2023-24 NHL Playoff Odds

NHL playoff odds are now available from top online sportsbooks ahead of the 2023-24 season. Bettors have multiple wagers to choose from, including odds on division winners and conference winners. At this point, top favorites to win their conferences include the Toronto Maple Leafs () and Carolina Hurricanes () in the East, along with the Colorado Avalanche () and Edmonton Oilers () in the West.

Also among the NHL conference favorites are the defending Stanley Cup champion Vegas Golden Knights (), as well as the New Jersey Devils , a young team that surprised many experts with a deep run into last season’s NHL playoffs. Below, we’ll dive into all the NHL playoff odds, including betting lines for every team.

2023-24 NHL playoff odds

Online sportsbooks have released odds on the 2023-24 NHL playoffs. Use the table below to toggle between Stanley Cup odds, conference winner odds, and division winner odds. If you see a bet you like, click the odds number to head to the sportsbook where you can place that wager.

Best odds to win each division

Atlantic Division

Metropolitan Division

Central Division

Pacific Division

NHL team playoff odds for 2023-24

Here’s the rundown on every team headed into this season, along with their odds to win their respective divisions.

Anaheim Ducks (): The Ducks finished at the bottom of the Pacific Division with the worst goal differential in the league last season. Trevor Zegras was a bright spot offensively, but the Ducks are also going to have to shell out serious money to extend some of the team’s young stars.

Arizona Coyotes (): The Coyotes finished last season in disarray, losing seven of their last 10 to finish second to last in the Central Division. The team is still trying to find an arena to play in for the 2023-24 season, and hopes for a brighter future aren’t all that high.

Boston Bruins (): The Bruins had the best record in the NHL last regular season, also setting a new mark as the fastest team to reach 50 wins. That made it all the more disappointing when the team exited the playoffs in the first round, losing in seven games to the eventual Eastern Conference winners.

Buffalo Sabres (): The Sabres just missed the playoffs last season. On the whole, though, the team showed improvement. This is the last year of Owen Power’s rookie contract, and Buffalo is likely already thinking about how much it’s going to cost to keep him.

Calgary Flames (): Last season, the Flames missed the playoffs by only three points, which stung considering what a talented group this is. There’s hope that swapping coaches from Daryl Sutter to Ryan Huska could get the team over the hump this season.

Carolina Hurricanes (): The Hurricanes made it all the way to the Eastern Conference finals but lost a heartbreaking series of close games to the Panthers. Now there’s a good chance the team will lose not just one but two stellar goaltenders to free agency.

Chicago Blackhawks (): The Blackhawks had more regulation losses than any team in the league last season, finishing in the bottom of the Central Division as a result. The upside is that it put Chicago in position to draft Connor Bedard with the top pick.

Colorado Avalanche (): The Avalanche came into last season as the defending Stanley Cup champs, then got bounced in the first round of the playoffs by a Seattle Kraken team in only its second year of existence. Still, the combo of Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen alone ought to make Colorado a favorite.

Columbus Blue Jackets (): Last season, the Blue Jackets had the worst goal differential and the lowest point total in the Eastern Conference — by a lot. The team had a busy offseason, however, retooling its roster and coaching staff.

Dallas Stars (): The Stars finished second in the Central Division and made it all the way to the Western Conference finals last season. The playoff run solidified that this team has serious talent, and young players like Jason Robertson may only be getting better.

Detroit Red Wings (): The Red Wings finished in the bottom half of the Atlantic Division last season, but there’s hope that a few key offseason additions could lead to a playoff run. What Detroit really lacks is offensive firepower, but there’s only so much of that available on the free agent market.

Edmonton Oilers (): The Oilers finished second in the Pacific Division last season and then exited the playoffs in the second round. There’s a looming sense that it’s now or never for the franchise to capitalize on having both Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl on its roster. The team, however, keeps falling just short of living up to what should be enormous potential.

Florida Panthers (): The chronically underestimated Panthers surprised nearly everyone by winning the Eastern Conference before injuries caught up to the team in the Stanley Cup finals. Maybe that disappointing ending after coming so close to winning it all also argues for not relying so heavily on Matthew Tkachuk to do everything.

Los Angeles Kings (): The Kings exited the playoffs in the first round after finishing third in the Pacific Division a season ago. The good news, though, is that Los Angeles has a lot of salary cap room to make offseason improvements.

