
Western Conference
The Golden Knights lead the way with the bookies at +380 followed by the Colorado Avalanche at +500. The St. Louis Blues last years champs are third favourite at +700 with the Stars and Predators both priced at +800.
| Vegas Golden Knights | +380 |
| Colorado Avalanche | +500 |
| St. Louis Blues | +700 |
| Dallas Stars | +800 |
| Nashville Predators | +800 |
| Calgary Flames | +1000 |
| Winnipeg Jets | +1100 |
| San Jose Sharks | +1300 |
| Arizona Coyotes | +2000 |
| Chicago Blackhawks | +2000 |
| Vancouver Canucks | +2000 |
| Edmonton Oilers | +2000 |
| Minnesota Wild | +2500 |
| Anaheim Ducks | +4000 |
| Los Angeles Kings | +4000 |
Divisions
The outright winner last season proved to be a surprise. Division outright markets are a good alternative, especially if you have more knowledge of teams in a specific division.
Metropolitan Division
A relatively weak division. The Washington Capitals are the bookies favourites to top the division at +275. They are followed by the Pittsburgh Penguins at +350 and the Carolina Hurricanes at +500. The division is rounded out by the New Jersey Devils at +600, New York Islanders at +850, Philadelphia Flyers at +900, New York Rangers at +1100 and the Columbus Blue Jackets at +1500.
Atlantic Division
The Tampa Bay Lightning are the obvious favourites for this highly competitive division. The Maple Leafs and the Bruins are +280 and +325 respectively. Outsiders Detroit Red Wings +20000 and Ottawa Senators +30000 look too far behind the top teams in the division to make an impact. However, some may see value in the Florida Panthers at +700. The Canadiens +3000 and Sabres +6000 are not expected to make inroads either. All in all, it is expected that the Lightning will deliver.
Central Division
It is expected to be tight at the top with the Colorado Avalanche +300 and the Nashville Predators +325 to take top position. After a remarkable season last year which ended with the ultimate success of Stanley Cup victory the St. Louis Blues are priced the same as the Dallas Stars at +400. Winnipeg Jets +650, Chicago Blackhawks +1000 and Minnesota Wild +5000 are the other prices in perhaps the tightest division in the league.
Pacific Division
The Calgary Flames who won the Division last year and the San Jose Sharks are likely to be the two teams who put it up to the Golden Knights this time out. The Golden Knights who are favourites to be crowned top dog in the Western Conference are seen by many as the divisional champions in waiting. The Los Angeles Kings and Anaheim Ducks are predicted to struggle. The Arizona Coyotes and both Canadian teams are likely to pad out the division from the middle.
