Who Will Win 2025-26 Stanley Cup? Panthers Solid Bet for 3-Peat

The Florida Panthers will likely have the tools to become the first team to win three straight Stanley Cups since the 1980-83 New York Islanders, and you may get the best value in the NHL futures this week.

The Panthers are co-favorites in the odds to win the Stanley Cup with the runner-up Edmonton Oilers at +750. Florida has three key unrestricted free agents in Sam Bennett, Brad Marchand and Aaron Ekblad to sign, but should have a good chance to bring back at least two.

Edmonton has some roster work and soul searching to do, even though it reached the finals two straight years. That could open up the West for several teams, including Vegas and longshot St. Louis. Both currently sport solid value for your NHL prop bets.

4 Predictions to Win 2025-26 Stanley Cup

1. Panthers (+750) Have Right Formula

Two teams had a chance to win three straight Cups in the last 10 years. Pittsburgh won two in a row before losing in the second round (2018). Tampa Bay took the 2020 and 2021 Cups before losing in the finals to Colorado.

Florida may have a better chance to hit the trifecta with a well-balanced lineup that gets the job done on both ends, and is backed by one of the league’s best goalies (Sergei Bobrovsky).

The biggest thing is the Panthers are built for playoff hockey. You probably won’t get value NHL betting odds on coach Paul Maurice’s team next winter, so make your futures wager on Florida at the BetUS Sportsbook early.

Bet on Panthers (+750)

2. A Good Gamble in Las Vegas

It might be prudent to make your futures bets on the Vegas Golden Knights before free agency begins.

Check NHL news over the next couple weeks, but the Knights are expected to go all out for Toronto unrestricted free agent Mitch Marner. The 28-year-old forward had a career-high 102 points last season and at least 94 in four of his last seven seasons.

“If [Vegas] could move one of those centremen in [William] Karlsson or [Tomáš] Hertl, then it opens it up for Mitch Marner.”@RealKyper discusses the potential for #LeafsForever & #VegasBorn to come together on a Mitch Marner trade with @jtbourne & @SamAMcKee. pic.twitter.com/6Q5ORxkpHk

— Sportsnet 590 The FAN (@FAN590) June 24, 2025

The Golden Knights won the Pacific Division before losing to Edmonton in the second round of the playoffs, but should be able to make room for a big Marner contract to go along with Jack Eichel, Mark Stone and others up front.

Vegas is well coached and its management is aggressive. The Golden Knights have some value at +1200.

Bet on Golden Knights (+1200)

3. Will Lightning Strike Again?

We like Dallas, St. Louis, Winnipeg and Colorado to battle Vegas and Edmonton in a loaded Western Conference race.

The East can be had if teams find a way to unlock the answers to tame Florida. Carolina’s odds are too low (+850) for its history while we think the NHL betting trends on Washington (+2500) are going downward.

The Tampa Bay Lightning provide +1600 odds to win the Cup and had impressive numbers during the regular season in 2024-25. The Bolts were first in scoring, fourth in goals against, fifth on the power play and sixth in penalty killing. They were ambushed by Florida in the first round.

With forwards Nikita Kucherov, Brayden Point, Brandon Hagel, Jake Guentzel along with veteran defenseman Victor Hedman and Ryan McDonagh, backed by superstar goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy, Tampa Bay is always capable.

Congratulations to Nikita Kucherov, who takes home his second career #TedLindsayAward with the players’ vote.

The @TBLightning forward led the NHL in points, assists, primary assists ​and power-play points this season: https://t.co/E3CdPrc1yI #NHLAwards pic.twitter.com/4X7IaJFXOK

— NHLPA (@NHLPA) June 4, 2025

Lightning GM Julien Brisebois always has something up his sleeve and could trade unsigned Hobey Baker winner Isaac Howard for a solid asset. Take Tampa Bay to win another Cup.

Bet on Lightning (+1600)

4. No Singing the Blues at This Value

The Montreal Canadiens own the highest odds for any playoff team from last season to win the 2025-26 Cup at +8000. But the Habs may be another year away from serious contention.

St. Louis, on the other hand, was one of the best teams in the NHL during the second half of last season and were so close to knocking off Presidents’ Trophy-winning Winnipeg in the first round.

The Blues have a good mix of veterans and emerging young players along with a goalie who has already won the Stanley Cup and led Canada to the 4 Nations Cup last winter in Jordan Binnington.

BINNERRRR 🗣️

How about some stick taps for Jordan Binnington’s performance when it mattered most?! 🙅‍♂️ #4Nations pic.twitter.com/Iyq9UpAXgR

— NHL (@NHL) February 21, 2025

We are bullish on St. Louis at +5000 to win a lot of NHL games next season and perhaps even the last one.

Bet on Blues (+5000)

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Odds and information are accurate at the time of writing. Please check with official sources for the latest updates before placing any bets.