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2025 Off-Season Winners & Losers - Sept. 5 2025 - Vol. 79 Issue 2 - Ryan Kennedy

WHILE JULY 1 IS always a holiday north of the border, it has become a dual celebration over the past two decades or so thanks to NHL free agency, which happens to fall on Canada Day. It’s a whirlwind of activity if you happen to work in the industry, but when the dust settled on that first day of action, it became quite apparent that the ground really hadn’t shifted that much around the NHL landscape. There was definitely a feeling of “Did anything really happen today?”

Sure, there were signings, but a lot of them were re-signings, with teams choosing to extend the talent they already knew instead of venturing out into the unknown. There was a blockbuster trade in the lead-up to July 1, when the Toronto Maple Leafs sent Mitch Marner to the Vegas Golden Knights in a sign-and-trade – but that was all done before free agency officially opened.

The obvious answer for this development is the salary cap. The NHL had announced in January that the cap was going up by $7.5 million – to $95.5 million – and would continue to go up in the coming years, giving teams more room to keep their own assets. And if you were a pending free agent, the pull of big dollars elsewhere was now mitigated by the fact you could get a fat cheque from the team you already played for, thus staying in a city you’re familiar with in a dressing room you’re already comfortable in.

This made the free-agency board a lot less star-powered than first thought. Obviously, Marner was off the market, while Brock Boeser followed when he re-signed in Vancouver. Nikolaj Ehlers was the biggest name to change addresses, going from Winnipeg to Carolina, but he didn’t have a lot of company behind him. Heck, the Stanley Cup champions didn’t even get raided. No one thought the Panthers could keep Aaron Ekblad, Sam Bennett and Brad Marchand, yet Florida GM Bill Zito got it done. Success and sunshine will do that.

Even so, some teams did better than others. We’ve already mentioned Florida, but who were some of the other winners of the off-season? We picked four teams that understood their assignments and put themselves in positive positions. On the other hand, we also had to pick on four franchises that didn’t do enough (or did the wrong things) and could be in for painful campaigns. Here’s a look at our annual summer winners and losers.

NIKOLAJ EHLERS

CAROLINA

HURRICANES (+825 to Win Stanley Cup, +400 to Win East, +120 to Win Division)

THE HURRICANES WERE REPORTEDLY IN THE hunt for Mitch Marner, but they still ended up with the second-biggest name available, so, of course, they land in the win column. The Hurricanes were already one of the best teams in the East, and now they’ve added some more scoring punch in erstwhile Jets left winger Nikolaj Ehlers. While not every player can adjust to Carolina’s systems under coach Rod Brind’Amour, Ehlers has the advantage of coming from another systems team in Winnipeg, so he will have a leg up. Elsewhere, the Canes replaced defenseman Brent Burns (who signed in Colorado) with K’Andre Miller – acquired via trade with the Rangers. Miller is substantially younger than Burns, and while they’re not the same type of blueliner, Miller is a fine replacement at this point in his career.

While we’re focused on the short term here, it’s important to note how GM Eric Tulsky has set Carolina up for the future as well. Thanks to several recent contract extensions (including an eight-year pact with Jackson Blake), the entire Canes core is locked up through 2026-27, with no one making more than Sebastian Aho’s $9.7 million per year.

COLE CAUFIELD & NOAH DOBSON

MONTREAL

CANADIENS (+2200 to Win East, O/U 90.5 Regular Season Pts)

BY PARLAYING A SIZZLING SECOND HALF into a playoff spot, the Canadiens pushed their timeline forward, and GM Kent Hughes rewarded his charges by swinging a blockbuster deal at the draft, acquiring a top-pair defenseman from the Islanders in Noah Dobson. Though the price was two first-rounders, Montreal is in no need of youth. The Habs’ pipeline is already full and has borne significant fruit in the form of Lane Hutson and Ivan Demidov, to name just a couple of the burgeoning stars. Speaking of Hutson, he’ll get a boost from the presence of Dobson, who can also move the puck with aplomb, providing cover for the youngster as he continues to acclimate in his second NHL season.

Hughes also strengthened his forward corps with the acquisition of Zack Bolduc from St. Louis, who took a big step as a two-way threat with the Blues last season. The price for the 22-year-old was Logan Mailloux – well worth it given the glut of defensemen already in Montreal.

While Montreal’s underlying numbers were poor last season, Nick Suzuki’s post-4 Nations Face-Off revenge tour and Sam Montembeault’s solid goaltending helped propel the team into the post-season. Now, they’ll look to build on that success – with an even better lineup.

MITCH MARNER

VEGAS

GOLDEN KNIGHTS (+800 to Win Stanley Cup, +375 to Win West)

BIG-GAME HUNTING IS WHAT THEY DO IN VEGAS, and GM Kelly McCrimmon bagged another buck with the sign-and-trade for Mitch Marner. Marner, a 100-point two-way threat who kills penalties, comes over from Toronto, where a lack of playoff success had fans at full boil. But in Vegas, Marner joins a cast that already has many champions on the roster. Sure, there will be pressure to live up to his new $12-million cap hit, but with Jack Eichel, Mark Stone and Tomas Hertl also on the roster, Marner doesn’t have to be everything all at once for the Golden Knights.

The Knights bolstered the bottom six, too, with versatile center Colton Sissons, who came over with shot-blocking defenseman Jeremy Lauzon in a trade with Nashville that sent blueliner Nic Hague the other way.

The bad news for Vegas is that star 35-year-old D-man Alex Pietrangelo is pegged to miss the entire campaign due to injury, which is a significant blow to the back end. But with all the great two-way forwards Vegas employs – particularly with Marner now in the fold – there’s no reason to discount the Golden Knights as one of the NHL’s best teams and a Stanley Cup threat.

MAMMOTH ADDITION

Peterka brings another element to a Utah attack that looks less wooly and more bully.

UTAH

MAMMOTH (O/U 92.5 Regular Season Pts, Mammoth Make Playoffs -117)

HAD IT NOT BEEN FOR KEY INJURIES on the blueline last year (Sean Durzi and John Marino being the most prominent), perhaps Utah would have made the playoffs in its first year in Salt Lake City. Now officially known as the Mammoth, Utah’s team is in a better position to make that post-season charge. In acquiring right winger JJ Peterka from Buffalo, the Mammoth added a young weapon just entering his prime. Peterka had 68 points for the Sabres last year, a total that would have ranked him second on Utah behind only captain Clayton Keller. With Dylan Guenther and Logan Cooley making big offensive leaps, the Mammoth’s attack is looking a lot more potent. The addition of Brandon Tanev up front will also help defensively. Simply put, the forward corps has a lot more definition now.

And bringing in Nate Schmidt and Vitek Vanecek from Florida adds two more Stanley Cup winners to the lineup while strengthening the back end and goalie depth.

