Edmonton Oilers Carry Betting Momentum Into Stanley Cup Final
The buzz in the hockey world couldn’t be louder. The Edmonton Oilers enter the 2025 Stanley Cup Final not just as Western Conference champs, but as the betting darlings of North America. According to the oddsmakers at ESPN BET, Edmonton is sitting at -125 odds to hoist the Cup, nudging out the Florida Panthers in what’s shaping up to be a fiercely watched series. These odds aren't just fabricated numbers—they directly reflect where the money is going.
Right after the matchup was finalized, bookmakers put both teams on equal footing with -110 odds on either side. But within days, something shifted. Casual bettors and high rollers alike have poured money onto the Oilers, pushing their odds into favorite territory. ESPN BET reports Edmonton’s been the pick for a whopping 67% of all Stanley Cup futures bets, and more than 60% of the total amount wagered. It’s not just a small tilt—this is evidence of real, widespread public confidence.
Adrian Horton, ESPN BET's director of North American sports trading, points to the scheduling quirks that could tip the scales. With Edmonton holding home ice for the opener, Game 2, and a possible winner-takes-all Game 7, the crowd’s roar in Rogers Place could be a secret weapon. Home teams traditionally have an edge in hockey’s biggest moments, and the Oilers get that edge when it matters most.
How Historical Weight and Public Sentiment Play Into the Odds
If you’re wondering how unusual it is for a team to be this favored once the finalists are set, get this: the Oilers are as big a favorite as any Cup contender has been since the Vegas Golden Knights just two years back. It’s rare for a team to pull this much betting heat right out of the gate. Still, it’s not just blind optimism propping up Edmonton’s odds.
There’s a powerful storyline at play. It’s been 32 years since a Canadian franchise last claimed Lord Stanley’s mug. From Vancouver’s near-misses to Toronto’s long drought and Montreal’s heartbreaks, the entire country’s hockey hopes seem pinned on Edmonton. The betting activity isn’t just about statistics; it’s about that hunger to see the Cup return north of the border.
Meanwhile, the Florida Panthers are hardly pushovers. They impressed plenty in the Eastern Conference Final and looked confident enough to threaten any opponent. But the betting world seems unmoved, for now. With nearly two-thirds of all bets backing the Oilers, the odds are squarely behind Edmonton’s quest to end decades of Canadian waiting.
Will the sportsbooks—and the fans—prove right? The ice is set, and the crowd is ready. For one of these teams, the spotlight has never burned brighter.
