Stanley Cup Odds

 

In March 2020, retail sports betting was introduced at Greektown Casino Hotel, MGM Grand Detroit, and MotorCity Casino Hotel in Detroit. Since then, an increasing number of tribal casinos in Michigan have also started offering sports betting. As of January 2021, online sports betting has been added to the options, allowing NHL betting from anywhere within the state.

The top online sportsbooks in the state, namely DraftKings Sportsbook, BetMGM, and FanDuel Sportsbook, are dominating the NHL betting market with their exceptional apps. Let’s delve into the reasons behind these three sites being the best choices for NHL betting enthusiasts.

1. DraftKings Sportsbook

DraftKings Sportsbook stands out as a top contender for NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs and the Stanley Cup Finals betting. With an extensive range of game lines, series lines, team futures, and Stanley Cup prop bets, they provide ample options for bettors.

With DraftKings, you can place bets on various aspects of the Stanley Cup Playoffs series, ranging from predicting the winner to the total number of games played, series spread, and even the precise outcome. Additionally, DraftKings offers an NHL futures market, enabling you to bet on the Stanley Cup Finals winner throughout the entire year.

Keep an eye out for promotions from DraftKings Sportsbook, as they occasionally offer an NHL Playoff goal bonus. By betting a minimum of $50 on a team to win a Stanley Cup Playoff series, you can receive a $5 bonus for every goal they score.

2. BetMGM

When it comes to betting on the NHL’s Stanley Cup Playoffs and the Stanley Cup Finals, BetMGM Sportsbook leads the way. They offer a range of options including individual game lines such as moneylines, puck lines, and totals. Additionally, you can place bets on NHL series and futures, allowing you to predict the winners of the Stanley Cup, Eastern Conference, and Western Conference.

At BetMGM, you can also find NHL specials that allow you to place bets on various markets. These markets include predicting the country from which the Stanley Cup Champions will emerge, as well as the divisions that the Stanley Cup finalists will represent.

3. FanDuel Sportsbook

FanDuel Sportsbook provides comprehensive NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs and Finals betting options. They offer individual game lines as well as NHL series betting, which includes various markets like winners, total games, correct score, and even correct series score after three games.

In addition, FanDuel Sportsbook provides an excellent platform for NHL team futures betting. This enables you to place bets on the eventual winner of the Stanley Cup, as well as the Eastern or Western Conferences throughout the entire year. Moreover, FanDuel Sportsbook frequently offers odds boosts on select NHL futures, presenting you with some of the most favorable odds for NHL betting in Michigan.

How do Stanley Cup futures work?

Throughout the entire year, you have the opportunity to place bets on NHL team futures, predicting the team that will emerge victorious in the Stanley Cup, as well as in the Eastern or Western Conferences. Whether it’s the offseason, preseason, or regular season, NHL team futures betting remains open for you to participate.

Naturally, the NHL team futures odds in Michigan sportsbooks will be modified based on the team’s chances. Placing a bet earlier will usually yield more favorable odds for genuine contenders.

Why do futures odds change?

The NHL team futures odds in Michigan sportsbooks will be continually modified during the offseason, preseason, and regular season due to various factors.

The perceived potential of multiple teams will be influenced by a significant trade or free-agent signing during the offseason. As a result, Michigan sportsbooks will modify the odds for both teams to win the Stanley Cup in the upcoming season.

Throughout the season, teams continuously fluctuate in their chances of making it to the Stanley Cup Playoffs, leading Michigan sportsbooks to adapt the championship odds for each team accordingly. Furthermore, significant trades and injuries occurring within the season can also impact these odds.

As soon as a team is mathematically ruled out of the playoffs, they will be removed from the NHL futures board. Simultaneously, the odds of the remaining teams gradually decrease as they approach the possibility of winning the Stanley Cup.

Once only two teams are left, the NHL team futures market concludes, paving the way for the emergence of the Stanley Cup Finals market.

How do the NHL Playoffs work?

The conclusion of the NHL regular season marks the commencement of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, where the ultimate champions of the Stanley Cup are decided.

The NHL playoffs typically consist of a tournament that spans four rounds of best-of-seven series, involving the top 16 teams based on their regular-season standings.