MICHAEL KESSELRING

BUFFALO

SABRES (O/U 84.5 Regular Season Pts, Sabres Miss Playoffs -370)

WE TAKE NO PLEASURE IN THIS, BUT IT LOOKS like it will be another rough season for Sabres fans. Buffalo was one of the worst teams in the East last year and did not improve over the summer. Trading right winger JJ Peterka to Utah leaves a hole in the top six that young Josh Doan (who came over in the deal from the Mammoth) cannot be expected to fill right away. Big defenseman Michael Kesselring, the other part of the Peterka deal, will help the blueline, but will that be enough to help a franchise that finished bottom three in goals against last season? The Sabres signed Alex Lyon as their second goaltender to complement Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, but, again, is that enough to move the dial?

The problem for the Sabres is that they can’t just be as good or even a little better than they were last season. They need to be a lot better in order to snag a playoff spot for the first time in more than a decade. And with Detroit and Montreal improving, Buffalo’s chances in the Atlantic are daunting. Jeff Skinner’s buyout number would make him the sixth-highest-paid forward on the team right now, and that number goes up next season.

STILL WORK TO DO

Bedard’s Hawks are an underpowered bunch among the Central Division’s elite squads.

CHICAGO

BLACKHAWKS (Worst Record +200)

IN THE FIRST TWO YEARS OF THE CONNOR Bedard era in Chicago, GM Kyle Davidson had busy off-seasons, bringing in veterans to help his phenom get used to the NHL. It didn’t particularly work either time, though Nick Foligno is the captain and a great voice to have in the room. This summer, Davidson was quiet – and despite the change in strategy, it still feels like a loss. Chicago is nowhere near as strong as most of its Central Division rivals, and the only hope for a shock is internal growth from the likes of Bedard, Frank Nazar, Artyom Levshunov and Sam Rinzel.

Chicago traded Seth Jones to Florida at the deadline, so the Hawks enter the season weaker on the blueline than last year – a stunning and scary proposition. And while Jonathan Toews’ return is one of the best stories in years, it has to hurt a little that he chose his hometown Winnipeg Jets (which totally makes sense, given that connection and the fact the Jets are Stanley Cup contenders) over the only NHL team he had ever suited up for. Imagine what kind of role model he would have been for Bedard.

STEVEN STAMKOS

NASHVILLE

PREDATORS (O/U 86.5 Regular Season Pts, Predators Make Playoffs +200)

THE PREDATORS ARE IN A SIMILAR situation as Chicago, lagging behind in the buzzsaw that is the Central Division. This time last year, we thought Nashville was a winner thanks to the splashy additions of Steven Stamkos, Jonathan Marchessault and Brady Skjei. Unfortunately, GM Barry Trotz had his gambit fail, as the Preds cratered in the standings and, shockingly, couldn’t score to save their lives. Nashville finished second last in the league in offense, besting only the Sharks. Stamkos and Marchessault both went from 40-plus goals with their previous teams to settling in the 20s with the Predators.

This off-season brought a lot less change, with the major headline being the trade that sent center Colton Sissons and defenseman Jeremy Lauzon to Vegas in exchange for towering blueliner Nic Hague. Does the 2-for-1 swap make Nashville better? It’s hard to find an argument that it does, unless the conditional draft pick (a third-rounder that could become a second) in 2027 that Nashville also procured in the swap turns out to be a home run. But that doesn’t help this year’s edition of the Preds, does it?

IS KANE ABLE?

Kane could bring secondary scoring to the Canucks, but there are big red flags.

VANCOUVER

CANUCKS (O/U 90.5 Regular Season Pts, Canucks Make Playoffs +115)

ON THE SURFACE, THE CANUCKS TOOK CARE OF business during the free-agent season. They re-signed Conor Garland and Brock Boeser – which was a little surprising given the organization’s sometimes rocky relationship with the scoring winger – while also inking starting netminder Thatcher Demko to a contract extension that runs until the summer of 2029. But they also lost key penalty-killer Pius Suter on the open market, not to mention bang-and-crasher Dakota Joshua and goalie Arturs Silovs to trades. Silovs was expendable thanks to the presence of Demko and Kevin Lankinen, but the loss of those two forwards will hurt Vancouver’s overall effectiveness.

The biggest wild card is Evander Kane, the hometown kid acquired from Edmonton for a fourth-round pick. Kane has those desirable power-forward traits, but he found himself on the wrong side of the line too often in the Stanley Cup final. If things go right, Kane will give the Canucks a much-needed scoring threat besides Boeser. But if they go wrong, he could also prove to be a distraction in a city that has seen a lot of drama lately.

Even if we regard Vancouver’s summer moves as neutral, keep in mind this was not a playoff team last season. And with other teams in the West improving, the Canucks will have to hope Kane is a net positive over Suter and Joshua combined.

All betting lines are from BetMGM Sportsbook and are subject to change. Hockey is a difficult sport to predict so please gamble responsibly. 

Sign up with BetMGM, make a deposit, and place your first wager on any game using your First Bet Offer token. If that bet with the token applied loses, you’ll get your original stake paid back in Bonus Bets, up to $1,500! Get in the game today with BetMGM. 

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Rolling The Dice - Oct. 19 2021 - Vol. 75 Issue 5 - Matt Larkin

You need Mathew Barzal to win this foot race. Not against another player, however. That’s the easy part. He’s blazingly fast, some say enough to challenge Connor McDavid. No one’s catching Barzal on this breakaway. Still, you’re screaming at your TV because you want Barzal to beat…himself.

You’ve placed a prop bet on his max miles per hour for this seemingly meaningless Tuesday game during the dog days of February. And if he blows past a certain number on the virtual speedometer? A nice payday looms for you. The NHL’s new puck-and-player-tracking technology has made it possible to measure such things as skating speed. Its interactive fan options have helped you customize your feed of this particular Islanders-Coyotes contest so you can track all the wagers you’ve made within the game – onscreen as you watch. And as a Canadian, you’re finally allowed to bet on the winner of this game thanks to new laws allowing single-game wagers.

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Only a few years ago, the above scenario would’ve felt like a fantasy. Now, it’s oh-so close to reality. We’re talking months, not years. The NHL committed to sports-betting partnerships a few years ago, and now, thanks to its technology and the passing of some new laws up north, single-game betting and obscure prop betting will continue evolving into mainstream revenue sources for the NHL. It represents the NHL’s commitment to growing the sport by making it far more interactive. “Studies have shown you’re 10 times more likely to engage in an activity if you have some sort of outcome invested in it, whether that’s financial or otherwise,” said Keith Wachtel, the NHL’s chief business officer and executive vice-president of global partnerships. “You see that with fantasy football. People watch NFL RedZone religiously now. A lot of people don’t even watch games anymore. I’m still up at midnight on Monday night watching a kicker hoping he’s going to get a field goal without any regard of whether I have an interest in those teams. And that’s what I think the opportunity is. For our sport, which has been underserved in the betting market, the social aspect of it is going to be really important and grow the fan interest.”

