The NHL Stanley Cup playoffs got underway this weekend, but there is still plenty of time to make your free NHL Stanley Cup playoff predictions. There is no clear-cut favorite to win the Stanley Cup this year, as a handful of teams have emerged as legitimate contenders. Often called the hardest trophy to win in sports, the Stanley Cup requires teams to win 16 hard-fought games. The festivities are just getting underway this season, and all the contenders will think it is their year to taste the ultimate glory in the world of hockey.
Who Are The Favorites to Win the Stanley Cup?
Carolina Hurricanes: +600
The Carolina Hurricanes have an easy matchup against the injured New Jersey Devils. This has propelled them to the top of the Stanley Cup odds, but they are here for more than just their seemingly easy first round matchup. Frederik Andersen has been incredibly consistent for the Hurricanes in goal, and their balanced scoring makes them difficult to stop. They rarely allow dangerous chances in the middle of the ice and have a team built for a deep playoff run.
Colorado Avalanche: +700
The Colorado Avalanche are led by the NHL’s leading scorer, Nathan MacKinnon. MacKinnon is always the most dangerous player on the ice, and his ability to generate goals from harmless chances is second-to-none. The Avalanche traded Mikko Rantanen at the trade deadline, but could be getting Gabriel Landeskog back for a deep playoff run. They face a difficult Dallas Stars team in the first round, but as long as their goaltending holds up, they are poised to replicate their 2022 Stanley Cup Finals victory.
Winnipeg Jets: +700
It is often said that a strong goaltender can carry a team to the Stanley Cup Finals, and the Jets will be hoping that is the case this season. Connor Hellebuyck is a shoo-in for the Vezina trophy after putting together one of the best seasons of all time. He will always give the Jets a great chance to win on any given night, but the recent injuries are certainly a concern for the Western Conference leaders.
Toronto Maple Leafs: +800
Is it finally their year? The Toronto Maple Leafs won their division for the first time in 20 years and look as though they will be able to expel their first round demons in a battle of Ontario. Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner have never looked better, and the Leafs look like a different team than previous editions under Craig Berube. Anthony Stolarz has been excellent in goal, and there isn’t a city on the planet that craves the Stanley Cup like Toronto does.
Vegas Golden Knights: +860
The Vegas Golden Knights won the 2023 Stanley Cup and have an equally dangerous team this season. Adin Hill has been consistent in the net while Jack Eichel has exploded as the team’s number one center. Depth has always been a priority for the Golden Knights, and they have a roster stacked with players with Stanley Cup experience. It is never a good idea to count out the Vegas Golden Knights in the NHL playoffs.
NHL Stanley Cup Odds
The NHL Stanley Cup odds are very close, with 8 teams coming in with +1000 or shorter odds to win the Stanley Cup. The Carolina Hurricanes lead the way with +600 odds, but this is as wide open as the league has been in several years.
| Team | Odds |
| Carolina Hurricanes | +600 |
| Colorado Avalanche | +700 |
| Winnipeg Jets | +700 |
| Toronto Maple Leafs | +800 |
| Vegas Golden Knights | +860 |
| Florida Panthers | +900 |
| Tampa Bay Lightning | +1000 |
| Washington Capitals | +1000 |
| Los Angeles Kings | +1200 |
| Dallas Stars | +1400 |
| Edmonton Oilers | +1600 |
| Ottawa Senators | +6900 |
| New Jersey Devils | +7900 |
| Minnesota Wild | +7900 |
| St.Louis Blues | +9900 |
| Montreal Canadiens | +11900 |
Past Stanley Cup Winners
| Year | Winning Team | Losing Team |
| 2024 | Florida Panthers | Edmonton Oilers |
| 2023 | Vegas Golden Knights | Florida Panthers |
| 2022 | Colorado Avalanche | Tampa Bay Lightning |
| 2021 | Tampa Bay Lightning | Montreal Canadiens |
| 2020 | Tampa Bay Lightning | Dallas Stars |
| 2019 | St.Louis Blues | Boston Bruins |
| 2018 | Washington Capitals | Vegas Golden Knights |
| 2017 | Pittsburgh Penguins | Nashville Predators |
| 2016 | Pittsburgh Penguins | San Jose Sharks |
| 2015 | Chicago Blackhawks | Tampa Bay Lightning |
NHL Teams With the Most Stanley Cups
The Montreal Canadiens have the most Stanley Cups in the NHL, with a total of 24. Behind them are the Toronto Maple Leafs with 13 Stanley Cups and the Detroit Red Wings with 11 Stanley Cups. Despite having 37 Stanley Cups between them, the Toronto Maple Leafs and Montreal Canadiens haven’t won the Stanley Cup in 58 and 31 years, respectively.
| Team | Number of Stanley Cups | Most Recent Win |
| Montreal Canadiens | 24 | 1993 |
| Toronto Maple Leafs | 13 | 1967 |
| Detroit Red Wings | 11 | 2008 |
| Chicago Blackhawks | 6 | 2015 |
| Boston Bruins | 6 | 2011 |
| Pittsburgh Penguins | 5 | 2017 |
| Edmonton Oilers | 5 | 1990 |
When Will the Stanley Cup Final Start?
The Stanley Cup Finals will begin in June 2025, pitting the Eastern Conference and Western Conference winners against each other. The previous Stanley Cup Finals have started in the first two weeks of June, and this year will likely follow a similar pattern. The final game of the Stanley Cup Finals will end no later than June 23, 2025, but the start date of the Stanley Cup Finals has not been determined yet.
Who Won the Stanley Cup Last Year?
The Florida Panthers win the Stanley Cup in the 2023-24 season. They took down the Edmonton Oilers in Game 7 to secure their first Stanley Cup in franchise history. The Panthers took a 3-0 series lead in the Stanley Cup Finals and held off a late charge from Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers to hold on.
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