The revised format consists of the top four teams from each of the newly realigned divisions, namely Atlantic, Metropolitan, Central, and Pacific. These teams are ranked based on their regular season records. The highest-ranked team competes against the lowest-ranked team, while the second and third seeds face off in the initial round. The winners from the first round then compete against each other to advance to the semifinals. Following this, the remaining four teams are re-seeded based on their regular season performances. They then face each other, with the highest-seeded teams playing the lowest-seeded teams, until a champion is determined. This playoff structure allows for the possibility of two teams from the same conference competing for the Stanley Cup, despite their traditional association.

The playoffs of 2025 are scheduled to commence in mid-April and wrap up by June.

This season and in the future, Michigan sportsbooks are offering a wide range of betting options for the Stanley Cup Playoffs. You can place bets on individual games, series outcomes, and even on the teams that will win their respective conferences and ultimately the Stanley Cup.

The Detroit Red Wings: 11-time Stanley Cup champions

Michigan takes great pride in considering the Detroit Red Wings as its NHL team, given their status as an Original Six team and 11-time Stanley Cup Champions. Presently, the team hosts their home games at Little Caesars Arena, situated in downtown Detroit, while actively competing in the Eastern Conference.

Founded in 1926, the Red Wings are now considered one of the NHL’s most valuable teams. They were among the first six teams to launch the league, earning them the nickname “Original Six.” With an impressive tally of 11 Stanley Cup victories, they rank third behind the Montreal Canadiens (24) and the Toronto Maple Leafs (13) in terms of championship wins. Notably, no American team has secured more Stanley Cup Championships than the Red Wings.

Since the 2007-08 season, the Red Wings have not been able to secure the Stanley Cup. Unfortunately, the team has recently faced significant challenges and struggles, finding themselves near the bottom of the highly competitive Atlantic Division standings for the 2025 season.

In the Stanley Cup Finals, the Red Wings triumphed over the Pittsburgh Penguins in six games, marking the last time Detroit claimed the Stanley Cup. The decisive goal in Game 6 was skillfully netted by Henrik Zetterberg, who was honored with the prestigious Conn Smythe Trophy as the NHL Playoffs MVP. Unfortunately, due to a back condition, Zetterberg retired from his NHL career in 2018, although he remained contracted with the team until 2021.

In spite of the recent frustrations, the franchise has experienced two remarkable periods: the 1950s and once more in the late 1990s and early 2000s. An icon of the Red Wings, Gordie Howe, guided the team to four Stanley Cup Championships (1949–50, 1951–52, 1953–54, 1954–55) throughout his 26-year tenure in Detroit.

During Steve Yzerman’s remarkable 22-year career, where he served as the Red Wings’ captain for 19 years, he led the team to three Stanley Cup Championships (1996–97, 1997–98, 2001–02). It took several decades before they would taste victory again. For a comprehensive guide to Detroit Red Wings odds, click on the link provided in this sentence.

Top 5 Detroit Red Wings of all time

Take a glimpse at the five best players to don the Detroit Red Wings jersey:

1. Gordie Howe

During his remarkable NHL career, Howe donned the iconic Detroit Red Wings jersey for an impressive 25 out of his 26 seasons. He achieved phenomenal success, securing four Stanley Cups, six Art Ross Trophies for being the league’s top scorer, and six Hart Memorial Trophies as the NHL’s most valuable player.

At the time of his retirement, Wayne Gretzky, famously known as “Mr. Hockey,” held the esteemed titles of NHL’s leading goal scorer (801), assists leader (1,049), and points leader (1,850). However, Gretzky has since surpassed these records. Nevertheless, Gordie Howe, or “Mr. Hockey” as well, still boasts the record for the most games played and seasons participated in.

After retiring in 1971, Howe was honored with induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame in the following year. Additionally, he received the NHL Lifetime Achievement Award in 2008, being the inaugural recipient of this prestigious accolade.

2. Steve Yzerman

Yzerman spent 22 seasons in Detroit, serving as the team’s captain for 19 of those years. Throughout his career, he achieved numerous accolades, including three Stanley Cup victories. In the 1988-89 season, he was honored with the Lester B. Pearson Award, presently recognized as the Ted Lindsay Award, for being the Most Outstanding Player. Additionally, he earned the Conn Smythe Trophy in 1998 as the Most Valuable Player of the Stanley Cup playoffs, and the Frank J. Selke Trophy in 2000 for being the league’s top defensive forward.

During the 1988-89 season, Yzerman achieved an exceptional milestone by scoring 155 points, which stands as his career-high. This incredible feat consisted of 65 goals and 90 assists. It is noteworthy that only two NHL icons, Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux, have surpassed Yzerman’s remarkable performance.