For our sport, which has been underserved in the betting market, the social aspect of it is going to be really important and grow the fan interest– Keith Wachtel

The NHL’s path to becoming a major player in the sports-betting world traces back to 2018. That’s when it announced a partnership with BetMGM, one of the world’s highest-profile sports-betting and gaming companies (full disclosure: BetMGM is a sponsor of The Hockey News). American hockey fans have dipped their toes in the NHL betting waters in the years since and already have access to single-game betting. According to BetMGM sports trader Christian Cipollini, the most popular hockey wagers are single-game moneylines (winner of a game) and pucklines (hockey’s version of a point spread). Picking the correct score of a game is the most popular prop bet (a propositional bet, meaning a wager on a specific occurrence within a game), while predicting a game’s first goal-scorer is the most common player-prop bet. As of September 2021, 27 U.S. states have allowed betting on NHL games or have applied for legal status, and 18 of them have allowed some forms of online NHL betting. “BetMGM has seen strong growth in interest from bettors following our NHL partnership,” Cipollini said. “As we enter new states, the number of bets on the NHL has increased as well.”

More NHL:Leafs' Auston Matthews Primed for Bounce Back Season Without Marner, Sportsbooks Remain Skeptical

The NHL has also increased its number of partnerships. As of October 2021, it had teamed with six major U.S. sportsbooks: BetMGM, William Hill, Bally’s, Betway, PointsBet and FanDuel, with a seventh soon to be announced. The NHL also has multiple international partnerships overseas. Philosophically, there’s no plan to limit the number of partners as long as each one makes sense for the league in terms of reach and reputation, Wachtel explained.

The NHL also has a crucial partnership with a data management company called Sportradar, which tracks and provides instant statistical “fast data” for major sports leagues around the world.

Sportradar helps the NHL process information rapidly enough to make betting possible. It provides the data feed for live-score applications, broadcasts and, of course, sportsbooks, making all the moneylines and props possible.

According to Steve Byrd, head of U.S. sports content and partnerships at Sportradar, the fast data will work in conjunction with player tracking to create a level of in-game fan-engagement never seen before. While traditional bets are still more popular, prop bets like the Barzal skating-speed example are coming. “That is going to happen,” Byrd said. “It’s unlikely to be a huge amount of the turnover of the volume of betting, but it’s critical from a fan engagement and marketing perspective because it’s fun, it’s cool, to be able to think about those things, have an opinion about them, follow them.

More NHL: Why A Healthy Jack Hughes Could Be the NHL's Best Betting Value

“It does open up – which I know the NHL and other leagues have been excited about as they’ve invested in these tracking technologies – a wider palate of potential bets. So, yes, that’s coming. It’s not mainstream, but it will be of interest.”

The level of interest in prop bets and interactive single-game bets may soon explode. They’re about to go live in Canada, after all.

In late August 2021, Canada passed Bill C-218 allowing Canadians to bet on “single-game events.” The previous law forced people to wager on multiple games at once to prevent match fixing. That’s why parlay (multi-game bet) operations like Pro Line existed. The first major Canadian betting company to join the fray for single-game betting entering 2021-22 is the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation, better known as OLG. Wachtel expects its NHL gaming to be fully operational with its single-game betting application, Pro Line+, by the end of 2021.

Partnered with the NHL, OLG will have access to all the league’s official intellectual property, which establishes the lottery company as a trustworthy place to make bets. Gaming company Penn National bought Score Media and Gaming, which owns the hugely popular sports app The Score and gaming app theScore Bet, this year with eyes on diving into the Canadian betting market, too, though Wachtel explains that theScore Bet “does not have a single-game sports wagering application that is live” in Canada yet. Spokespeople for The Score declined to comment for this story. 

More NHL: Expect Sabres' Thompson Accepting Bigger Role With JJ Peterka's Departure

So how impactful will single-game betting be for the NHL’s revenue stream as it works to recover from all the gate revenues lost during the COVID-19 pandemic? Not as large as people might think. “Sports betting is not an opportunity for the league to make a lot of money,” Wachtel said. “It’s not an opportunity for any of the sports properties to make a lot of money. It’s a new category, so it’s incremental, which is always nice. But it’s not nearly as big as some of the traditional categories or what you’re seeing right now in areas like crypto and other categories. The opportunity is really to generate more fan engagement, which will yield more opportunity and revenue streams for the future in a lot of different areas.”

The opportunity is really to generate more fan engagement, which will yield more opportunity and revenue streams for the future in a lot of different areas– Keith Wachtel

Say you’re buying into that fan engagement and you want to try single-game betting. What’s the best way to do so?

For Rocky Atkinson, rated in some metrics as the No. 1 hockey handicapper in the world, simple moneylines, a.k.a. picking winners and losers, are the best area of focus. One rule he follows: bet on underdogs or on favorites as strong as -150. Betting on heavy favorites at -200 or more can earn a bettor lots of easy wins but doesn’t bring in much money and can lose a bettor a lot of money.

Not familiar with the plus-and-minus figures attached to moneylines? Here’s a quick rundown: on a -200 favorite, you have to bet $200 just to win $100. On a +200 underdog, a $100 bet yields $200 plus the original stake when you win. If you prefer wagering on favorites, a smarter option is to bet on how many goals that team might win by, Atkinson says. He also sees some potential for profit in single-player props specifically for bettors who have strong knowledge of individual NHLers. An avid fantasy hockey player, for instance, might flourish making player-prop bets.

More NHL: Stars' Mikko Rantanen Might Have Too High Expectations Heading Into 2025

One reason why single-game betting is a boon for hockey, especially in Canada where it’s about to become legal for the first time: it will steer bettors away from those impossible-to-win parlays. “I do not recommend betting on parlays,” Atkinson said. “It’s hard enough to win a straight bet alone, so trying to hit a parlay makes it that much harder. The odds on hitting a multi-team parlay are always enticing, but it’s better to pass on these bets.”

Single-game betting in hockey is generally more difficult than for other major sports, like football, largely because bettors have far less access to accurate injury information about the athletes. The NFL is so forthcoming that it pretty much issues a press release with a detailed anatomical report if a player stubs his toe.

In the NHL? We get “upper-body,” “lower-body,” “undisclosed” or, in the COVID-19 era, “unfit to play.” As Cipollini explains from a sportsbook perspective, hockey players’ toughness throws a wrench into betting because so many NHLers play through injuries that hinder their performances. Think about the litany of surgeries announced every year after a team gets eliminated. It’s treated as a badge of honor for the athletes. In the NFL, we’d know about each of those maladies well in advance.

It’s thus a popular assumption that the NHL’s venture into betting and, more specifically, single-game betting will lead to a re-evaluation of disseminating injury information. Sorry, bettors, but it’s simply not true. “We’re not being pushed by the sportsbooks,” Wachtel said. “More information perhaps is better, but they’re comfortable with the way we have our reporting right now. There’s no plans to change that today. Does that mean it could be changed in the future? Of course, but that’s not going to be based on what the sports-betting operators want. It’s going to be what’s in the best interest of our players. That will be determined by our ownership and our hockey-operations group.”

