The 2025 NHL season is quickly approaching, with early speculation already circulating about how teams will perform once play begins. Roster adjustments, off-season acquisitions, and ongoing injury concerns have become the focal points for analysts studying preseason projections. As clubs finalize training camp rosters and prepare for opening night, the discussion centers on how preseason expectations will match the realities on the ice once games begin.
Sportsbooks and sportswriters have started updating their outlooks with the regular season set to begin on October 7. Off-season moves, player development, and the health of star athletes remain the primary influences on futures odds and team forecasts. Notably, the market for team point totals and Stanley Cup futures remains as active as ever, reflecting heightened competition and a deep pool of contending rosters. You can bet on ice hockey at online casino in Canada across different markets, including single games, player props, and Stanley Cup futures.
Stanley Cup Futures
Stanley Cup futures have stabilized since the end of last season, with several franchises projecting strongly into the new campaign. The Edmonton Oilers and Colorado Avalanche have emerged as Western Conference favorites. Edmonton enters the new season led by Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, both coming off high-performing campaigns. The Avalanche feature Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen, who combined for 111 goals and 208 points during the 2024-25 season.
Florida is also highly rated after winning last year’s championship. Their mix of speed, forechecking pressure, and defensive structure, anchored by Sergei Bobrovsky, positions them tightly in early projections for another deep run. The Panthers concluded the previous season with 110 points and ranked among the league’s elite offensively and defensively.
Health concerns complicate several teams’ outlooks. The Vegas Golden Knights, who finished last season with 47 wins and 107 points, will open 2025-26 with questions about their defensive core after injuries to multiple top-four blueliners. Similarly, Tampa Bay rates near the top but is closely monitoring the status of Andrei Vasilevskiy and Victor Hedman, whose health will be pivotal in maintaining their playoff push.
Meanwhile, the Chicago Blackhawks don’t project as frontrunners in Cup odds, but Connor Bedard’s performance remains a central storyline. Bedard tallied 63 points in his rookie campaign and enters 2025-26 primed for a larger role, generating widespread interest in individual performance markets.
Impact of Player Movement
Trades and free-agent signings have continued to shape team prospects. The Vancouver Canucks, for example, deepened their top six with an acquisition this offseason, sparking a jump in their projected point total from mid-90s to near 102 as optimism builds around their scoring depth and defensive upgrades. The New Jersey Devils, another club active in the market, addressed goaltending concerns by signing a veteran netminder after posting a .889 team save percentage last season.
Teams contending for playoff berths often seek depth forwards or reliable goaltenders in the offseason. The Dallas Stars are notably well-positioned after adding secondary scoring to complement their core. Dallas wrapped up last year with 113 points, demonstrating their strength down the middle and strong two-way play.
Growing Popularity of Player Props
Interest in player proposition bets has grown considerably. Connor Bedard’s goal-scoring and point totals have proven a popular focus; he finished his rookie year with 22 goals and 63 points, a significant output for a first-year center. Auston Matthews, often a fixture in scoring discussions, finished last season with 33 goals. That total ranked him 27th in the league for goals scored in 2024-25, notably outside the top 25—reflecting a below-average campaign compared to previous seasons.
David Pastrnak continues to influence point total projections. The Boston Bruins winger ended the 2024-25 season with 43 goals and 106 points, underscoring his status as a reliable contributor and frequent fixture near the top of offensive leaderboards. Power play deployment contributes to these projections, with players like Mikko Rantanen (42 goals last season) and Jason Robertson (40 goals) gaining value through special teams minutes.
Goaltenders often command similar attention in prop markets, with Jake Oettinger (Dallas) and Igor Shesterkin (New York Rangers) remaining popular picks after each posted save percentages above .914 last season.
Team Point Totals and Early Trends
Team point totals have become a hybrid prop-futures market, especially as parity increases across the league. The Vegas Golden Knights are projected with a strong total for 2025-26—reflecting offensive talent and recent seasons finishing above 100 points—but injuries could pose a challenge. Colorado and Dallas sit again in the top range, with consensus forecasts placing them near 107 and 113 points, respectively, and both returning much of their core rosters.
Carolina also features prominently in preseason outlooks; the Hurricanes closed last year with 111 points, boosted by their disciplined defensive system and standout goaltending. Toronto’s projection sits in the mid-90s, slightly lower than previous years after defensive lapses last season resulted in an early playoff exit and 102 points.
The New York Rangers remain steady at just below triple digits after finishing with 104 points and relying heavily on Shesterkin’s consistency between the pipes.
What to Watch Moving Forward
The league’s unpredictable nature means projections will shift as the regular season unfolds. Roster depth, injuries, and scheduling quirks will produce adjustment opportunities for bettors and sportswriters. Teams that maintain strong goaltending and balanced scoring often exceed expectations, while sustained injuries or defensive questions can quickly derail a promising campaign.
For now, the Oilers, Avalanche, Panthers, Stars, and Hurricanes enter the new season as strong contenders based on their recent performance and roster strength. However, as recent history has shown, late-season surges from unexpected teams can reshape Cup consideration and change the outlook for futures and point totals.
With opening night approaching, the storylines will center on how quickly teams adjust to off-season changes and which clubs convert potential into consistent performance. The coming months will clarify which early projections hold and which will require revision, leaving room for further surprises as the 2025-26 NHL season takes shape.
