2021-22 NHL Futures: Odds to Win the Stanley Cup

The NHL made some scheduling adjustments last season because of the COVID-19 pandemic to limit travel. This year, things are back to normal with a full 82-game schedule, and each team will play every other squad in the league at some point in the season.

The first regular-season game was on Oct. 12, and April 29th will be the final day of the 2021-22 season.

T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas will be the scene of the All-Star Game, which will be held on Feb. 5. The Winter Classic will be played at Target Field in Minneapolis on New Year’s Day.

This is an Olympic year, and many of the NHL players will be participating in the Olympics. As a response, the league has established an Olympic break from Feb. 5-22. The Stanley Cup playoffs will begin on May 2, and the last possible day of the season is June 30.

Futures betting gives you an opportunity to take home a big score if you can identify an underdog that is ready to take a big step forward. You can bet on NHL conference futures, NHL divisional futures, and much more. Even if you put some money on a team with relatively low odds, you are in action as long as they stay in the hunt, so there is great value for your NHL betting dollar.

2021-22 NHL Stanley Cup Futures for all 32 Teams

These US NHL Stanley Cup odds are courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook. We have published an in-depth review of their product, and you can get a feel for the site if you take the time to read it.

The book is offering a $1000 risk-free bet for new players, and the casino is dangling a $1000 risk-free play promotion for the first 24 hours.

Anaheim Ducks +20000

The Ducks are in rebuilding mode, and the long odds reflect the fact that Anaheim is probably going to be one of the worst teams in the league. Their goaltenders John Gibson and Anthony Stolarz could be a strength, but this team is not ready to compete at the highest level.

It would appear as though the Ducks roster was shaped to lose more games than they win in an effort to get high draft picks. This is not what you are looking for when you are making futures bets.

Arizona Coyotes +20000

Coyotes management cleaned house over the summer months, and Arizona is another team that is in tank mode, and that is not good news for their fans. The respected statistical model that has been created by Dom Luszczyszyn of The Athletic gives them a 27% chance to have the worst record in the NHL.

There is nothing to like about this team, so +20000 in the futures is probably an underlay. They would shock the hockey world if they made the playoffs, so they are certainly not going to win the whole enchilada.

However, there is some good news for Arizona hockey fans. Legal sportsbooks in Arizona started taking bets on Sept. 9, so you can get in on the action during hockey season if you live in the Grand Canyon State.

Boston Bruins +1300

The Atlantic Division is going to be very tough, so the Bruins will be battle-tested on the way to the playoffs. Brad Marchand, Patrice Bergeron, Charlie McAvoy, and David Pastrnak are back to lead the way, but Bergeron is 36 years old.

David Krejci’s retirement won’t help Boston’s cause, but this team should be competitive, and the odds are enticing if you are a believer.

Buffalo Sabres +20000

The Sabres have been on the outside looking in during the NHL playoffs for the past 10 years, and it is very likely that they will extend that streak. Many observers put Buffalo at the very bottom of the rankings, and this is yet another club that is angling for a top draft position.

When it comes to a futures bet on the Sabres, you may have a better chance at success if you invest in porcine aviation stock.

Calgary Flames +4500

The Flames are projected to be a middle-of-the-pack team this year, and the +4500 number sounds about right. According to the computer simulation model, they should accumulate about 92 points, so they have a slightly better than 50% chance to make the playoffs.

If you make the big dance, you have a shot, so you could take a stab with this bunch. There is room for improvement, and a deep playoff run is possible but unlikely.

Carolina Hurricanes +2500

The Hurricanes won 38 games during an abbreviated season in 2020-21, and they lost to the eventual champions Tampa Bay Lightning, 4-1 in the second round of the playoffs. Dougie Hamilton signed a seven-year deal with the New Jersey Devils during the summer, and his loss will hurt the defense.

They have new goaltenders Frederik Anderson and Antii Raanta to go along with a revamped defense, so there will be a new look in Carolina. This team looks mediocre on paper, and it’s hard to envision them hoisting the Stanley Cup in June.

Chicago Blackhawks +4500

The Chicago Blackhawks made a lot of noise in the offseason when they signed future Hall of Famer Marc Andre-Fleury and defenseman Seth Jones. They will join Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane to make a run in 2021-22.

They are expected to win at a .483 percent clip according to the simulation model, and that figure speaks volumes about their chances to win the Stanley Cup.

Colorado Avalanche +475

Big things are expected in Colorado this year. This Colorado Avalanche team has one of the highest point projections ever at 113.3, and they are given a 99.5% chance to make the playoffs. Many things have to fall into place over a long NHL season, but the Avs have a great chance to take home the hardware.