More NHL: Sportsbooks Left Exposed With Easy Future Bet On Jets' Kyle Connor

So hockey bettors will venture into the single-game world having to play guesswork with injuries. That’s not the only potential threat to swallow up their money, however. Match fixing, or game fixing as it’s more commonly known in North America, has become a hot topic after a series of wild allegations levelled against San Jose Sharks left winger Evander Kane this summer by his estranged wife, Anna Kane.

They included the claim Kane had been betting on his own games. The NHL’s investigation found no evidence he’d been doing so, but the scandal still awakened fans and potential bettors to the idea of dangers like game fixing.

Not that the NHL is worried. Wachtel expresses the utmost confidence in the integrity of the league’s data. That’s largely because the NHL’s partnership with Sportradar includes “integrity services,” which consist of four offerings: (a) bet monitoring, in which Sportradar uses its super-advanced technological network to track betting lines and data and look for anomalies, (b) educating sports leagues and their athletes and stakeholders, (c) assisting leagues in investigations of threats and (d) helping leagues set up rules related to betting.

In the case of catching game-fixers, that first offering, bet monitoring, comes in the most handy. What exactly does Sportradar look for? “Generally, when we’re monitoring for signs that somebody might be trying to fix the game, we’ll also look at whether someone has potentially misused inside information, like insider trading on the stock exchange,” said Andy Cunningham, head of integrity services in North America for Sportradar. “If a line moves before the game, and it’s because of an injury to a key player, we will look into that. If we think it may have moved before the information is in the public domain, we will flag it to our partners, and it’s up to them to look into that, and we can help them do that.”

More NHL: McDavid to Lead Oilers Offense and Score More Amid Injuries, Rookie Lineup Changes

It’s hard enough to win a straight bet alone, so trying to hit a parlay makes it that much harder. The odds on hitting a multi-team parlay are always enticing, but it’s better to pass on these bets– Rocky Atkinson

Instances of match fixing grab major media headlines but are extremely rare, he added. “We monitor hundreds of thousands of events and games around the world every year, and it’s a tiny percentage, less than one percent, that ever cause any concerns,” Cunningham said. “In certain team sports you see more issues than others globally. The corruptors and fixers tend to target the bigger betting markets where they can make their money – the economics of the fix. Without picking on soccer, it’s well-documented that soccer, globally, has match-fixing incidents in various jurisdictions around the world. It can involve the team and players being corrupted as well as the match officials and referees. But our analysis and systems are attuned to spot different types of fixes.”

So the NHL can relax knowing its upcoming influx of single-game bettors will feel safe. It also knows it’s in good hands welcoming bettors with its new U.S. broadcast partners: The Walt Disney Company, ESPN and TNT.

The multi-platform streaming capabilities offered by those new partners as well as the Canadian broadcast rightsholders will only enrich the single-game betting experience.

That said, the NHL believes it’s crucial to offer fans customization without cramming the betting experience down their throats. Rather than pump non-stop betting information into broadcasts, the TV partners will likely offer separate channels or streams of games that are optional for bettors to access. “That, to us, is fun and exciting,” Wachtel said.

“What we don’t want to do is have the traditional telecast have 24/7 betting like you’re sitting in a sportsbook in Las Vegas, because not everybody wants that. That’s the same with the use of digital media: provide personalization and choice. If the fan wants to see odds throughout the game that change and the opportunity to actually bet on these things while a broadcast is happening? That’s great. But there are going to be others that don’t want to. We have to find the right balance.”

If you’re among the keeners who are looking for the immersive hockey-betting experience, it’s coming. Puck and player tracking and the changes to Canadian laws on single-event wagers will spike the public’s interest even more. Start squirrelling away your fun money.

Stars winger Mikko Rantanen is poised for a solid season with his new team but don’t count on his goal scoring to lead the way.

The NHL season will be here in no time as we look ahead to some regular season player props that we look to take advantage of just like we did last off-season. We were very successful at finding great values in these player props with some sportsbooks not fully looking into the background or history of some players besides the stats of the prior season. 

We took advantage of the sportsbooks not knowing anything about Connor McDavid and that he's not a goal scorer and easily hit the under for his goal total last season, which was at a shocking 51.5 when he scored more than 44 goals just once in his nine prior NHL seasons. We also hit on nearly all of our other player prop picks like Mitch Marner, Mark Scheifele, Wyatt Johnston, Rasmus Dahlin, Teuvo Teravainen and Connor Hellebuyck to his over in wins plus take home the Vezina trophy.

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Up next for our deep dive on player breakdowns is someone who ended last season red hot with Mikko Rantanen of the Dallas Stars. The Finnish winger completely took over the Stars' series against his former team in the Colorado Avalanche with five goals including a game seven hat trick. He continued his hot streak with four more goals over the next three games versus the Winnipeg Jets in the second round. After this hot streak however, he went eight straight games without a goal and this reminded fans of the eight game scoring drought he had entering the season. 

Going that long without scoring is quite typical for any player but since joining the Stars, Rantanen ended off his regular season with just five goals over 20 games. The sportsbooks are buying a lot into his playoff scoring frenzy and have his over/under for goals at a very high 36.5 (-115 on BetMGM) for the upcoming season. 

Rantanen finished with 32 goals last season after shuffling around and playing for three different teams but this season he'll have a full training camp with the Stars and will likely be featured on a lethal line with star players like Roope Hintz and Jason Robertson. The only problem with this is that neither of them are as lethal as a 70-90 assist player like Rantanen's former linemate in Nathan MacKinnon.

Rantanen will likely see a dip in production, similar to the decline he experienced at the end of last season. While he remains a capable goal scorer, reaching 37 goals is a high benchmark that he’s only hit twice in his nine NHL seasons.

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Not to mention, he won't be the only goal scorer on his line as Jason Robertson is also an elite shooter with two 40-goal seasons and a single 35-goal season. Hintz can also score a lot of goals with 30 goals in three of the last four seasons. 

It will almost certainly limit Rantanen's scoring chances and will likely see him play more of a playmaker role as he's recorded four straight 50-assist seasons. His point totals could look similar to his numbers on Colorado as his linemates will still be elite although I wouldn't count on as many goals as we've seen that be the case on multiple occasions. 

All betting lines are from BetMGM Sportsbook and are subject to change. Hockey is a difficult sport to predict so please gamble responsibly. 

Sign up with BetMGM, make a deposit, and place your first wager on any game using your First Bet Offer token. If that bet with the token applied loses, you’ll get your original stake paid back in Bonus Bets, up to $1,500! Get in the game today with BetMGM. 

Devils' Jack Hughes and Oilers' Connor McDavid both have serious value on player prop markets and begs the question of who the better value is?

