2025-26 Stanley Cup odds: What the market says about the Rangers, Islanders, Devils
The Florida Panthers are still celebrating their second consecutive Stanley Cup, but we’re already looking ahead to next season around these parts.As is tradition, the betting odds for the 2025-26 Stanley Cup are already up at sportsbooks around the country, giving us an early snapshot of what to expect when October comes rolling around.There are no surprises at the top of the board, with the Carolina Hurricanes, Panthers, Edmonton Oilers, Dallas Stars and Colorado Avalanche sitting neck and neck.Things get interesting in the middle tier as the Ottawa Senators (31/1) and Utah Mammoth (35/1) seem to be getting some love, while the Toronto Maple Leafs (24/1) are heading in the wrong direction after being priced as one of the favorites for the last five years.It’s also a bit jarring to see the Boston Bruins (110/1) and Pittsburgh Penguins (280/1) so far down the board.Here’s the picture that the betting market paints about the three local teams before the offseason kicks into gear:New Jersey was a trendy favorite going into the 2024-25 season, but another injury to Jack Hughes and a dismal showing down the stretch and in the playoffs has caused the market to cool on the Devils.They own 19/1 odds to win the Stanley Cup at FanDuel, making them the eighth-favorite.The Devils were thought to be “a goalie away” from turning into a legitimate contender last summer, but a pedestrian second half showed there were more issues on this roster than just in the blue paint.They were left scrapping for offense after Hughes went down, exposing a lack of scoring depth on Sheldon Keefe’s roster.The good news for next season is that Hughes will be ready for camp, plus the Devils are all set on the blueline and in goal, allowing general manager Tom Fitzgerald to focus on finding more productive players to fill out the middle-six spots up front.As far as roster flaws go, the Devils really don’t have a lot to worry about, which makes them an appealing bounce-back option.At the...