Pretenders and Contenders in the NHL Hunt for Stanley Cup

Stanley Cup Playoffs
May 9, 2019; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Bruins goaltender Tuukka Rask (40) makes a save during the second period in game one of the Eastern Conference Final of the 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Carolina Hurricanes at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports

The Stanley Cup is one of the toughest trophies in sports to win, as there is generally some luck involved. All 16 teams that qualify for the playoffs have a legitimate chance to win the Stanley Cup, but there are some teams that appear to have a better chance.

We are deep enough into the NHL season to have a good handle on all of the teams in the playoff race, and handicapping the title race is a bit easier. Here is a look at the current betting odds to win the NHL Stanley Cup:

  • Colorado Avalanche +550
  • Florida Panthers +550
  • Carolina Hurricanes +700
  • Toronto Maple Leafs +850
  • Tampa Bay Lightning +850
  • Vegas Golden Knights +850
  • Minnesota Wild +1500
  • New York Rangers +1600
  • Boston Bruins +1800
  • Pittsburgh Penguins +1800
  • St. Louis Blues +2000
  • Calgary Flames +2000
  • Nashville Predators +2500
  • Washington Capitals +2800
Jump to

Avalanche On a Roll

The Colorado Avalanche have been Stanley Cup betting favorites since before the season, and they remain in that position currently. Colorado got off to a slow start to the year, but they have started to emerge as the best team in the NHL.

The Florida Panthers have joined the Avalanche as the betting favorites to win the Stanley Cup, and these teams appear to be on a collision course to meet up in the final round. A lot can still change before the playoffs begin, and the unpredictable always seems to happen in the postseason.

Don’t expect to see much change in the top two teams when it comes to Stanley Cup betting odds.

Plenty of Contenders

While the Avalanche and Panthers clearly seem like the top two teams in the NHL at this time, there are still some other teams with a chance. One of the most obvious contenders is the Tampa Bay Lightning, as they have won two straight Stanley Cup titles.

The Carolina Hurricanes and the Toronto Maple Leafs are two other teams to watch out for because both teams are loaded with offensive weapons. There is a group of about 6-8 teams that have a good chance at winning a title, but they are all chasing the group of five teams.

Count These Teams Out

There are going to be some teams that make the NHL Playoffs that don’t realistically have a chance to win the Stanley Cup. The betting odds are still available for these teams, but there are two specific teams that you could call “contenders.”

The Boston Bruins have been a great franchise over the past decade, but they aren’t winning the Stanley Cup this season. Boston just lost goaltender Tuukka Rask to retirement, and that leaves a huge hole in net.

The Minnesota Wild are a popular Stanley Cup pick this season, but that team is still too young to make a run. Minnesota has enough talent, but they are going to have to gain some playoff experience before they are ready to win a title.

This site contains commercial content. Read more.