Odds provided by TonyBet.
2026 Stanley Cup Futures: Outright Winner
The Avalanche are sitting as a clear +254 frontrunner at NHL betting sites. The Tampa Bay Lightning and Carolina Hurricanes are behind them, both at +699 odds. The Vegas Golden Knights follow at +799, while the reigning champion Panthers are sitting at +999.
Colorado Avalanche (+254)
The last few seasons have been a struggle for the Avs in the playoffs, failing to get past the conference semifinal since winning it all in 2022. But Colorado is absolutely flourishing this season, and they truly look like the team to beat in the National Hockey League. The Avalanche are a dominant 33-4-7, leading the league with 73 points. Nathan MacKinnon is right in the heart of the Hart Trophy race, and five players on this roster have a minimum of 30 points. Colorado is the real deal, and it’ll be interesting to see if they produce the goods in the playoffs.
Tampa Bay Lightning (+699)
The Bolts have been one of the better teams in the NHL over the last handful of years, and they have no shortage of playoff experience. They’re playing extremely well in ‘25-26, sitting in second in the always competitive Atlantic Division with a 27-13-3 record. Tampa is only one point out of first place, and their core of Nikita Kucherov, Brayden Point, Brandon Hagel, and Jake Guentzel are elite.
Carolina Hurricanes (+699)
The Canes are the class of the Metropolitan Division, owning a 28-14-3 record. That puts them in first place. This team has so many weapons, and it’s evident by the numbers. Sebastian Aho leads the charge with 43 points, while Andrei Svechnikov has 35 points. Five different players have posted 30 or more points. Carolina has fallen just short of making the Stanley Cup over the last few seasons, but this could be their year, with the Eastern Conference seemingly looking a bit weaker.
Vegas Golden Knights (+799)
Vegas is the Pacific Division leader, and they’ve failed to get past the conference semifinals since winning the Cup in 2023. The Edmonton Oilers knocked them out last season, but that could be a different story this season if they meet. The addition of Mitch Marner has paid off, as the former Toronto Maple Leaf leads the team with 46 points. Jack Eichel, Mark Stone, and Tomas Hertl are all playing like All-Stars, too.
Florida Panthers (+999)
We have to discuss the current champs, but their pursuit of a three-peat isn’t exactly going as planned at the moment. The Cats are second-last in the Atlantic Division, but they’re only nine points out of first place. A lot can still change, and as we know, Florida is a stacked team. Brad Marchand and Sam Reinhart are certainly doing their part, compiling over 40 points apiece.
2026 Stanley Cup Picks
It’s still incredibly early, but as things stand, I really like the Avalanche. On the East side, Carolina looks like a good bet to me. The Edmonton Oilers are always a threat come playoff time, but I think they will fall short again. So will the Panthers.
Picks: Avalanche (+254), Hurricanes (+699)/TonyBet
