NHL Futures Odds

Hockey is an incredibly exciting sport. On the ice, players delight us with last-minute goals, surprising saves, and speedy runs, while at the same time engaging in the sporadic brawl that can make the outcome of a hockey game unpredictable until the very end. 

This pinnacle of excitement comes to an end with the Stanley Cup Finals, a competition for hockey’s major trophy that is witnessed by millions of viewers around the world, and that drives significant sports betting activity. 

Regardless of the squad that you are rooting for to win the next Stanley Cup, or who your favorite players are, NHL Futures bets are a dynamic and fun way for you to join the action and have added motivation as you cheer for your team throughout the season. 

What are NHL Futures Odds? 

A futures bet is a type of bet that you can place to predict the outcome of a future event. 

For example, when betting on the NHL, you can predict:

1. Which team will win the NHL Stanley Cup? 
2. Who will be the season’s Most Valuable Player and win the Hart Trophy? 
3. Who will win the Calder Trophy, which is given to the season’s best rookie? 

Something that makes NHL Futures really exciting is that, because you can place the bet from the beginning of the season, or even before the season starts, you can likely get very good odds. 

This doesn’t mean that you can only place an NHL Futures bet before the season starts. You can also place a bet once the season is underway, but, since there will be more information available as to how teams are performing, the odds will constantly fluctuate. 

When you glance at the odds listed by the bookmakers before placing an NHL Futures bet, it will be helpful for you to remember the concept of implied probability. 

Basically, implied probability is the likelihood that an outcome will occur, based on the sportsbook’s analysis. You can then compare this with your analysis, and see whether the odds present an opportunity for value betting. 

There are numerous factors that sportsbooks consider to determine these odds, among them the NHL Entry Draft selections that your team made, whether they signed up any free agents, or other news from the transfer market. 

Then, as the season evolves, other factors considered include injuries, suspensions, as well as any relevant off-court events that can affect the performance of a player or a team. 

If you are looking at NHL Futures Odds, there are three basic formats in which they will be displayed: American odds, fractional odds, and decimal odds. 

To assist your understanding, we have prepared this comprehensive guide so that you can understand the three formats in-depth and are able to estimate your potential payouts. This will help you make better wagering decisions. 

In addition to this, we highly recommend that you shop around several sportsbooks to scout for the best odds available. Here at Lines, we are partnered with the nation’s top legal sportsbooks, and you can consult the best odds through our dynamic dashboard. 

Conference Championship Futures

To win the right to participate in the battle for the Stanley Cup, teams need to win their conference first. There are two conferences in the NHL, the Eastern Conference and the Western Conference. And the road to the conference finals is usually packed with noteworthy moments, the kind of plays that make hockey worth following. 

Eastern Conference Odds

The Eastern Conference boasts teams that are well-known for their long-standing tradition and valuable contributions to the history of the game, such as the Montréal Canadiens, the Boston Bruins, and the Pittsburgh Penguins. Players like Mario Lemieux and Sidney Crosby have gone on to set important records in the conference. 

Here are the past five Eastern Conference champions, considering that in 2021, the conference-based playoffs did not take place due to the global pandemic.

1. 2017: Pittsburgh Penguins (d. Ottawa Senators)
2. 2018: Washington Capitals (d. Tampa Bay Lightning)
3. 2019: Boston Bruins (d. Carolina Hurricanes)
4. 2020: Tampa Bay Lightning (d. New York Islanders)
5. 2022: Tampa Bay Lightning (d. New York Rangers)

Do you have what it takes to predict the next Eastern Conference champion? Besides the recent champions listed above, teams like the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Florida Panthers, and the New Jersey Devils are always contenders to lift the Prince of Wales trophy. Who’s next? 

Western Conference Odds

In the same vein as the Eastern Conference, the final match of the NHL Western Conference is a highly-anticipated encounter that brings goosebumps to millions of hockey fans. 

The defending champions, the Colorado Avalanche, come from the Western Conference, joining teams like the Vancouver Canucks, the Detroit Red Wings, and the iconic Anaheim Ducks in the competition for the Clarence S. Campbell Bowl. 

Here are the past five Western Conference champions, again, remembering that in 2021, there were no conference-based playoffs. 

1. 2017: Nashville Predators (d. Anaheim Ducks)
2. 2018: Vegas Golden Knights (d. Winnipeg Jets)
3. 2019: St. Louis Blues (d. San Jose Sharks)
4. 2020: Dallas Stars (d. Vegas Golden Knights)
5. 2022: Colorado Avalanche (d. Edmonton Oilers)

Right now, the odds are up, and whether you support any of the teams that have dominated the conference in recent years, emerging squads like the Seattle Kraken, or are backing an underdog to complete the NHL’s next fairytale story, the Western Conference futures will surely bring some excitement to your betting action. 

Stanley Cup Futures

The Stanley Cup, being one of the most anticipated events of the year, is always a source of exhilaration for hardcore fans and hockey enthusiasts alike. 

Having said this, predicting the next NHL Stanley Cup winner is one of the most sought-after NHL Futures bets. 

Seasoned NHL followers will surely remember epic renaissances, like the one led by coach Craig Berube and goaltender Jordan Binnington to lead the St. Louis Blues in a heroic upset of the Boston Bruins in 2019. The Bruins themselves have been the underdogs, surprising the all-mighty favorites Vancouver Canucks to win the 2011 NHL Stanley Cup. 

As the season gets underway, anything can happen. Have you been following a team for some time and believe that their young players are ready to blossom? Has your team made splash signings in the transfer market? Are the Toronto Maple Leafs ready to end their 55-year Stanley Cup drought? 

Regardless of who you root for, wagering in anticipation of the next Stanley Cup winner will keep your energy buzzing until the very end. 

How to Bet on NHL Futures

Once you’ve identified what you want to wager on for your next NHL Futures Bet, go to your sportsbook of choice and create an account. Remember that, at Lines.com, we are partnered with all of the leading legally-authorized sportsbooks in the nation, including FanDuel, DraftKings, and BetMGM. The list of sportsbooks available might vary from state to state. 

If you need more information before choosing a sportsbook, check out our review section to compare the different features, welcome bonuses and exclusive promotions that each sportsbook has to offer. 

A few reminders for you to keep in mind when placing an NHL Futures bet:

1. Follow the transfer market and the NHL Entry Draft, as any signing your team makes will alter the odds that the sportsbooks assign to it
2. Stay up to date on injuries and other off-court events that could affect your team’s performance
3. Understand the strategies and dynamics that happen on the rink
4. Shop around for the best odds available
5. Set a budget and bet responsibly. Only bet what you can afford to lose

Futures Bets for NHL 2023-2024 Season

As explained, NHL Futures bets are a great way to prop up your enthusiasm for hockey and have an added reason to follow the games and your team’s performance closely. 

And while we have listed some of the main future betting markets that sportsbooks offer, there are additional NHL Future bets that you can place, among them:

1. #1 Overall Pick for the NHL Draft
2. Winner of the Conn Smythe Trophy (Given to the playoffs’ MVP)
3. Which two teams will play in the Eastern Conference final matchup? 

These are just examples. The futures market is very broad, so to learn more, visit your sportsbook of choice, and stay tuned for the exclusive content that we’ll keep generating here at Lines to assist you to maximize your chances of placing winning wagers.