More NHL: Why A Healthy Jack Hughes Could Be the NHL's Best Betting Value

More NHL: McDavid to Lead Oilers Offense And Score More Amid Injuries, Rookie Lineup Changes

The NHL season is nearly here, and we're back targeting player props after a big year, including hitting Connor McDavid’s under 51.5 goals and nailing picks like Hellebuyck’s Vezina-winning campaign. This year, we’re flipping the script and backing McDavid to go over 34.5 goals (-115 at BetMGM), expecting him to take on more scoring with Zach Hyman out and a rookie on his wing plus, it’s his contract year. We're also eyeing Jack Hughes to go over 32.5 goals and 83.5 points, assuming he stays healthy, with past production showing he can clear both lines in just 70–75 games. Which bet do you like more? McDavid or Hughes? Let us know in the comments 👇🏼

Edmonton's Connor McDavid is expected to take lead on offence and score more goals with Zach Hyman out and a rookie left winger. 

The NHL season will be here in no time as we look ahead to some regular season player props that we look to take advantage of just like we did last off-season. We were very successful at finding great values in these player props with some sportsbooks not fully looking into the background or history of some players besides the stats of the prior season. 

We took advantage of the sportsbooks not knowing anything about Connor McDavid and that he's not a goal scorer and easily hit the under for his goal total last season, which was at a shocking 51.5 when he scored more than 44 goals just once in his nine prior NHL season. We also hit on nearly all of our other player prop picks like Mitch Marner, Mark Scheifele, Wyatt Johnston, Rasmus Dahlin, Teuvo Teravainen and Connor Hellebuyck to his over in wins plus take home the Vezina trophy.

It was a very successful season for us on that front and we hope to continue the good times heading into this next season. With our first pick being one that we feel very confident in, we look to take the opposite of what we took last summer and instead ride with Oilers captain Connor McDavid to score over 34.5 goals (-115 on BetMGM). 

All betting lines are from BetMGM Sportsbook and are subject to change. Hockey is a difficult sport to predict so please gamble responsibly. 

Sign up with BetMGM, make a deposit, and place your first wager on any game using your First Bet Offer token. If that bet with the token applied loses, you’ll get your original stake paid back in Bonus Bets, up to $1,500! Get in the game today with BetMGM. 

More NHL: Growing Case for Backing Golden Knights' Pavel Dorofeyev

Although we don’t think he will score 50 or more goals, McDavid should be in a role this season where he will be forced to produce a lot of the offense like he already does. The biggest change for him to start the season is he will be without his partner-in-crime and the finisher to all of McDavid’s passes in Zach Hyman. He will be sidelined with a wrist injury that required surgery in the off-season. We still don’t know when Hyman will return or who will fill at right wing spot for the start of the season but we do know his left winger will be a rookie in Isaac Howard. 

The production out of the young 21-year-old Howard will likely be top end compared to the other rookies in the league but he will still be a rookie and could take some time to adjust to the NHL. Betters should expect McDavid to take on a bigger role because of these circumstances and could make his season long numbers look like they did during the 2022-23 season when he scored 64 goals.

Unless they slot Leon Draisaitl on the top line with him, McDavid will have no one to pass the puck to and will likely have to do the bulk of the work himself. It should lead to him shooting more than his normal passing tendencies. 

In terms of this marker being doable, McDavid has scored 35 or more goals in just four of his 11 NHL seasons. However, the upcoming season could push him over the top, as it marks a contract year for the Richmond Hill native. Following Mitch Marner’s career-best performance during his own contract year, it’s reasonable to expect McDavid will be similarly driven to showcase his value. With several other stars like Minnesota’s Kirill Kaprizov also heading into contract negotiations, McDavid will likely aim to set himself apart, as he so often does.

More NHL: Division Odds Breakdown: Panthers, Canes, Golden Knights Lead Pack

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All betting lines are from BetMGM Sportsbook and are subject to change. Hockey is a difficult sport to predict so please gamble responsibly. 

Sign up with BetMGM, make a deposit, and place your first wager on any game using your First Bet Offer token. If that bet with the token applied loses, you’ll get your original stake paid back in Bonus Bets, up to $1,500! Get in the game today with BetMGM. 

Calder Chase - Aug. 8 2025 - Vol. 79 Issue 1 - Ryan Kennedy

MAKING THE JUMP TO the NHL is difficult for almost every player, even those who come in as highly touted prospects. Luckily for this year’s rookie class, several of the kids have already had their baptism by fire. Not only did they make their NHL debuts last year, but some of them even logged playoff minutes, seeing pro hockey at its most intense. Whether that gives them a leg up as they try to string together a full 82-game slate in 2025-26 remains to be seen – but it can’t hurt, right?

Overall, this will be a slightly older rookie crop. You’ve got Russians who cut their teeth in the KHL and NCAA alums who spent at least a couple of years in school before turning pro.

As for the 2025 draft class, it will be interesting to see who can jump straight from the stage to the NHL. Last year, San Jose’s Macklin Celebrini was the only player from the 2024 draft to play the full NHL season. And with the NCAA now an option for CHL players, there is another developmental step for those too good for junior but too young for the AHL. Here are 10 names to keep an eye on in this year’s freshman NHL class.

IVAN DEMIDOV RW, MTL (+220)

THE ANTICIPATION FOR DEMIDOV in Montreal was red-hot, and the talented winger did not disappoint during an end-of-season stint. The dazzling 19-year-old brought show-stopping skill in two regular-season games and five playoff matches, tallying a goal and four points in the process. With Demidov’s solid frame and excellent instincts, he’ll be an obvious contender for the Calder Trophy, especially with the scoring opportunities he can seize for himself in the Canadiens’ lineup. Should Demidov nab himself a consistent role on a scoring line, the No. 5 pick from the 2024 draft will be in a position to be the next fan favorite in Montreal.

JIMMY SNUGGERUD RW, STL (+1600)

ANOTHER PLAYER WHO HAS already dipped his toe into NHL waters, Snuggerud stayed for a third season at the University of Minnesota to try and win an NCAA title, so he was ready for the pros. Unfortunately for the Golden Gophers, Snuggerud couldn’t secure that title last season, but he did continue to develop his game, which was great news for the Blues. Snuggerud played a combined 14 games for St. Louis between the regular season and playoffs, racking up an impressive eight points during that span. He has a wicked shot and good size, not to mention a plum opportunity in St. Louis.

ALEXANDER NIKISHIN D, CAR (+1600)

CANES FANS (NOT TO MENTION MANAGEMENT) were incredibly patient waiting for Nikishin, a 2020 third-rounder who has already won an Olympic silver medal and twice led the KHL in points by a defenseman. Still Calder eligible (he turns 24 in October), Nikishin will be one of the older rookies in the league, but he does have some NHL experience thanks to four playoff games with Carolina from last season. During that stretch, he showed great confidence and made his presence felt with his physicality and tenacious defense. Nikishin also has a big shot at his disposal, so he’ll be an all-around threat for the Hurricanes.

RYAN LEONARD RW, WSH (+2200)

WASHINGTON IS COMING OFF a charmed season that saw the veteran squad thrive while folding in some youngsters. Leonard, who joined the Capitals after another stellar year at Boston College, doesn’t have to be a scorer right away to be effective. He has the grit, physicality and tenacity to drive foes crazy, but he can also produce. Leonard had back-to-back 30-goal years in college, and that was with a schedule that had 41 games. A two-time WJC gold medallist, he got into nine regular-season games and eight playoff contests with the Caps last year.

