Stanley Cup Odds, Predictions, Betting Picks 2026: Avalanche Solidified as Heavy Favorites

The Stanley Cup is the culmination of the National Hockey League (NHL) season, served as an grueling elimination tournament to crown the league's top team. The process begins with the Stanley Cup playoffs, where 16 teams - the top eight from both the Eastern and Western Conferences - compete in four rounds of best-of-seven series.

To win the title, a team must secure 16 postseason victories, finishing with the Stanley Cup Final, which pits the two conference champions against one another.

Let's take a closer look at the latest odds for this season!

Stanley Cup Winner Odds 2025/26

Odds provided by BetMGM Sportsbook. Use our promo code WSNSPORTS to join BetMGM and claim the following welcome offer: Get Up to $1,500 in Bonus Bets*.

Rest of the teams listed at +4000 odds and higher.

NHL Stanley Cup Winner - My Pick

Colorado Avalanche (+220) at BetMGM

The Colorado Avalanche are a premier candidate for the 2026 Stanley Cup because they possess a rare blend of elite high-end talent and a statistically dominant system. Led by Nathan MacKinnon - the league’s top goal-scorer and a Hart Trophy frontrunner - and defensive phenom Cale Makar, Colorado leads the NHL in both goals for and goals against, illustrating a "historically good" level of balance. Their 5-on-5 metrics are league-leading, driven by a speed-based transition game that consistently generates high-danger scoring chances.

Furthermore, the mid-season integration of Martin Necas has provided much-needed second-line depth, while goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood has solidified the net with elite high-danger save percentages. Despite recent minor inconsistencies, their 118-point projection and top-tier underlying analytics make them the team to beat.

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How to Bet on the NHL Stanley Cup Winner

With the quality of the opponent as high as it will be, it’s vital to back a team who plays in low-variance contests and excels on both sides of the ice. Two metrics to look at to help indicate how well they play are Expected Goals For and Expected Goals Against in All Situations. This shows how well a team generates high-quality Shots on Goal as well as how consistent they are at defending against them.

Another metric to factor in is a team’s goalie play. By backing a team with a solid starting goalie, this helps limit the amount of variance in their contests even more. Two metrics to consider when looking at a goaltender are their marks in average Goals Against per game and in Save Percentage.

How to Read NHL Stanley Cup Winner Odds

Before you place a wager on a team to win the Stanley Cup, it’s important to know how the listed odds work. If you back the Florida Panthers at their preseason odds of +750, then a $100 wager would profit you $750 if they win their third straight Stanley Cup.

If you wait to see if they make it to the finals and are listed with a minus sign in front of their odds (-125 for example), then you would need to wager $125 to profit $100. Make sure you line shop by having access to multiple apps as the odds for the same market can drastically vary between each sportsbook.

Where to Bet on the NHL Stanley Cup Winner

BetMGM Sportsbook has been one of the top choices for the Stanley Cup winner market as they normally beat out the rest of the apps in regard to their listed odds. If you have not signed up yet with BetMGM Sportsbook and are looking to get in on the action, you can do so with our promo code WSNSPORTS and claim the following welcome offer: Get Up to $1,500 in Bonus Bets*.

FanDuel Sportsbook is another great option to use as they offer a wide range of markets and their listed odds rival BetMGM. FanDuel is also offering a sign up bonus as new users can claim: Bet $5, Get $100 in Bonus Bets if Your Bet Wins. Unlike BetMGM, no promo code is required. New users just need to create an account and win their first bet of at least $5.

*21+ only. Please Gamble Responsibly. See BetMGM.com for Terms. First Bet Offer for new customers only (if applicable). Subject to eligibility requirements. Bonus bets are non-withdrawable. In partnership with Kansas Crossing Casino and Hotel. This promotional offer is not available in DC, MS, NY, NV, ON, or PR.

NHL Stanley Cup Winner History

After winning the Stanley Cup last season, the Panthers now have the opportunity to be the first team to win it three straight years since the New York Islanders pulled it off in 1980-1983. Only two other teams have been able to accomplish this feat with the Montreal Canadiens winning it all in 1956-60 and the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1947-1949 and in 1962-1964.

As for Montreal, the Canadiens lead the league in total number of championships by a wide margin as they have won the Stanley Cup 24 times. The Toronto Maple Leafs are in second with 13 while the Detroit Red Wings are in third with 11.