In 2007, the Red Wings retired his No. 19 jersey. Merely two years later, he achieved induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame during his first year of eligibility. Presently, Yzerman holds the position of general manager for the Red Wings.

3. Nicklas Lidström

Lidström’s tenure with the Detroit Red Wings spanned 20 seasons, during which he led the team as captain for the last six years. Throughout his career, he triumphed in four Stanley Cup championships, notably securing the 2007-08 title while serving as the Red Wings’ captain.

In addition to his impressive career, he has also been awarded seven James Norris Memorial Trophies for being the NHL’s finest defenseman, as well as the coveted Conn Smythe Trophy for being the Most Valuable Player of the Stanley Cup playoffs in 2002.

In 2015, Lidström was honored with induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame, becoming the first European captain to lead a Stanley Cup-winning team and the first European player to receive the prestigious Conn Smythe Trophy.

4. Sergei Fedorov

In addition to winning three Stanley Cups with Detroit, Fedorov was honored with the Hart Trophy as the NHL’s Most Valuable Player in 1994. This made him the first European player to ever receive this prestigious award. Recognizing his remarkable achievements, Fedorov was duly inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2015.

5. Pavel Datsyuk

For a span of 15 years, Datsyuk graced the Red Wings with his presence, triumphantly securing two Stanley Cups.

Some notable achievements in my career include winning the Frank J. Selke Trophy three times, which recognizes the NHL’s top defensive forward, as well as securing four consecutive Lady Byng Memorial Trophy wins for outstanding performance and sportsmanship.

All-time franchise Stanley Cup champions

Take a glance at the top seven NHL franchises that have won the Stanley Cup.

Montreal Canadiens: 23 Stanley Cups (Since the NHL was founded)

The Montreal Canadiens hold the record for the most Stanley Cups won in the NHL, surpassing all other teams by a margin of 10 titles. Established in 1909, the Canadiens proudly bear the distinction of being the oldest professional hockey team globally. Additionally, they are recognized as one of the original six teams in the NHL.

Since the turn of the millennium, the team has experienced minimal success. The Montreal Canadiens last won a championship in the 1992-93 season.

The Montreal Canadiens emerged as victorious in the Stanley Cup in the subsequent seasons:

• 1923–24
• 1929–30
• 1930–31
• 1943–44
• 1945–46
• 1952–53
• 1955–56
• 1956–57
• 1957–58
• 1958–59
• 1959–60
• 1964–65
• 1965–66
• 1967–68
• 1968–69
• 1970–71
• 1972–73
• 1975–76
• 1976–77
• 1977–78
• 1978–79
• 1985–86
• 1992–93

Toronto Maple Leafs: 13 Stanley Cups

Established in 1917, the Toronto Maple Leafs proudly stand as one of the esteemed Original Six teams in the NHL.

The Toronto Maple Leafs have won the Stanley Cup 13 times, with two remarkable dynasties spanning from 1947 to 1951 and from 1962 to 1967. Unfortunately, the 1967 victory marks the last time the Leafs clinched the prestigious trophy. This particular win concluded a 54-season dry spell, making it the lengthiest championship drought in NHL history.

The following seasons saw the Maple Leafs emerge as victorious in the Stanley Cup.

• 1917–18
• 1921–22
• 1931–32
• 1941–42
• 1944–45
• 1946–47
• 1947–48
• 1948–49
• 1950–51
• 1961–62
• 1962–63
• 1963–64
• 1966–67

Detroit Red Wings: 11 Stanley Cups

Established in 1926, the Red Wings proudly hold the distinction of being one of the Original Six teams in the NHL.

With the guidance of the legendary Gordie Howe, the team clinched victory in four Stanley Cup championships, while under the leadership of Steve Yzerman, they triumphed in three.

The following seasons witnessed the Red Wings as victorious Stanley Cup winners.

• 1935–36
• 1936–37
• 1942–43
• 1949–50
• 1951–52
• 1953–54
• 1954–55
• 1996–97
• 1997–98
• 2001–02
• 2007–08

Boston Bruins and Chicago Blackhawks: Six Stanley Cups

Boston and Chicago both have an equal number of six Stanley Cup victories, placing them tied for fourth.

After 39 years without a Stanley Cup victory, the Bruins finally ended their drought by winning the championship in the 2010-11 season. Prior to that, the Bruins had also secured the Stanley Cup in the seasons of 1928-29, 1938-39, 1940-41, 1969-70, and 1971-72.