ZEEV BUIUM D, MIN (+1000)

THINGS ARE LOOKING UP for the Wild, as one young blueliner – Brock Faber – has already become a star, while another waits in the wings. Buium won the 2024 Frozen Four with Denver and twice won gold with Team USA at the WJC. He’s a dynamic force on the back end who put up 98 points over 83 games in his college career. Buium, an absolute steal with the 12th overall pick in the 2024 draft, got a taste of the NHL when he joined Minnesota for the playoffs, suiting up for four games and registering one assist against Vegas.

SAM RINZEL D, CHI (+4000)

HE WAS A RAW project when the Hawks took him in the first round of the 2022 draft, but after another season in the USHL and two with NCAA Minnesota, Rinzel is ready for the pro ranks. An excellent skater with great size, he used his time with the Gophers to build strength and bulk, which will serve him well while defending against NHL competition. In a nine-game stint with Chicago last year, he had an impressive five points. The team also has top prospect Artyom Levshunov knocking on the door, so competition on the Hawks’ blueline will be fierce.

DANIL BUT LW, UTH (+10000)

MAMMOTH GM BILL ARMSTRONG pulled off one of the bigger draft-day shocks in recent years when he tabbed But and Russian teammate Dmitriy Simashev with early first-round choices in 2023, back when the club was still in Arizona. Now, it’s time for Utah to reap the rewards. But is a massive kid with a great shot and smooth skating ability, plus he’s coming off a KHL title with Yaroslavl. Similarly, Simashev is a huge defenseman who is also a great skater and who also won that KHL title. Either could jump right into the Mammoth lineup, though But might have a better chance immediately.

ZAYNE PAREKH D, CGY (+1800)

IT WAS A BETTER-THAN-EXPECTED season for the Flames, but make no mistake, this team still needs a major infusion of talent. One of the youngsters tasked with leading the charge is Parekh, the dynamic rearguard who made his NHL debut in April. Parekh scored in that game against Los Angeles, and based on his junior career (where he set an OHL record for goals by a 16-year-old ‘D’ with 21), there’s more where that came from. An offensive defenseman who can run a power play and transition the puck up the ice, the former OHL Saginaw star is very much a modern-style NHL D-man.

MATTHEW SCHAEFER D, NYI

TRUE, HE ONLY PLAYED 17 games for OHL Erie last year, but if anybody can buck the odds, it’s Schaefer, the No. 1 pick in the 2025 draft. A do-everything D-man with size, skating and skill, Schaefer had his draft year marred by an early case of mono and then a broken collarbone sustained at the WJC, where his absence caused Team Canada to self-destruct. The fact that the Islanders traded Noah Dobson to Montreal opens up an important spot on New York’s blueline, and while it would be folly to assume Schaefer could play heavy minutes right away, he could certainly pick up some of the slack.

STIAN SOLBERG D, ANA

PERHAPS A SLEEPER HERE, but Solberg ended his 2024-25 season with an incredible showing for Norway at the men’s worlds. He led the team in scoring with six points in seven games (including a hat trick against the United States) while averaging 25:30 in ice time. In 10 games with AHL San Diego after wrapping up his time with Farjestad of the Swedish League, Solberg had five points. But his calling card will be his play in his own end, where the 6-foot-2, 194-pounder plays a physical, aggressive game. Consider him the heir apparent to Jacob Trouba and Radko Gudas in Anaheim.

The Hockey News Yearbook Issue is here! This is our most comprehensive and highly anticipated release of the year, delivering everything you need to get ready for the season. Inside, you’ll find in-depth team reports, expert fantasy hockey tips, betting insights, player analysis, and exclusive features you won’t find anywhere else. Whether you're a die-hard fan, a fantasy league veteran, or just gearing up for the new season, this issue has something for everyone. Don’t miss out! Pick up your copy at a newsstand near you today!

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Former Teammates, New Rivals: Marner vs. Matthews Prop Bet Heats Up DebateSportsbooks reveal head-to-head prop bet between former teammates in Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner.

Hockey Betting Is Growing Rapidly - Nov. 2 1990 - Vol. 44, Issue 07 - Stan Fischler

Though the NHL may officially object, hockey betting continues to grow. Evidence is abundant in the continent’s betting capital, Las Vegas, where casinos now regularly post NHL odds. And the second annual, 250-page book, Betting Hockey 90-91, has been published by the city’s foremost ice oddsmaker, Bobby Bryde. Bryde lists the Flames as 3-1 favorites to win the Stanley Cup, followed by Boston and Edmonton at 5-1. Quebec is the longshot at 100-1. Kirk Brooks, director of Vegas’ Imperial Palace sports book, also lists the Flames at 3-1 and Edmonton at 5-1. But Brooks places Boston and Buffalo in a tie for the next spot at 7-1 and Quebec at 200-1…Flyers’ leader Rick Tocchet is one of many NHLers who are concerned about a walkout next season. “We don’t want a strike,” says Tocchet. “Nobody wants a strike but we have to use the word ‘prepare.’ 

Right now we have things we’re looking at but this much is certain; it’s going to be an interesting summer for (NHLPA director) Bob Goodenow.”…The Flyers are understandably worried about Ron Hextall suffering yet another groin injury and the effect it may have on his future. “I felt good coming into camp this year,” the goalie insists. “I worked out all summer with Pat Croce (Flyers’ physical therapist) and didn’t even consider injuries-.”…Washington’s substantial early game attendance at home indicates that the blemish of last spring’s ‘sexpose’ has been effectively neutralized. Insiders say a summer-long advertising campaign by marketing head Lew Strudler saved the club from an image disaster.

RISKY BUSINESS

The latest issue of Financial World magazine describes the NHL’s 1990s expansion plans as “a risky strategy that could backfire on president John Ziegler.” FW asserts that what makes “the NHL’s scheme truly agamble”, is the $50 million franchise price. “How do you justify investing $50 million, when each club’s media revenues are so small,” asks Mike Megna of Minneapolis-based American Appraisals. “It’s unrealistic. Hockey isn’t like other sports that have a network TV contract. It is primarily a local market revenue generator. 

Ranger fans will be shocked on Nov. 7 when arch-foe Denis Potvin strides to center ice before the Sabres game for a Rangers’ presentation. The hook is that Potvin has become frontman for the Alka-Seltzer plus-minus award (formerly the Emery Edge) and gives the prizes in arenas across the league. Crowd control that night might be a problem, but Madison Square Garden’ has embarked on a program to curb the negative behavior of rowdy fans. During the summer, MSG enforced its policy by cancelling the subscriptions of 25 Ranger season ticket-holders. “We’re drawing the line in the use of language that is no longer acceptable,” says MSG’s communications director Bobby Goldwater. But based on early games this season, there has been no significant change for the better.

NHL Division Odds Breakdown: Panthers, Hurricanes, and Golden Knights Lead the PackSportsbooks release betting odds for NHL divisional races for 2025-26 season. 

