It's hard to believe that we're so far into the new NHL season, but several teams are making a lot of noise and providing fans with some great entertainment each night. As you might have been able to guess, several teams have emerged as serious contenders to go on a deep run. On one side of things, Edmonton is a strong favorite to win the Western Conference in 2025. Will it get the job done?
The Oilers indeed have been on a tear this season, which should come as no surprise thanks to the strong play of standout Connor McDavid. McDavid is without question one of the best players in the NHL and he's already turning heads whenever he's on the ice. He's impressing during the 4-Nations Face-Off too, with Canada looking to win the midseason tourney.
| Western Conference odds |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oilers to win | +260 | +260 | +260 |
| Stars to win | +450 | +450 | +450 |
| Avalance to win | +550 | +550 | +550 |
| Golden Knights to win | +650 | +650 | +650 |
"I think it's a great kind of trial run," McDavid said of the 10-minute overtime being showcased for the tournament. "Something I think the players liked, the fans liked it. It felt a little more like it's in our hands. I don't think really anyone wants it to go to a shootout, so good thing we were able to find one there."
According to the best online sports betting sites, Edmonton holds +240 NHL betting odds to win the Western Conference this year. It's not going to be easy for the Oilers, as the Stars, Avalanche, Jets, Golden Knights and others are looking solid too. Once the postseason gets here, things will heat up, but we're going with the Oilers as our pick. It will be interesting to see if that happens or not.
“If Canada wins, what are you putting in the cup? Poutine, Beer, @TimHortons?”
Connor McDavid with the most Connor McDavid answer ever 😂
𝗪𝗶𝗻 𝗻𝗼𝘄. 𝗛𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗳𝘂𝗻 𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿. pic.twitter.com/uvFQMNTvvx
— The Hockey News (@TheHockeyNews) February 12, 2025
Carolina is hoping to win the Eastern Conference this season
Meanwhile on the other side of things, Carolina is hoping to win the Eastern Conference this season and they sure have a great chance to do so. As of this writing, the Hurricanes have won 33 games this season and they've made a splash with such strong play. The list includes headliner moments from Seth Jarvis, who has really taken his game to a new level this season. He also has great focus about things.
"You can be energetic and just kind of be useless, but I want to be energetic and I want to have a purpose where I'm using that energy and using it for a good cause," Jarvis said about his mindset right now. "It's taken a little bit of time to channel it into doing something good with it, but it is my personality."
Seth Jarvis since January 1, 2025:
- 20 points (13 G, 7 A)
- T-2nd most goals in the NHL
- Most goals by any player at home (11)
- Only player with two 4-point gamesThe kid can play.
— Carolina Hurricanes (@Canes) February 9, 2025
Looking to get in on the betting action too? It's important to remember that great sportsbooks like Bovada, BetOnline and others will have special bonuses and promotions leading up to the NHL playoffs betting getting started. There will also be special Stanley Cup betting promos for people to take advantage of as well. There's no better time for hockey wagers than once the postseason gets here.
If interested in betting on the Canes to win the Eastern Conference, they've been given +250 odds to do so. Just like Edmonton, Carolina is facing stiff competition to come out on top and book a trip to the Stanley Cup Finals. The Panthers, Devils, Maple Leafs and Capitals also have great odds. With that said, we're going with the Canes as our pick to win the Eastern Conference.
Who is the favorite to win the 2025 Stanley Cup?
A question a lot of people have in mind right now is who is the favorite to win the 2025 Stanley Cup? As you might have been able to guess, the Oilers and Hurricanes have the best odds to do so. Can you imagine if both of these teams go on to play in the finals? It would be a thrilling series and one that could potentially go a full seven games, which would be awesome.
While it's fully up in the air if Edmonton and Carolina will both end up advancing, we think there's a great chance this could be the final series with the Stanley Cup trophy on the line. The odds would surely be quite close for the two sides if they do go to battle.
Right now, Edmonton is a slight favorite to win the Stanley Cup, but Carolina is right behind them. This feels like it would potentially be too close to call, as both sides are loaded with an incredible amount of offensive and defensive talent, with quality depth to match. Having said that, we'll go with Edmonton as our early pick to win it all. Carolina and others will of course have a lot to say about that.