The Blackhawks clinched their most recent Stanley Cup Finals victory in 2015, securing their third championship within a span of six seasons. Prior to that, the Blackhawks were crowned Stanley Cup winners in the subsequent seasons:

• 1933–34
• 1937–38
• 1960–61
• 2009–10
• 2012–13
• 2014–15

Edmonton Oilers and Pittsburgh Penguins: Five Stanley Cups

Edmonton and Pittsburgh share the distinction of having won the Stanley Cup five times each.

In the 1980s, the Oilers emerged as a dominant force in the NHL, securing an impressive five Stanley Cups within a span of seven years. Spearheading their success was the iconic Wayne Gretzky, who played an instrumental role on the team. Despite their remarkable achievements, the Oilers made the unexpected decision to trade Gretzky to the Los Angeles Kings in 1988. Surprisingly, even without their legendary player, the team managed to claim their fifth Stanley Cup in 1990.

The following seasons saw the Oilers emerge as victorious in the Stanley Cup.

• 1983–84
• 1984–85
• 1986–87
• 1987–88
• 1989–90

In the early 1990s, the Penguins emerged victorious in consecutive Stanley Cup championships, thanks to the remarkable skills of NHL icon Mario Lemieux. Fast forward to the new millennium, the Penguins have triumphed three additional times, with Sidney Crosby leading the way to back-to-back titles in 2015-16 and 2016-17.

The following seasons witnessed the Penguins emerging as champions of the Stanley Cup.

• 1990–91
• 1991–92
• 2008–09
• 2015–16
• 2016–17

Recent longshots to win the Stanley Cup

In the NHL, it has become quite common to witness underdogs emerge victorious or at least make it to the Stanley Cup Finals. Let’s explore the surprising journeys of five recent NHL teams who defied the odds and left the hockey world in awe.

1. St. Louis Blues: 2018-19

It was the St. Louis Blues’ turn to play Stanley Cup Cinderella, just like the Las Vegas Golden Knights did a year prior. However, this time, the glass slipper fit perfectly.

Despite being in last place in the league as late as January 2019 and considered 250-1 longshots, the Blues managed to secure their first-ever Stanley Cup victory in franchise history.

The team united and persevered to secure a spot in the NHL Playoffs, triumphing in two intense Game 7s to progress to the highly anticipated Stanley Cup Finals. In a thrilling seven-game series, they emerged victorious against the formidable Boston Bruins.

2. Pittsburgh Penguins: 2015-16

At the beginning of the NHL Playoffs in 2016, the Pittsburgh Penguins, who had dismissed their coach a third of the way into the season, were considered highly unlikely with odds of 14-1 to win the Stanley Cup.

Despite being matched up against the New York Rangers, the team that had eliminated them from the NHL Playoffs in the previous two seasons, the team still secured the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference. They triumphed over the Rangers in a five-game series, followed by a six-game victory against the Presidents’ Trophy-winning Washington Capitals. Their journey to the Stanley Cup Finals was sealed after a thrilling Game 7 win against the Tampa Bay Lightning in the Eastern Conference Finals.

The Penguins emerged victorious over the San Jose Sharks in a thrilling six-game series, securing their fourth Stanley Cup for the franchise. Impressively, they managed to defend their title the following year, although their chances of success were notably diminished.

3. Los Angeles Kings: 2011-12

The Los Angeles Kings of the 2011-12 season entered the Western Conference Playoffs as the eighth seed and were considered unlikely contenders with odds of 17-1 to win the Stanley Cup.

Nevertheless, the team achieved its inaugural Stanley Cup Championship triumph by defeating the Conference’s top three seeds prior to overcoming the New Jersey Devils in the Stanley Cup Finals. Throughout the playoffs, the Kings encountered a mere four losses, with two occurring in the Stanley Cup Finals.

4. Boston Bruins: 2010-11

One year prior to the unexpected victory of Los Angeles, the Boston Bruins defied the odds as the third seed in the Eastern Conference and 17-1 underdogs to clinch the Stanley Cup, putting an end to their prolonged dry spell.

Despite losing the first two games at home, the Bruins overcame their longtime rival, the sixth-seeded Montreal, in the first round. They emerged victorious in overtime during Game 7, ultimately sweeping the second-seeded Philadelphia Flyers in the subsequent series.