Minnesota Wild (): The Wild finished third in the Central Division last season and got eliminated in the first round of the playoffs after having one of the best home records in the Western Conference during the regular season. The team targeted centers during this year’s draft, hoping to address some woes up front.

Montreal Canadiens (): The Canadiens finished last in the Atlantic Division a season ago and had a negative goal differential that was almost double that of the next closest team. Montreal had hoped to land Pierre-Luc Dubois but lost him to Los Angeles.

Nashville Predators (): The Predators missed the playoffs by three points last season, but the team was strong defensively all campaign. Andrew Brunette is in as the new head coach, with improving the offense a likely priority.

New Jersey Devils (): The Devils finished second in the Metropolitan Division a season ago after a big campaign but lost in the second round of the playoffs. At 22, Jack Hughes is one of the best young centers in the league. The team, however, has more raw talent than experience at this point.

New York Islanders (): The Islanders just made the playoffs last season, then lost in the first round. There’s a strong returning core, but to improve the offense, help might have to come from outside the current roster.

New York Rangers (): The Rangers had hoped for a better finish than a first-round playoff loss after making some key acquisitions last season. The result was that coach Gerard Gallant got his walking papers as the team looks to retool.

Ottawa Senators (): The Senators have a new owner after missing the playoffs with a sixth-place finish last season, but the offseason instability hasn’t helped attract fresh talent. A rebuilding year seems to be on the horizon.

Philadelphia Flyers (): A season ago, the Flyers finished just above the cellar after a tumultuous campaign, and there’s no clear indication that calmer seas are ahead. Big roster shakeups could be coming, but few are expecting it to result in instant success.

Pittsburgh Penguins (): The Penguins missed the playoffs by two points after a season in which the team seemed always just on the verge of pulling it together and making a run. The good news is that Pittsburgh has the cap space to add some support for Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin as the clock on their playing days winds down.

San Jose Sharks (): The Sharks were second to last in the Pacific Division last season and had a league-low eight home wins. Erik Karlsson now plays for the Penguins following an offseason trade.

Seattle Kraken (): In just the second year of the team’s existence, the Kraken made the playoffs and surpassed expectations by eliminating the defending champs before losing in Game 7 of the second round. Matty Beniers is coming off a rookie season that netted him the Calder Trophy, and Tye Kartye stepped up from the minors in the postseason.

St. Louis Blues (): The Blues finished in the bottom of the Central Division and missed the playoffs last season. Consistency in net was a major problem, and there are concerns that Jordan Binnington may no longer be able to carry the load by himself.

Tampa Bay Lightning (): The Lightning finished third in the Atlantic Division last season before losing in the first round of the playoffs. A once-strong offensive unit now seems to be in decline, and cap space is limiting free agency moves.

Toronto Maple Leafs (): The Maple Leafs broke through on at least one level after finally winning a playoff series last season. What came next, however, was a second-round collapse. An offseason extension for star Auston Matthews is set to make him the highest paid player in the league.

Vancouver Canucks (): The Canucks missed the playoffs by a lot last season with a salary that leaves little room to address some pressing roster needs.

Vegas Golden Knights (): The defending Stanley Cup champs got a stellar performance from backup goaltender Adin Hill during the playoffs. Overall, the postseason run saw goals in bunches from multiple sources who are set to return this season.

Washington Capitals (): The Capitals missed the playoffs and finished in the bottom half of the Metropolitan Division last season, as the team’s stars grow longer in the tooth. Alex Ovechkin’s hunt for the scoring record will likely continue to be a big focus, but he might need some fresh faces to help him.

Winnipeg Jets (): The Jets made the playoffs with a fourth-place finish before losing in the first round last season. Dealing Dubois to Los Angeles brought three new forwards and a draft pick. The question, however, is whether the Jets will go all-in or focus on building for the future.

2022-23 Stanley Cup playoff results

It was a postseason of upsets and unexpected outcomes. Here’s the full rundown on last season’s playoff results in every best-of-seven series.

First round

Florida Panthers over Boston Bruins, 4-3. The Panthers pulled off an upset, defeating the top seed in the Eastern Conference.

Toronto Maple Leafs over Tampa Bay Lightning, 4-2. The Maple Leafs won a playoff series for the first time in 19 years.

Carolina Hurricanes over New York Islanders, 4-2. The Metropolitan Division winners rolled over an Islanders squad that squeaked into the playoffs.