They lost Brandon Saad, Joonas Donskoi, and goaltender Philipp Grubauer, but they have plenty of firepower with Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen leading the way. In all likelihood, you will be in action for a long time if you bet the Colorado Avalanche in the Stanley Cup futures.

If you are wondering where you should place the wager, visit our Colorado sports betting page to explore your options.

Columbus Blue Jackets +20000

The Blue Jackets have been formidable opponents in the playoffs over the past couple of years, but that run may be coming to a close. They are given a 4% chance to make the playoffs this time around, and the modeler gives them no chance at all to win the Stanley Cup.

If you believe in the validity of analytics, you should probably steer clear of this team in the futures, despite the juicy odds.

Dallas Stars +3500

Last year was a very disappointing season for Dallas Stars fans. They were coming off a memorable campaign that took them all away to the Stanley Cup finals before they were bested by Tampa Bay 4-2.

They missed the postseason last year, and injuries to key players had a lot to do with it. If they can stay healthy, they should be competitive, but there is no reason to expect them to go deep into the playoffs. Of course, some people said the same thing two years ago.

Detroit Red Wings +15000

Detroit has been rebuilding over the past few years, and they are making progress, but they have a long way to go. They have a 5% chance to make the playoffs, and there is zero chance that they will win the Stanley Cup according to the The Athletic’s modeling algorithms.

Yes, you take down a big payday if they win the cup at +15000, but this is a team that won 19 games a year ago. They haven’t done anything during the off-season that would turn them into a championship contender.

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Edmonton Oilers +2000

Connor McDavid is in his prime, and Leon Draisaitl is another elite talent. This duo alone will make Edmonton a formidable foe in 2021-22. This season, they will have a deeper cast around them, and they may take a significant step forward.

They have a one in four chance to make the final four according to simulations, so + 2000 is a nice number for a team that has a real chance to compete for the Stanley Cup.

Florida Panthers +1800

The Florida Panthers had the best regular season in their history last year when they won 35 games and lost 26 with eight overtime losses. They were ousted in the first round of the playoffs by the Lightning, but they were competitive against their powerhouse in-state rival.

Aleksander Barcov is the real deal, and young Spencer Knight is a highly regarded goaltender prospect that will be waiting in the wings ready to pounce if Sergei Bobrovsky falters. This Florida Panthers team is likely to make the playoffs, and they will be dangerous at odds of +1800.

Los Angeles Kings +10000

The Lakers, the Dodgers, and the Rams have made life enjoyable for Los Angeles fans over recent years for the most part, but the Kings have been losing more than they win over the past three years. That’s the bad news, but the good news is that they are poised to improve this season.

They have a lot of young talent that is expected to mature, but evaluating the anticipated progress is an imperfect science. Despite the reasons for optimism, there is a 74% chance that they will be among the 10 worst teams in the league, and their playoff probability is 11%.

At the end of the day, they are +10,000 in the NHL futures for a reason.

Minnesota Wild +2500

The Minnesota Wild is a team that is expected to make the playoffs, and a deep run would not be completely surprising. They have a strong defense with good depth, and highly touted draft picks Matthew Boldy and Marco Rossi may impact the big club at some point.

If you are holding a bet on the Wild at +2500 at the end of the season, you may be in a nice position when the playoffs begin.

Montreal Canadiens +5000

Montreal silenced the critics when they reached the Stanley Cup Finals a year ago, but the road will be much more difficult this time around. They are in a very competitive division, and it will be challenging for them to make the playoffs at all because of the stiff competition.

They will be without defensive stalwarts Shea Weber and Phillip Danault, and Tomas Tatar signed a two-year, $9 million contract with the New Jersey Devils in August. The computer model gives the Canadiens have a 5% chance to make the final four, so another deep run would be a huge surprise.

Nashville Predators +10000

The Predators snuck into the playoffs last year with a 31-23 record with two overtime losses. They made some significant personnel changes that probably will not help them in the near term, but they still have stingy goaltender Juuse Saros in the fold.

According to the simulator, they have a 28% chance to make the playoffs, and a 1% chance to make the Finals. These numbers do not scream “bet me” in the futures.

You can check out our Tennessee sports betting page to find out where you can bet on the NHL this year, and you will find promo codes to sweeten the pot.

New Jersey Devils +5000

The New Jersey Devils spent a lot of money to sign Tomas Tatar, Jonathan Bernier, and Dougie Hamilton during the off-season, and they look good on paper. Many people expect them to make the playoffs, but they have disappointed the prognosticators in the past.

You will find some excellent sign-up bonuses at the New Jersey sports betting sites right now. If you are a resident of the Garden State, you should explore your options to bolster your bankroll for the hockey season.

New York Islanders +1500

The New York Islanders were one win away from the NHL Finals last season, and they are the favorites to win their division this year. Their strong defense will make it difficult for opponents to score, and Mathew Barzal will lead the offense.