HAPPY NEW YEAR

The feeling among many Penguins is that Mario Lemieux will not be available until the New Year, at the earliest. The sombre air in the Penguins’ organization is echoed by teammates who say, all we can do now is hope and pray. Speculation is Pittsburgh management is looking to the future without Mario in its plans…One of the better comeback stories belongs to Brennan Maley, who signed a one-year contract with Tom McVie’s AHL club (Utica) after being out of competitive hockey for four years. 

Kid brother of New Jersey’s David Maley, Brennan spent four years at Omaha’s Creighton University where he pitched for the varsity baseball team and tied a record for most appearances with 24. “I feel like I have a new lease on life,” says Brennan. “I know I’m a longshot but I always wondered if I could play hockey at this level…Scouting for the Edmonton Oilers, Hall of Fame defenseman Harry Howell says the difference between contemporary back-liners and his ilk is that “today’s defensemen feel they have to be offensive. In my day it was defense first. Goals were a bonus. But that all changed with the advent of Bobby Orr of the Bruins.” So, who are 1990-91’s best defensive defensemen in Howell’s mind? “Kevin Lowe, Rod Langway, Mike Ramsey, Brad Marsh and Scott Stevens. Ramsey is the best of them all. Marsh isn’t pretty but he’s very effective and knows how to get in the way.”

ON THE MOVE?

North Stars’ defenseman Peter Taglianetti is one Minnesotan who’s not anxious to move to San Jose next season. “I thought I was secure in Winnipeg,” says Taglianetti. “But I moved to Bloomington and got settled. Maybe the weather is nicer in California but I wonder about the hockey atmosphere. Most of the players on the North Stars feel the club was mismanaged before and they’re wondering if it’s going to happen again.” 

Teammate Dave Gagner says he’s not concerned about moving to California. “What’s more on our mind is the low turnout of fans in Minnesota,” says Gagner. “It’s very disappointing but I don’t know one guy on the team who doesn’t like being in the Twin Cities. When I played for the Rangers, everyone left New York for the summer. In Minnesota, the players all stay.”

…Mats Sundin has been winning raves since becoming a Nordique, but the best statement comes from Whalers’ defenseman Ulf Samuelsson who says, “He reminds me a lot of Lemieux.”

Isaac Howard Offers Serious Value in NHL Rookie Props on Loaded Oilers LineRookie winger Isaac Howard could be the value play bettors are searching for if he sticks on Edmonton’s top line with Connor McDavid.

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Betting On Hockey: Numbers Don't Lie - Oct. 19 2021 - Vol. 75, Issue 05 - W. Graeme Roustan

I placed a bet that I would love hockey at the age of three when I first stepped onto the ice at the outdoor rink in Notre Dame de Grace park in Montreal, and has it ever paid off handsomely.

Placing a financial or barter bet on the outcome of a hockey game has been done since the very first game more than a hundred years ago. Until recent years, many billions of dollars of bets were made between friends, coworkers, teammates and family, usually on a face-to-face basis. Bets placed with strangers were done through third parties, which has been the subject of investigations into organized crime, gangs and offshore illegal activity. The numbers are staggering.

On Nov. 20, 2019, I sat down with Ted Leonsis, the owner of the Washington Capitals, who has been a leading advocate for the legalization of single-game betting on NHL games. Ted has always been a visionary when it comes to big ideas and is always clairvoyant when it comes to being on the cutting edge of technology and trends. Here is an excerpt from my Q&A with Ted from two years ago:

Isaac Howard Offers Serious Value in NHL Rookie Props on Loaded Oilers LineRookie winger Isaac Howard could be the value play bettors are searching for if he sticks on Edmonton’s top line with Connor McDavid.

GRAEME: “I was in Las Vegas learning about gaming and what impact it’s going to have on the league. How do you see gambling coming into, not just hockey, but professional sports?”

TED: “First, you’re in this big, beautiful building. We spent $40 million last off-season reinvesting in the building, the previous off-season we did over $100 million, we pour money into this building. And it’s an iconic building, we have about three million people come in for all of our events and we’ve got the dumbest business model in real estate I’ve ever seen. We own the building and it’s shut down until six o’clock on a game night. 

You go to Las Vegas, it’s open 24 hours a day, there’s no clocks, it’s really bright, they’re pumping in oxygen, the last thing they want you to do is leave the resort, the casino. You eat there, you’re entertained there. What do we do in pro hockey? We put a cage up to lock our fans out, ‘We don’t want you in.’ Six o’clock the cage rolls out, thousands of people go in, then the game ends and we hustle people out, ‘We don’t want you in here!’

“It’s nuts when you think about it. Sports gambling will be soon legal here in Washington and we want to be the first arena that has a sportsbook right in the building. And it’ll make our building come alive. When we were in the Stanley Cup final, we opened the building and 20,000 people came and watched the game in the arena and outside there were 50,000 people. 

That was a wonderful community-building experience, but they’ll be able to do that and eat and gamble, right? It seems farfetched for us, but all you have to do is look to Europe. There are more William Hill and Ladbrokes betting parlors in Britain than there are Domino’s Pizzas and Starbucks, right? It’s a socially accepted industry there. It’s not legal yet here. It probably will be next year, and we’ll do it next season. I go, ‘OK, we’ll be patient, we want this to be regulated the right way.’ But do you think…the Caps are in first place, best record in the NHL, the Nationals just won the World Series, the Mystics just won the WNBA championship, do you think no one was gambling? 

We know there’s $100 billion bet illegally offshore and the bookies. So all we did was empower and activate more illegal gambling. It’s illegal, so that means you aren’t paying taxes. If you’re a consumer, you’re a criminal. There’s no jobs being created, there’s no regulatory body on what are fair odds. There’s no curation of, ‘You’ve got a problem, we’re not going to accept your bet, let us get you some help.’ There’s nothing good that’s happening on the dark web and offshore. 

So I go, ‘What are we afraid of? It’s happening.’ We know in Washington, D.C., we have this great social responsibility to do it the right way, but if it can work here and it promises, for the players, for the union, for the league, another revenue stream and more importantly, when you have skin in the game, when you’re doing fantasy gaming, when you’re gambling, you’re watching the whole game. 

When you have prop bets, every moment matters. How many power plays will there be? Will Alex Ovechkin score on the power play? These are things that can happen once we put in 5G and do real-time prop betting. The television partners, they want that. That guarantees them much higher levels of engagement. So what do we want as a league? 

We want bigger deals from our media partners. If we get bigger deals, then the salary cap goes up, half the money goes back to the players and the union, and the pie expands. So I say, ‘Wouldn’t you rather have the money go to the players and to the owners who built the buildings and own the teams than to the mafia, right?’” (laughs)

Ted knew a decade ago that the day would come when it would be legal to place a bet on an NHL game, and he prepared his team and the NHL for this day’s arrival. By bringing betting out from the shadows and into a regulated and taxed environment, society is better off, as will be the owners’ profits as numbers don’t lie.

