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)
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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)
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)
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