New Stanley Cup Odds Make Toronto Maple Leafs Favourites

It’s been a long time coming. Not since 2004 had the Toronto Maple Leafs won a playoff series. Several dire seasons without postseason participation mired the late 00s and early 2010s. Since 2013 Toronto had earned a playoff spot seven times and failed to vanquish its first opponents. Boston haunted them for a while, Carey Price eliminated them all by himself, the Capitals got them once, and in 2022 it was the Tampa Bay Lightning.

No more tears, Leafs fans.

Before we continue, don’t forget to check out the NHL odds for individual games, NHL series odds, and the NHL Futures for all your Stanley Cup playoffs action.

Stanley Cup Betting Odds

Not only did the club finally win a series, but they avenged last year’s first-round exit against the same Lightning squad. A weight was lifted when John Tavares scored in overtime of Game 6.

From a better’s perspective, the result was the Maple Leafs rising to the top as far as chances of winning the Stanley Cup. They’re currently pegged at +360 after opening the playoffs with the fourth-best odds at +921. When the defending champs are eliminated as well as the team that compiled the greatest statistical regular season ever, that’ll help one’s odds. At the start of round one it was Boston who led the way at +337

They don’t lack the talent required to win it all. Auston Matthews is always a goal-scoring threat, Mitchell Marner is having a great year, William Nylander is dependable and for the first time in a long time, they have a great netminder in Ilya Samsonov. Toronto can score just as efficiently as it can prevent others from doing so.

Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Florida Panthers odds

The Leafs are now -200 favourites to win their series with the Florida Panthers

Interestingly, the club that comes in second behind the Maple Leafs is the Edmonton Oilers. When was the last time Canadian squads were pegged as having the two best odds at winning it all this late in the year? The Oilers are +410, so not that far behind the Leafs.

The ranking is completely understandable given their juggernaut offence of Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, Zach Hyman and the gang. Edmonton also had a nice run last season by participating in the Western Conference final, so they have the experience to go deep. As for the second round, the Oilers will face the Vegas Golden Knights. Edmonton is a -182 favourite.