After a grueling seven-game series against the Tampa Bay Lightning, the Bruins emerged victorious in the Eastern Conference Finals. Their next challenge awaited them in the form of the formidable Vancouver Canucks, who had clinched the Presidents’ Trophy. The stage was set for an epic showdown in the Stanley Cup finals.

After Vancouver took a 2-0 lead, Boston managed to win two games, lose one in the fifth match, and secure a Game 7 by triumphing in Game 6. Ultimately, the Bruins put an end to their 39-year wait for the Stanley Cup by dominating Game 7 with a remarkable 4-0 victory.

The biggest upsets in NHL playoff history

2011-12 Kings-Canucks

The Vancouver Canucks of the 2011-12 season were formidable contenders in their pursuit of the Stanley Cup. Finishing the regular season on a high note, the team clinched their second consecutive Presidents’ Trophy, solidifying their status as the top seed in the NHL Playoffs.

Despite winning only one out of five games against the Los Angeles Kings, they faced a major upset in the first round of the playoffs. To everyone’s surprise, the Kings, who were considered unlikely contenders, went on to win the Stanley Cup.

2009-2010 Canadiens-Capitals

In the 2009-2010 NHL season, the Washington Capitals proved to be an unstoppable force on offense, dominating their way to clinching the prestigious President’s Trophy. On the other hand, the Canadiens barely managed to secure a spot in the NHL Playoffs.

Despite winning Game 1 and coming close to winning Game 2, Montreal was unable to stop the Capitals from securing three consecutive victories, resulting in a 3-1 lead in the series. However, the Canadiens managed to survive Games 5 and 6. In a historic turn of events, Montreal became the first No. 8 seed to overcome a 3-1 disadvantage and defeat a No. 1 seed by emerging victorious in Game 7, which took place in Washington.

In addition to defeating the defending champion Pittsburgh and their superstar Sidney Crosby in a thrilling seven-game series, the Canadiens’ remarkable journey came to an end when they faced a defeat in the Eastern Conference finals against the Philadelphia Flyers.

2002-03 Wild-Avalanche

The 2002-03 Colorado Avalanche boasted a roster packed with renowned players like Joe Sakic, Peter Forsberg, Adam Foote, and Patrick Roy. On the other hand, their first-round opponents, the No. 6-seeded Wild team, were comprised of underappreciated heroes, as the recently formed expansion franchise was venturing into its inaugural playoff appearance.

In Game 1, the Wild emerged victorious, but the Avalanche dominated with a 3-1 lead before the Wild retaliated in an intense Game 7 overtime thriller to ultimately win the series.

1981-82 Kings-Oilers

The Oilers’ record was an impressive 17 losses leading up to the NHL Playoffs this season, while the Kings struggled with a sub-.500 record.

Taking into account the presence of peak-Wayne Gretzky, who scored an astounding 212 points, it is important to note that the Oilers also had notable players such as Mark Messier, Paul Coffey, and Grant Fuhr. On the other hand, the Kings had Marcel Dionne as their standout player, lacking much strength in their lineup beyond him.

After splitting the first two games, the teams witnessed The Miracle on Manchester.

In the third period of Game 3, at their home rink on Manchester Boulevard, the Kings found themselves trailing by a score of 5-0.

After the Oilers took a five-minute major in the third period, the Kings managed to score three goals, narrowing the gap to just two. Eventually, with only five seconds remaining, the Kings successfully tied the game and went on to win it in overtime.

In NHL Playoff history, the game became renowned for being the most colossal comeback ever witnessed, and the Kings skillfully harnessed the resulting momentum to swiftly eliminate the Oilers in Game 4.

2005-06 Oilers-Red Wings

Despite their domination in the 1980s, the Oilers failed to achieve much success for their franchise. However, as the 2005-06 season approached, the team had been unable to win a playoff series for eight consecutive years.

With a roster filled with legendary players like Steve Yzerman, Brendan Shanahan, and Chris Chelios, the Red Wings dominated the regular season, boasting the best record in the league.

The Oilers, seeded No. 8, were not terrible, but they were far from legendary. After evenly splitting the first four games, goalie Dwayne Roloson unexpectedly led the Oilers to a victory in Game 5.

In Game 6, the Oilers fell behind 2-0 initially, but managed to equalize the score. The Wings took a 3-2 lead, however, the Oilers once again leveled the score and ultimately emerged victorious with a game-winning goal in the final minute of regular play.

As a result, Yzerman played his final game. In the meantime, the Oilers made it to the Stanley Cup Finals but were defeated by the Carolina Hurricanes after a grueling seven-game series.