With the Stanley Cup now awarded, the focus shifts to the future as teams prepare for the upcoming season. The 2026 NHL Draft is set to take place in Buffalo next week, followed closely by the start of the new league year and free agency on July 1. As the league landscape prepares for significant changes, discussions about potential Stanley Cup winners for the next season have already begun.
According to BetMGM, the official betting partner of The Hockey News, the Colorado Avalanche emerge as the early favorite to clinch the 2027 Stanley Cup, boasting odds of +700. They are closely followed by the Carolina Hurricanes at +750, the reigning champions of this year’s tournament.
Interestingly, the Florida Panthers, despite not qualifying for the playoffs last season, have received the fifth-shortest odds to win the Cup next year. Panthers fans can find a silver lining in their team’s odds of +1100, which aligns with those of the Edmonton Oilers. Only the Avalanche, Hurricanes, and the Vegas Golden Knights at +1000 have shorter odds than Florida and Edmonton.
This glimpse into future possibilities has excited fans, as the Panthers look to bounce back with a healthier roster. To view the complete list of teams and their respective odds, be sure to check out the BetMGM hockey futures page.
In other news surrounding the Panthers, Brandon Bussi’s Stanley Cup victory has extended Bill Zito’s streak of signing champions, while captain Sasha Barkov has been awarded the Finland Hockey Association’s Annual President’s Trophy. Additionally, the Panthers’ AHL affiliate has signed the brother of a young NHL star, and players have shared their predictions for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Furthermore, the Panthers have teamed up with JetBlue to unveil new fan areas inside the Amerant Bank Arena.
On the trade front, reports have surfaced indicating that the Panthers attempted to deal goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky to the Hurricanes at the 2026 NHL Trade Deadline. As the offseason progresses, all eyes will be on how these developments unfold.
Note: This recap is an independently written summary based on publicly available reporting.
CHI
BOS
STL
DET
TB
NSH
EDM
NYI
BUF
LA
OTT
SJ
PIT
MTL
TOR
VAN
CBJ
DAL
CGY
COL
UTA
PHI
ATL
MIL
SAS
WPG
CAR
MIN
WSH
UTA
PHI
NYR
ANA
BAL
BUF
TEN
CIN
ARI
DAL
MIN
DET
LV
NYJ
CLE
PIT
ATL
TB
IND
JAX
LAC
LA
KC
DEN
NE
MIA
PHI
WAS
ORL
LAC
TOR