The majority of NHL teams have played their 41st game to mark the crossing of the season's halfway point.
As the All-Star break quickly approaches, let's take a look at who the betting market views as Stanley Cup contenders and pretenders.
Stanley Cup odds
| Team | Odds | Implied Prob (%) |
|---|---|---|
| Avalanche | +750 | 11.8 |
| Bruins | +800 | 11.1 |
| Rangers | +800 | 11.1 |
| Oilers | +1000 | 9.1 |
| Panthers | +1000 | 9.1 |
| Hurricanes | +1200 | 7.7 |
| Stars | +1200 | 7.7 |
| Maple Leafs | +1200 | 7.7 |
| Kings | +1400 | 6.7 |
| Golden Knights | +1400 | 6.7 |
| Canucks | +1600 | 5.9 |
| Jets | +1600 | 5.9 |
| Devils | +2000 | 4.8 |
| Lightning | +3000 | 3.2 |
| Flyers | +4000 | 2.4 |
| Penguins | +4000 | 2.4 |
| Islanders | +6000 | 1.6 |
| Flames | +7500 | 1.3 |
| Wild | +7500 | 1.3 |
| Predators | +7500 | 1.3 |
| Kraken | +7500 | 1.3 |
| Red Wings | +10000 | 1 |
Odds via theScore Bet and ESPN Bet. Teams above +10000 are not listed.
Three teams have odds shorter than +1000 - the Avalanche, Bruins, and Rangers - meaning they have an implied winning probability of over 10%.
Of the three, only the Avs, who were +900 at the beginning of the season, opened the year in this range. The Rangers were +1400 and the Bruins were +1600 before the season started, which were eight and nine on the oddsboard, respectively. But with the two teams holding the top two spots in the Eastern Conference standings, the betting market has reacted accordingly.
The Hurricanes opened the year as slight Stanley Cup favorites at +800 but have drifted to +1200 as they sit fifth in the Eastern Conference at 24-14-5. The Maple Leafs, who were +900 to start the season, have also drifted to +1200. However, not one of the preseason favorites has fallen down the oddsboard more than than Devils.
New Jersey has battled injuries all season long and, after beginning the year at +900, is now +2000 with a 22-16-3 record, which puts them in 12th in the Eastern Conference and two points out of the second wild-card spot.
As for teams in the West other than Colorado, the Oilers began the year at +900 and fell all the way down to +2000 when they sat at 5-12-1 near the end of November. But thanks to their current 11-game winning streak, they are back among the favorites to hoist the Stanley Cup.
The biggest movers in the West are by far the Canucks and Jets. They both opened the year at +6000 and have shortened drastically to +1600. They sit first and second in the league with 62 points each, but the Jets' game in hand currently gives them a slight edge in the standings.