They have a 26% chance to reach the final four, so a bet on the New York Islanders at +1500 makes a lot of sense.

New York Rangers +2200

The Rangers missed the playoffs last year, but they are a youthful bunch, and improvement is anticipated. They got the worst of the inexplicable Pavel Buchnevich trade, but the postseason is definitely within reach in 2021-22.

When you are thinking about making a futures bet, past precedent should be considered. The Rangers’ last Stanley Cup championship was in 1993-94, which should tell you something.

Ottawa Senators +20000

It is probably going to be another long season for Ottawa Senators fans. They barely escaped the North Division basement last season, and it’s a long way to the top.

The computer model gives them a 55% chance of being one of the league's five worst teams, which is not very encouraging from a futures betting perspective.

Philadelphia Flyers +4000

Philadelphia sports fans are used to disappointment, and they had another déjà vu experience last season courtesy of the underachieving Flyers. They failed to make the playoffs with a middling 25-23 record, and they will try to right the ship this year.

They play in a strong division, and The Athletic’s model gives them a one in three chance to make the playoffs. Philly is not an elite team, and a Finals appearance would be a huge upset based on preseason predictions.

Pittsburgh Penguins +2500

The Pittsburgh Penguins are perennial playoff participants with 15 consecutive postseason appearances. They were without injured stars Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin when the season began, and Malkin will remain on the sidelines for the first couple of months at a minimum.

Pittsburgh will contend as usual in spite of the injuries, and you can check out our Pennsylvania sports betting overview to learn about your wagering options.

San Jose Sharks +10000

San Jose has fallen on hard times of late, and goaltending was part of the problem last year. They have brought Adin Hill and James Reimer to mind the net this season, and halfway decent goalie play would be an improvement.

The Sharks are expected to win at a .446 clip, and that does not sound like a Stanley Cup winner.

Seattle Kraken +4000

Before the Las Vegas Golden Knights came along, we were all conditioned to expect expansion teams to bring up the rear for a while until they can find their feet. We now know that it does not have to be that way, and the brand-new Seattle Kraken may follow the Vegas model.

Based on analytics for the players on the roster, they have a projected record of 44-29-9. This would probably be good enough to propel them into the playoffs, but a deep run is a bit of a stretch at this point.

St Louis Blues +5000

The St. Louis Blues have been on the decline after their memorable Stanley Cup championship just a few years ago. They look like a mediocre team with a reasonable chance to make the playoffs, but they are given a 3% chance to make the Finals.

A recent Cup winner will invariably be underplayed, and +5000 may not be high enough in light of the true odds.

Tampa Bay Lightning +700

The Tampa Bay Lightning will be aiming for a three-peat after winning the Stanley Cup the past two years. They still have enough talent to pull it off, and they have a 75% chance to be one of the top 10 teams in the league based on the analytics.

This is a team that is a virtual shoo-in for the playoffs, andteamt to do once they get there, so +700 will be appealing to many bettors.

Toronto Maple Leafs +900

Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner are two of the most impactful players in the league, and they will lead the Toronto Maple Leafs once again. They had one of the best records in the league last year, and they are among the favorites to win the Stanley Cup.

If you can get +900 on a team with this roster and track record, you may want to take it.

Vancouver Canucks +6000

Vancouver has revamped its roster in some ways, and they should be a somewhat better team this year. There was some hand wringing over unsigned restricted freSome Pettersson and Quinn Hughes, but they both came to terms after missing some of the Canucks’ training camp.

They have a 31% chance to make playoffs and a 4% chance to reach the final four, so a futures bet on Vancouver is definitely a leap of faith.

Vegas Golden Knights +700

The Golden Knights have been one of the best teams in the league since they joined it, and they look like the top team in the Pacific Division this time around. This is a deep and talented club that will play for the first time without Marc Andre-Fleury, who was moved for salary-cap reasons.

Robin Lehner is a capable replacement, so they should be fine in the goal. The Golden Knights have been given a 44% chance to be a top-five team, and that’s what you are looking for when you are handicapping the futures.

Washington Capitals +3000

The Washington Capitals are coming off a 36-15-5 season and a first-round playoff exit. Their core is aging, but people have been writing them off every year, and they always seem to prove them wrong.

They are likely to make the playoffs, but they have to get better to win the Stanley Cup, and the oldest team in the league is probably not going to improve significantly.

Winnipeg Jets +4500

Winnipeg made the playoffs last year, and they swept the Oilers in the first round before they were swept in the second by Montreal. They have acquired Nate Schmidt and Brenden Dillon to shore up their defense, and they enter the season with high hopes.

The model gives them a 62% chance to make playoffs, so they have a shot at odds of +4500, but a Finals appearance would surprise many people.