NHL Division Odds Breakdown: Panthers, Hurricanes, and Golden Knights Lead the PackSportsbooks release betting odds for NHL divisional races for 2025-26 season. 

Rookie winger Isaac Howard could be the value play bettors are searching for if he sticks on Edmonton’s top line with Connor McDavid.

As the NHL season approaches, bettors looking for value in player props should keep an eye on a potential breakout rookie flying under the radar: Isaac Howard of the Edmonton Oilers. While Calder Trophy futures are being dominated by names like Montreal’s Ivan Demidov, Howard could be a dark horse worth monitoring at +1500 in several betting markets.

Originally drafted by the Tampa Bay Lightning, the 21-year-old Wisconsin native was traded to Edmonton, where his path to NHL ice time has become much clearer. The Oilers, fresh off consecutive Stanley Cup Final appearances, appear ready to give Howard a real shot and the early depth charts are proof.

Oilers' Howard, Blues' Snuggerud Present Closest Competition to Demidov For CalderRookies Isaac Howard and Jimmy Snuggerud appear to be best cases behind Montreal's Ivan Demidov for 2026 Calder trophy

According to early reports, Howard is slotted on Edmonton’s top line alongside Connor McDavid and Zach Hyman, two of the most productive forwards in the league. That alone makes him intriguing in goal and point prop markets.

Howard is also reportedly set to skate on the second power-play unit, increasing his high-danger chances. With McDavid commanding so much defensive attention, Howard could benefit with clean looks and tap-in chances which could be an ideal scenario for goal scorer props.

Howard showed clear development over his three collegiate seasons. After a modest freshman year at Minnesota-Duluth (17 points in 35 games), he transferred to Michigan State, where his offensive game exploded. Last season, he posted 26 goals and 26 assists in 37 games, earning a nod with Team USA at the IIHF World Championships.

If you're looking to model Howard’s rookie year performance, think along the lines of Frank Vatrano or Elias Lindholm from last season in terms of production floor. But if everything clicks, especially with McDavid as a linemate, he could reach 50–60 points, much like Dylan Guenther’s breakout year in Utah. Howard will look to be a solid best bet to get a point through the season for the Oilers as his odds most games will likely hover anywhere from -125 to -190 as a decent syphon off of McDavid's point production.

NHL Division Odds Breakdown: Panthers, Hurricanes, and Golden Knights Lead the PackSportsbooks release betting odds for NHL divisional races for 2025-26 season. 

Sportsbooks release betting odds for NHL divisional races for 2025-26 season. 

As the new NHL season approaches, we get fresh betting odds from the sportsbooks on who will finish a top each of the divisions next season. While perennial contenders still hold the edge in most divisions, there are a few surprises that could make for some intriguing bets. We see some interesting values on rising teams and some steals for likely contenders.  Here’s a breakdown of the current odds across all four divisions.

Atlantic Division

• Florida Panthers (+135)
• Tampa Bay Lightning (+350)
• Toronto Maple Leafs (+390)
• Ottawa Senators (+750)
• Montreal Canadiens (+1500)
• Detroit Red Wings (+3100)
• Boston Bruins (+3500)
• Buffalo Sabres (+5000)

Without question, the back-to-back Stanley Cup champions lead the way with two division titles of the last four years. It's always a tightly contested battle as there is always one team having a breakout season like last season's winners in the Maple Leafs. Toronto likely won't win again as there has not been a repeat champion in six seasons but the Bolts will be in the picture once again plus the Senators, Habs and Red Wings have all been on the rise in recent years. Will it be enough to catch up to the Panthers or will they take control over the league once again? Florida has the fifth-hardest schedule next season but it likely still won't slow down this moving train that hasn't stopped for anyone in two years.

Pick: Florida Panthers (+135)

Former Teammates, New Rivals: Marner vs. Matthews Prop Bet Heats Up DebateSportsbooks reveal head-to-head prop bet between former teammates in Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner.

Metropolitan Division

• Carolina Hurricanes (+120)
• New Jersey Devils (+370)
• New York Rangers (+550)
• Washington Capitals (+650)
• New York Islanders (+1800)
• Columbus Blue Jackets (+2100)
• Philadelphia Flyers (+2200)
• Pittsburgh Penguins (+8000)

The Hurricanes are the clear frontrunners in the Metropolitan, powered by even more blockbuster adds in Nikolaj Ehlers and K'Andre Miller plus will see another year of development for their elite young talent in Jackson Blake and Alexander Nikishin among others.

This division feels the most like a one horse race as the Devils are coming off a season where they missed the playoffs due to an injured roster, the Rangers made little changes despite their troubling season last year and the Capitals are expected to fall back to normalcy following a near-President's trophy winning season. The Canes will look to win their division for the third time in the last five years. 

Pick: Carolina Hurricanes (+120)

Pacific Division

• Edmonton Oilers (+155)
• Vegas Golden Knights (+155)
• Los Angeles Kings (+470)
• Vancouver Canucks (+1500)
• Calgary Flames (+2900)
• Anaheim Ducks (+5500)
• Seattle Kraken (+6000)
• San Jose Sharks (+21000)

The battle between the Oilers and Golden Knights will be an elite one as the back-to-back conference champions have still never won the divisional crown. They will be attempting to do so against a Golden Knights team that has only gotten stronger with the addition of a 100-point player in Mitch Marner. 

The two clubs will also be looking to stave off threats like the Kings or the rising Ducks that could put together a solid push. The most likely outcome is another Golden Knights division title, marking fifth over the last nine years as the Oilers have made more horizontal moves to stay competitive rather than propelling moves like the Golden Knights have seemingly made. 

Pick: Vegas Golden Knights (+155)

Oilers' Howard, Blues' Snuggerud Present Closest Competition to Demidov For CalderRookies Isaac Howard and Jimmy Snuggerud appear to be best cases behind Montreal's Ivan Demidov for 2026 Calder trophy

Central Division

• Dallas Stars (+200)
• Colorado Avalanche (+200)
• Winnipeg Jets (+600)
• Minnesota Wild (+900)
• Utah Mammoth (+1000)
• St. Louis Blues (+1300)
• Nashville Predators (+2600)
• Chicago Blackhawks (+23000)

The tightest division in the league is the Central as they routinely produce contenders out of the West and will make for another hard-fought war to win the divisional crown. This is the only division with co-favorites in Dallas and Colorado, both sitting at +200 as two of the most complete teams in the conference. The reigning President's trophy winners in Winnipeg will look to repeat as divisional champs while the Blues look to build off a solid campaign last season and the Mammoth look to finally make some noise thanks to their aggressive management and ownership group. 

It'll be hard to overcome the Jets once again as they've kept all of their same defence core that has helped give them the best defence in the league for two straight seasons plus replaced the loss of a key player in Nikolaj Ehlers with another former 70-point scorer in Gustav Nyquist. 

Pick: Winnipeg Jets (+600)

Will There Be a First-Time Stanley Cup Champion in 2026?Breaking down the chances of a team to win the Stanley Cup for the first time during the 2025-26 season.