🏒 Way Too Early 2026-27 Stanley Cup Predictions: Odds, Favorites, Picks

The Hurricanes have just begun their celebrations as newly-minted Stanley Cup champions, but it's never too early to look ahead to what the next NHL season could have in store.

I'm offering my best way-too-early Stanley Cup predictions based on the opening betting odds for 2026-27. There are 10 teams with odds of +2000 or shorter, and even a few long shots that could be in the mix next spring when the Cup will once again be up for grabs.

📊 Stanley Cup odds 2027

Odds via FanDuel as of June 15, 2026.

Top favorites

These are the true proven Stanley Cup contenders heading into next season, headlined by the now defending champion Hurricanes at +650. Six of the seven clubs featured in this group, excluding the Wild, have appeared in at least one Stanley Cup Final over the last five years.

Playoff contenders

With a little bit of roster retooling this summer, you wouldn't have to squint too hard to picture any of these teams making a run next spring. The Senators matured in a big way down the stretch this past season, and oddsmakers clearly expect that trend to continue into 2026-27 as they open with +1600 odds. The Stars and Devils aren't far behind, while the Canadiens sit just 11th on the oddsboard after their surprise run to the Eastern Conference Final.

Long shots

This is where we move into long shot territory. Most of this group missed the playoffs last season, except for the Penguins and Bruins. The Blue Jackets finished the year strong after bringing in Rick Bowness as head coach, while a still-talented Maple Leafs squad was rewarded with the first overall pick in the draft after failing to qualify for the postseason for the first time in a decade.

A year away from being a year away

All three of these clubs have major retools ahead of them before we can even humor their chances of lifting the Stanley Cup. The Flames, Kraken, and Canucks are all being given less than a 0.5% chance of winning the championship in 2027.

🎯 Way-too-early Stanley Cup predictions

My 2026-27 Stanley Cup predictions include a pick from each of the top three groups above, highlighting my best bet among the favorites, playoff contenders, and long shots.

Wild (+1200)

The Wild lineup is full of game-breakers, led by Quinn Hughes, Kirill Kaprizov, and Matt Boldy. Throw in a dominant, aggressive five-on-five play style and one of the league's top goaltending tandems, and there isn't much Minnesota has to tweak to go from contender to champion in 2027. One glaring absence, however, is a No. 1 center, which is a major reason why the Wild fell to the Avalanche in the second round. Great news: Red Wings star center Dylan Larkin has requested a trade, and the Wild are one of the three top teams he reportedly wants to be dealt to this summer.

Stars (+1700)

We're reaching now-or-never territory for the Stars, who have made four Western Conference Finals since 2020. Like we saw with the Hurricanes this season, just because a highly-structured Stars club has come up short time after time doesn't mean they will never get over the hump. Dallas is loaded with both young and veteran talent, including a proven goaltender in Jake Oettinger. Depth has been the Stars' strength for years, and this could be the last season before the cap squeeze finally breaks up the group.

Maple Leafs (+4000)

I know, I know. But this is tremendous value on a Maple Leafs team that was considered a major Cup contender this time last year. Auston Matthews and William Nylander are still the type of one-two punch offensive stars that can take over a series. Toronto also kept the ascending Matthew Knies (after almost trading him at the deadline) and is set to add top prospect Gavin McKenna in the entry draft. They are a long shot for a reason, but the Maple Leafs won't be found this far down the oddsboard for long.