After the final whistle of the 2023-2024 campaign, the Florida Panthers are your 2024 Stanley
Cup champions. Now it’s time to look ahead to next year and see who some of the favorites are
to etch their names into history.
It was the biggest opening day of free agency, where we saw a record $1.12 billion in contracts
signed and more than 100 players changing teams. Big signings led to big shifts in the market
as we take a look at some of the favorites to win the 2025 Stanley Cup champions.
Florida Panthers (+750)
Despite it taking the franchise 30 years to win its first championship, oddsmakers don’t see it
taking that long for the club to hoist Lord Stanley’s mug again. Florida has been to the finals in
back-to-back years, losing in 2023 and winning this past season. They’re now looking to
become the first team since Tampa Bay in 2020 and 2021 to repeat as champions.
Panthers General Manager Bill Zito had his work cut out for him heading into July first. He was
able to lock up unrestricted free-agent and 57-goal scorer Sam Reinhart to an 8 year $69 million
deal. That of course meant he had to make cuts elsewhere. That includes offensive defenseman
Brandon Montour who took his talents to Seattle. Both Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Ryan
Lomberg also priced themselves out of south beach.
Edmonton Oilers (+800)
The Oilers showed incredible resolve in the final round of the Stanley Cup playoffs, nearly
coming all the way back from a 3-0 deficit. This offseason is incredibly important for the
franchise as they enter with a core still under contract but still needed to fill out the roster to take
the weight off of key player’s shoulders.
It will be the final year of Leon Draisaitl’s current contract and the second-last year of Connor
McDavid’s deal. Between these two all-world talents and 54-goal scorer Zach Hyman, they have
the elite talent to carry their top two lines. After mutually parting ways with now former GM Ken
Holland, Oilers CEO Jeff Jackson was busy on the phone lines. Not only did he add Jeff Skinner
and Viktor Arvidsson on team friendly deals, but managed to re-sign depth forwards in Mattias
Janmark, Connor Brown, Corey Perry and Adam Henrique.
Dallas Stars (+1000)
After being bounced out of the Conference Finals in consecutive years, the Dallas Stars are
considered a team that is “almost there”.
Up front, they are solid for next year. They have their core players of Jason Robertson, Jamie
Benn and Roope Hintz locked, stocked and ready to go. What we found out this past year
though, is the youth movement out of Texas. Between Logan Stankoven and 32-goal scorer
Wyatt Johnston are expected to take even bigger steps forward next year while still on
Entry-Level contracts.
Goaltender Jake Oettinger, headed into the final year of his contract, should challenge for the
Vezina next season. He’s backed up by new signee Casey DeSmith and a blue line that was
bolstered by new contracts in Matt Dumba and Ilya Lybushkin.
Nashville Predators (+1600)
Predators GM Barry Trotz went big game hunting on July 1st and came away with a few big
prizes. First there were the signings of free agent forwards in Steven Stamkos and Jonathan
Marchessault that showed Nashville was not fooling around. Both players are coming off of
40-goal seasons with their previous teams and Stamkos put up 81 points in 79 games to boot.
On the backend, they lured away Brady Skjei from Carolina with a 7 year $49 million deal that
solidified their blueline. Trotz also re-signed Alexandre Carrier to a three-year deal while picking
up Scott Wedgewood to back up Juuse Saros who was extended on a new 8-year deal. That
leaves Nashville with a trade bait in goaltending prospect Yaroslav Askarov, who they can move
for impact players that can be useful going into this next season.
Florida Panthers +750
Edmonton Oilers +800
New Jersey Devils +900
Dallas Stars +1000
Colorado Avalanche +1200
Carolina Hurricanes +1400
New York Rangers +1400
Nashville Predators +1600
Toronto Maple Leafs +1600
Vegas Golden Knights +1800
Tampa Bay Lightning +2000
Vancouver Canucks +2200
Boston Bruins +2500
Los Angeles Kings +2500
Winnipeg Jets +2500
Detroit Red Wings +4000
Minnesota Wild +4000
Ottawa Senators +4000
Buffalo Sabres +5000
New York Islanders +5000
Pittsburgh Penguins +5000
Philadelphia Flyers +5500
St. Louis Blues +6000
Seattle Kraken +6000
Utah Hockey Club +6600
Calgary Flames +7500
Washington Capitals +8000
Chicago Blackhawks +15000
Montreal Canadiens +15000
Anaheim Ducks +30000
Columbus Blue Jackets +30000
San Jose Sharks +30000