New Jersey Devils over New York Rangers, 4-3. The Devils bounced back after losing the first two games.

Seattle Kraken over Colorado Avalanche, 4-3. The Kraken pulled off an upset by eliminating the defending champions in a contentious series.

Dallas Stars over Minnesota Wild, 4-2. The Stars dropped two of the first three before coming back to reel off three straight wins.

Vegas Golden Knights over Winnipeg Jets, 4-1. After losing the first game in a surprising upset, the Golden Knights won four straight.

Edmonton Oilers over Los Angeles Kings, 4-2. In a series that saw a lot of overtime action, the Oilers advanced with help from star players.

Second round

Florida Panthers over Toronto Maple Leafs, 4-1. Improved playoff hopes proved to be short-lived for the Leafs, who narrowly avoided a sweep.

Carolina Hurricanes over New Jersey Devils, 4-1. The Hurricanes continued to show why they were the top team in their division with a series of blowout wins.

Dallas Stars over Seattle Kraken, 4-3. Without their top scorer after a first-round injury, the Stars still got it done in Game 7 to beat a scrappy Kraken squad.

Vegas Golden Knights over Edmonton Oilers, 4-2. After a close series through the first four games, the Knights pulled away with consecutive wins.

Conference finals

Florida Panthers over Carolina Hurricanes, 4-0. While the sweep made the matchup look more lopsided than it was, the Panthers consistently found a way to get it done in close games.

Vegas Golden Knights over Dallas Stars, 4-2. The Knights jumped out to a commanding 3-0 series lead, and it took a lot of pluck and resiliency for the Stars to make it still somewhat close in the end.

Stanley Cup finals

Vegas Golden Knights over Florida Panthers, 4-1. With the Panthers hampered by injuries, including one that finally knocked top scorer Matthew Tkachuk out of the series, the Knights proved to be too good everywhere.

How to bet on NHL playoff futures

To make the playoffs

Wager on which teams will qualify for the postseason. The final seeding or playoff performance of your pick does not matter for this wager. Your only aim is to correctly identify a team that will make the playoffs.

To win the division

Bet on which teams will win their respective divisions. Part of the appeal of this bet is that — at least far in advance — you can often get favorable odds even on likely division winners. Since division winners are decided by regular season point totals, it also allows you to bet on an NHL team’s performance only in the regular season. This removes a more unpredictable variable since you aren’t betting on results from a short series.

To win the conference

This bet allows you to wager on the winners of either or both conferences. Conference winners are decided in the playoffs, with the winners of the Western Conference and the Eastern Conference meeting to contend for the Stanley Cup. Because only one team can win each conference, you can often get favorable odds before the season starts or while the regular season is underway.

NHL postseason format

Since 1979, the NHL postseason has consisted of 16 teams. The top three teams in each division earn automatic spots, comprising the first 12 teams in the postseason. The remaining four spots go to the next two best records from each conference, regardless of division.

The teams then fill separate brackets for the Eastern and Western Conferences. The top seed in each conference begins the first round against the lowest-ranked wild card team. The four teams from each conference that advance to the second round then play one another to determine the two teams in each conference final. Conference winners then meet in the Stanley Cup finals to determine a champion. All series use the best-of-seven format, with home-ice advantage determining where the first two games of each series are played. In the first two rounds, home-ice advantage goes to the team with the higher standing during the regular season. In the conference finals and Stanley Cup finals, meanwhile, home-ice advantage goes to the better regular season record.

NHL playoff FAQ

When are the Stanley Cup playoffs?

In the NHL, playoffs typically begin in April and last through the end of May, sometimes into early June.

Is it legal to bet on the NHL playoffs?

Yes. In every state where online sports betting is legal, sportsbooks will offer odds on every game during the NHL playoffs.

What can I bet on during the NHL playoffs?

In addition to betting on the winner of each game, there are many other game and player props available at most sportsbooks. This can include goal scorer props, goal totals, spreads and points leaders.

Is live betting available for the NHL playoffs?

Generally yes, though it can depend on the sportsbook and potential legal restrictions in your area. In most places, however, live betting is available for each NHL playoff game.

Who won the 2022-23 Stanley Cup?

The Vegas Golden Knights won the Stanley Cup for the first time in team history, defeating the Florida Panthers in five games.