2025 Stanley Cup odds, NHL Playoffs picks: Expert hockey futures bets, Conn Smythe Trophy top contenders

The 2024-25 NHL regular season has wrapped up, and the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs are set get underway on Saturday, April 19. The NHL Playoffs bracket has been set with the Winnipeg Jets earning the top overall seed in the league with 116 regular season points. The Washington Capitals, led by new all-time goals scored record holder Alex Ovechkin, earned the top seed in the Eastern Conference. With 2025 NHL Playoffs on tap, the odds to win the Stanley Cup have been set for each of the 16 remaining NHL teams at BetMGM. 

SportsLine expert handicapper Jimmie Kaylor has broken down the latest betting trends and NHL futures odds from BetMGM and locked in his top picks to win the Stanley Cup, Eastern and Western Conferences, and the Conn Smyth Trophy. 

In the 4 Nations Face-Off Final, Kaylor picked Nathan MacKinnon to be the first goal scorer and for the game to finish under 5.5 goals. The result: MacKinnon notched the game’s first goal for a 13-1 payout, and the game finished with a final score of 3-2 in Canada’s favor.

Recently, Kaylor also nailed a five-leg same-game parlay in the Avalanche vs. Red Wings game for a payout of almost 7-1, and on the final night of the regular season, Kaylor gave away a five-leg NHL parlay that hit for a payout of almost 13-1.

Kaylor has had a chance to break down the latest NHL odds from BetMGM and has locked in his top futures bet for the Stanley Cup and NHL player awards. You can get picks for every NHL playoff game from NHL experts, including Kaylor, and from a proven computer simulation model at SportsLine.

2025 NHL Stanley Cup odds (at BetMGM)

Highest Ticket %:

• Avalanche 10.6%
• Knights 8.7%
• Maple Leafs 8.4%

Highest Handle %:

• Avalanche 11.0%
• Maple Leafs 8.4%
• Golden Knights 7.9%

Biggest Liabilities:

According to Matthew Rasp, who is a Senior Trader for BetMGM, two longshots — the Blues and Canadiens are the sportsbook’s biggest liabilities right now. “The Panthers and Lightning are among the favorites to win the Stanley Cup but the public is ignoring them. BetMGM really wants the Stanley Cup to stay in Florida. The Blues and Canadiens are our biggest liabilities to win it all,” Rasp said.

The Stanley Cup odds at BetMGM paint a pretty clear picture: The Panthers and Hurricanes are the top two teams in the Eastern Conference, while the Western Conference is wide open with the Stars, Avalanche, Oilers, and Knights all viewed as legitimate contenders. 

It doesn’t seem right that teams as strong as the Stars and Avalanche have to play in the first round, as both teams are fully capable of going on a championship run. In my opinion, the winner of the Colorado-Dallas series will represent the Western Conference in the Stanley Cup final.  

In the Eastern Conference, the Panthers look like the team to beat in my eyes.

Best Bet: Colorado Avalanche +750

Sleeper: Maple Leafs +1200

2025 NHL Playoff odds to win the Eastern Conference (at BetMGM)

• Favorite: Panthers +340
• Highest Ticket Percentage: Capitals 16.5%
• Highest Handle Percentage: Hurricanes 37.6%
• Biggest Liability: Red Wings

I don’t love the value here for the Hurricanes (+350) nor the Panthers (+340). Nonetheless, Florida is my pick in the Eastern Conference. My sleeper pick here would be the Toronto Maple Leafs. 

Best Bet: Panthers (+340)

Sleeper: Maple Leafs (+575)

2025 NHL Playoff odds to win the Western Conference (at BetMGM)

• Favorite: Avalanche +380
• Highest Ticket Percentage: Avalanche 16.9%
• Highest Handle Percentage: Jets 37.9%
• Biggest Liability: Blues

The Stars and Avalanche square off in a first round matchup that features arguably the two best teams in the Western Conference right now. The winner will instantly become the favorite to win the 2025 Stanley Cup. Colorado is my pick in that series, with the Stars dealing with a couple of significant injuries. Vegas has the look of a potential sleeper.

Best Bet: Avalanche (+380)

Sleeper: Vegas Golden Knights (+450)

2025 NHL odds to win the Conn Smythe Trophy (at BetMGM)

History would suggest that this award will go to the top player on the Stanley Cup-winning team. Last year, McDavid became only the sixth player ever to win the Conn Smythe while playing for a team that did not win the Stanley Cup. This year I expect the Smythe winner to also be a Stanley Cup champion — and my early prediction is that the eventual Stanley Cup champion will be the team that wins the Stars-Avalanche series. 

The last time Colorado won the Stanley Cup, Makar took home the Conn Smythe. Nathan MacKinnon at 14-1 is enticing, but Makar at 22-1, the value is too good to pass up. 

As for potential sleepers, Valeri Nichuskin has the potential to play a pivotal role for Colorado if the team can go on a deep run. His odds opened at 300-1, but have been bet down to 150-1. 

Best Bet: Makar +2200

Sleeper: Valeri Nichushkin (+15000)

Most likely Stanley Cup Final matchups (at BetMGM)

The oddsmakers at BetMGM have established these four teams as the clear top contenders in each conference. As previously mentioned, I expect Colorado to win its first round series over the Stars and ultimately win the Western Conference championship. I also expect the Panthers to prevail in the Eastern Conference for the second straight year. 

Best bet: Avalanche vs. Panthers (+1600)

Looking for more NHL Playoff picks?

SportsLine expert Matt Severance is on a 119-62 roll (+2440) on NHL picks. Visit SportsLine now to get all of his NHL picks.