The 2024-2025 NHL season will be a competitive one in the Eastern Conference. The Florida Panthers are looking for their third straight Eastern Conference title, but they will have plenty of competition from some elite teams in the East. Here, we break down the Eastern Conference championship odds list for the season to come on the ice and what the outlook is like for the favorites to represent the East in the Stanley Cup Final.
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Eastern Conference Championship Odds
| Team | Eastern Conference Championship Odds |
| Carolina Hurricanes | +320 |
| Florida Panthers | +400 |
| Toronto Maple Leafs | +550 |
| New Jersey Devils | +550 |
| Washington Capitals | +700 |
| Tampa Bay Lightning | +800 |
| New York Rangers | +1800 |
| Boston Bruins | +2200 |
| Ottawa Senators | +2500 |
| New York Islanders | +5000 |
| Detroit Red Wings | +7500 |
| Columbus Blue Jackets | +7500 |
| Pittsburgh Penguins | +10000 |
| Philadelphia Flyers | +10000 |
| Montreal Canadiens | +10000 |
| Buffalo Sabres | +20000 |
Eastern Conference Championship Favorites
Carolina Hurricanes
Last season, the New York Rangers won the Presidents’ Trophy as the team with the highest point total in the NHL during the regular season. They did so in the same division as the Carolina Hurricanes. This year, the Hurricanes are playing better hockey than the Rangers in the Metro Division, with Carolina being favorites to win the Eastern Conference. Carolina is not in first place in the Metro, but they are playing spectacular hockey and should be one of the last teams standing in the East.
Florida Panthers
The Florida Panthers have won the Eastern Conference in two straight seasons, winning and losing one Stanley Cup Final over that span. Florida has had the number of the Boston Bruins in the postseason in the first two rounds of the playoffs in each of the last two years and have taken down the last team standing in the Metropolitan Division as well. This season, the Panthers will look to defend their Eastern Conference and Stanley Cup titles in the 2024-25 season, with the question being if they can simply sustain the level of play they have exhibited over the last couple of years.
Toronto Maple Leafs
Among the favorites to win the NHL Eastern Conference title are the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Leafs have not exactly been known for postseason success in their recent history. But their play in the regular season has certainly been good enough to put them in the conference title conversation. As they gain more experience in the playoffs, they could finally put everything together and make it to the Stanley Cup Final, especially if they can win the Atlantic Division and earn home-ice advantage for some stages of the playoffs.
New Jersey Devils
Also on the short list of Eastern Conference title contenders are the New Jersey Devils. The Devils had some injury issues last year that derailed their season. This season, that has not been as big a concern just yet and the Devils have benefited from being healthy on the ice together again. If they can stay that way, New Jersey will be one of the last teams standing in the East.
Other NHL Eastern Conference Title Contenders
There is a group of three or four teams behind the top-four favorites listed above that also have a chance to win the Eastern Conference this season. The Washington Capitals and Tampa Bay Lightning are being given decent shots by oddsmakers to make a run to the Eastern Conference title.
Washington is especially interesting as they have built a huge lead in the Metropolitan Division over the Hurricanes and the rest of the division. Still, oddsmakers appear skeptical about Washington’s viability as a serious contender to win the East for now.
