Finally, the 2025-26 NHL season is just around the corner. Over the summer, some major players switched teams, including Toronto’s franchise player, Mitch Marner. Part of the team’s “Core Four”, Marner was coming off of a career high 102-point season with Toronto. However, the Leafs’ playoff struggles coincided with Marner’s postseason inadequacy, leading management to begin the painful process of trying to recover some value for Marner’s expiring contract.
In the end, the Leafs’ agreed to a sign-and-trade deal for their top regular season point producer with the Vegas Golden Knights for forward Nicolas Roy. With the acquisition, Vegas has become one of the top four teams on the Stanley Cup Futures market.
NHL CHAMPIONSHIP FAVOURITES
If you like to keep your sights on the top teams throughout the season, watch out for these picks which boast some of the best NHL odds on the board.
Florida Panthers +600
The back-to-back defending champions are the favourites to repeat again in 2026—a feat that hasn’t been accomplished since the New York Islanders did it in the ‘80s. Acquiring long-time Bruin Brad Marchand was critical in the Panthers’ second Cup, as the league’s “Pest” went on to score 10 goals and register 10 assists in his 23 playoff appearances.
Along with Marchand, the rest of the team’s core—Sam Bennett and Aaron Eklab—were all re-signed and will come back in 2025-26. This season will certainly test the Panthers’ endurance; they’ve made three straight Stanley Cup Final appearances, and this season will be especially challenging given the compact schedule affected by the Olympic Winter Games.
The team is also waiting on news about forward Matthew Tkachuk. The heart-and-soul player was injured last February, but played through it during the postseason; he could be looking at surgery. If that’s the case, he’ll be sidelined for three to five months—a move that would free up some cap space should management put him on long-term injured reserve.
Edmonton Oilers +800
After seeing two straight Stanley Cup Finals runs end in disappointment at the hands of the Panthers, the Edmonton Oilers are extra motivated to win a Cup. They’ve been challenged with finding cap space this offseason, needing to free up funds to pay last season’s top goal scorer, Leon Draisaitl, as well as Trent Frederic and Evan Bouchard. Connor McDavid’s contract extension is on the horizon too.
Knowing that, Oilers management offloaded some big contracts that included Evander Kane and Viktor Arvidsson. Kane went to Vancouver, and Arvidsson went to Boston in management’s aim to shed cap space. To help fill some gaps, they brought in winger Isaac Howard from the Lightning and Andrew Mangiapane from the Capitals.
Last season’s goaltending tandem of Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard was a weak point, and management allegedly made calls to the Detroit Red Wings this offseason, to inquire about goaltending prospects. But likely it will be Skinner and Pickard repeating the tandem between the pipes this season.
NHL CHAMPIONSHIP CONTENDERS
Next up in our Stanley Cup betting preview are the second tier of teams that are sure to challenge the favourites in the postseason for a shot at the Cup.
Carolina Hurricanes +825
The ‘Canes have been postseason contenders every season since 2018-19, but have yet to reach the Stanley Cup Finals. Last season they made it to the Conference Finals and lost to the Panthers in five games.
Early in the offseason, management went to work acquiring the players needed to bolster their roster and signed the top unrestricted free agent on the market at that time: the Winnipeg Jets’ speedy and highly skilled winger Nikolaj Ehlers. Canes’ management signed him to a six-year contract worth $51 million—making him their second-highest-paid player after Sebastian Aho. They also acquired New York Rangers defenceman K’Andre Miller in a sign-and-trade deal.
The addition of Miller and Ehlers highlight management’s commitment to add a high-end impact players to the roster. Their team has the skill needed to win and is just waiting for the opportunity to push beyond the Conference Finals, making them excellent picks on the futures market.
Vegas Golden Knights +850
Landing Mitch Marner in the offseason was a huge win for Vegas. Marner will get a fresh start in a franchise that will let him blend in after he became the target of criticism year after year in Toronto. After his impressive 102-point campaign last season, Marner followed it up with just two goals in 13 postseason games.
Without the weight of Toronto’s storied franchise on his shoulders, Marner should be free to re-define his career and contribute to Vegas’ opportunistic offence.
NHL CHAMPIONSHIP UNDERDOGS
We haven’t forgotten about the underdogs. With NHL odds at Bodog, we factor in everything to make NHL betting fair for every team. Take a peek at the top underdog team we’ve got our eye on this season.
Montreal Canadiens +5000
Habs fans are eager to declare the rebuild over. The Canadiens are coming off of a surprising postseason appearance after finishing the regular season as one of the hottest clubs in the NHL. While they were overpowered by the Washington Capitals in Round 1, Montreal’s young roster overperformed and gained valuable postseason experience.
Jeff Gorton and co. added two big pieces this offseason to build on the youthful core. The Canadiens traded both of their first round picks this past draft for the offensively gifted Noah Dobson from the New York Islanders. Dobson is one season removed from a 70-point campaign and will look to compliment the Habs’ top defensive pairing with either Rookie of the Year winner, Lane Hutson, or defensive stud Kaiden Guhle. Canadiens’ brass also acquired forward Zach Bolduc, who is expected to slot in as a second line winger while adding a physical presence with offensive upside. With these key additions, the Canadiens are no longer a long shot to make the playoffs and shouldn’t be overlooked as a Stanley Cup dark horse.