The 2025/26 NHL season will soon be upon us and after the Draft took place recently, all attention now turns to which teams will be the main contenders to lift the Stanley Cup in 2026.
In 2025 it was the Florida Panthers who came away as world champions as they defeated the Edmonton Oilers in their best-of-seven series for a second consecutive title, but they are set to be faced with plenty of stiff competition this time around if they want to three-peat.
We’ll take a look ahead to the season and provide you with our best free NHL betting picks to try and earn you some extra cash while you enjoy the action on the ice.
| Stanley Cup 2026 Futures |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|
| Florida Panthers | +600 | +650 | +600 |
| Edmonton Oilers | +700 | +800 | +750 |
| Carolina Hurricanes | +750 | +850 | +825 |
| Colorado Avalanche | +900 | +900 | +900 |
| Dallas Stars | +900 | +1000 | +1000 |
| Vegas Golden Knights | +1000 | +850 | +900 |
Check out the best NHL Stanley Cup betting sites here.
Below you’ll find a list of the favorites to win the NHL Stanley Cup 2026.
After winning the Stanley Cup in 2024 and 2025 with finals victories over the Oilers, it is not a shock to see the Florida Panthers once again installed as pre-season favorites to win the big prize.
Bill Zito was able to agree new contracts with Sam Bennett, Aaron Ekblad and Brad Marchand to stop them from entering unrestricted free agency and keep his roster strong, while he has also been able to sign Jeff Petry to replace Nate Schmidt, who has left the team for Utah Mammoth.
The style of play that the team has adopted in recent years has allowed them to outwork their opponents and also employ their best strengths, while minimising their weaknesses. Their fitness is important, but their ability to score freely and stop the opposition from playing is perfect for success.
Last season they avoided major injuries, and that helped them rack up a regular season record of 47-31-4. If they are able to do similar in 2025, then it’s hard to look past them becoming the first team to win three-in-a-row since New York Islanders in 1980, 1981 and 1982 and 1983. At +650 there is great value in it too, so it’s certainly worth a bet.
Check out our review for BetUS sports betting here.
After suffering defeat in the Stanley Cup finals for a second consecutive season, the Oilers come into the 2025/26 season as second favorites.
It’s hard to question that the Oilers aren’t the second best team in the NHL currently, but their struggles against the Panthers in recent years raise the question about they could potentially go all the way without having to go through them again.
But they have refreshed the roster this time around, with Corey Perry and Victor Arvidsson both moving on to new franchises, with Andrew Magniapane coming in as a free agent to offer some added depth in the scoring department.
As has been the case in recent years though, their goaltender situation is what is their clear weak link. Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard look likely to continue as the options, which will leave some questioning the decision-makers.
In 2024/25 they racked up a 48-29-5 record and defeated Los Angeles, Vegas and Dallas in the playoffs. At +800 there is great value in them finally lifting the Stanley Cup for the first time since 1990, but with the changes and the roster seemingly reaching the end of it’s cycle it’s now or never and it feels that the pressure may be too much.
The Hurricanes have regularly been favored to have success in their season in recent times, and yet they have disappointed greatly every time – failing to even reach the Stanley Cup final.
The team have once again gone big in the off-season to strengthen their roster by bringing in Nikolaj Ehlers from the Winnipeg Jets, adding speed to their line up while also bringing great experience and goal-scoring ability to further their chances of success.
In 2024/25 they claimed a 47-30-5 record, and if they can do that again they’ll be happy. But once again, their main issue will be the fact that they have to realistically beat the Panthers, if they want to win the Stanley Cup is a big problem.
The added speed in their roster may help, and the value at +850 is strong as if they do manage to beat Florida then they will immediately be considered favorites. But if they can’t do that, they have no chance. This is probably a bet to avoid judging by history.
The Avalanche made it to the playoffs in 2024/25 but they fell at the very first hurdle against Dallas, which was seen as disappointing for many.
They have now added Brent Burns to the defensive line, while they were also able to extend the contract of Brock Nelson to keep the roster largely the same for the new season. They may also consider Gabriel Landeskog a relatively new signing, considering he will be returning off the back of a full off-season following his injury problems last season.
A 49-29-4 record was seen as strong for them, but while they’re capable of achieving great things, they’re just too inconsistent when it comes to crunch time. They could well progress into the latter stages of the playoffs, but there are too many teams they’d have to beat that would be considered an upset in our eyes for them to go all the way, so this looks like a bet to avoid.
Check out our review for BetOnline sports betting here.
About the Author
Daniel is a football writer who has a great thirst for the Premier League and other major European leagues. A lover of the beautiful game and a firm believer that the eye test is better than statistics. Also an avid MMA fan.
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