Connor Macdavid Stanley Cup state New Jersey hockey NHL record show ESPN UPS Action Connor Macdavid Stanley Cup state New Jersey

2024-25 NHL betting preview - Five storylines to watch - ESPN

espn.com

The puck dropped on the 2024-25 NHL season thousands of miles away on Friday, when the New Jersey Devils defeated the Buffalo Sabres 4-1 in Czechia, but back in North America, the focus is squarely on the best player in the world, wondering whether this season will finally be the one when he breaks through and wins the Stanley Cup.

After their run to the Stanley Cup Final last season, the Edmonton Oilers are the consensus betting favorites to win it all in 2025, showing anywhere between +700 and +850 odds across the sportsbook marketplace.

Oilers phenom Connor McDavid shows odds around +150 to win the Hart Memorial Trophy, pacing the field by a wide margin. Despite the short odds for the championship this season, the Oilers are seeing action across the board. «I think people just feel that maybe the McDavid story can finally have that Stanley Cup ending,» BetMGM senior sports trader Matthew Rasp told ESPN. «The money's been coming in on the Oilers ever since the season ended last year.» There are 31 other teams out there vying for the Cup and anything can happen once the chaotic playoffs start in April, but history and conventional wisdom generally say that many of the usual suspects will be the competitors over the next few months, starting with the final two teams that competed for the trophy last season. «I think the NHL sometimes gets the reputation that it's got a lot of parity and that's just kind of not true, at least in the last 10 years or so,» said Caesars Sportsbook head of hockey Karry Shreeve. «Twelve out of 16 teams that were in the last postseason get into the next postseason.

Obviously, the trick is nailing those 12 teams, but we're gonna see a lot of the same stuff.» Create or join a fantasy hockey

Related News
The props were poppin' last week! Daniel bounced back in strong fashion, making good on two of his three wagers. Tony Pollard's inefficient day spoiled Dopp's otherwise sterling showing. I believe in my bud and the process and might just buy the dip on Pollard this go-around.
The annual game between the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and Navy Midshipmen has always been symbolic but this year it appears significant to the College Football Playoff picture. The Fighting Irish (6-1), ranked No. 12 in the Week 9 AP Top 25 Poll likely can't afford another loss if they want to make the postseason, meanwhile the No. 24 Midshipmen (6-0) are undefeated looking to secure its first 7-0 start since 1978.
The Los Angeles Rams activated wide receiver Puka Nacua from injured reserve ahead of Thursday night's game against the Minnesota Vikings.
The Minnesota Vikings visit the Los Angeles Rams on Thursday night (8:15 p.m. ET, Prime Video) to kick off the NFL's Week 8 slate.
The Alabama Crimson Tide are in unfamiliar territory. Following last week's loss to the Tennessee Volunteers in Knoxville, the Tide dropped eight spots in the AP rankings to No. 15 and currently would likely be on the outside looking in at the expanded College Football Playoff. Jalen Milroe's Heisman hopes also took a hit, as he fell from 12-1 to 40-1 to take the award.
The 2024 MLB World Series is finally here! It's a best-of-seven showdown with the winners earning bragging rights, along with the adulation of the hometown fans, a trophy and a champagne-infused celebration. Games 1, 2, 6 and 7 (those last two games, if necessary) will take place at the home stadium of the NL Champions.

Latest News

Change privacy settings
This page might use cookies if your analytics vendor requires them.