NHL Eastern Conference Odds: Who Will Win the East?

We’re a few days away from a Stanley Cup playoffs that looks to be as wide open as it’s been in years. 

Without the would-be dynasty of the Florida Panthers, who are almost certainly missing the playoffs this season, a whole host of teams can talk themselves into 2026 being their year.  

Nowhere will that benefit teams more than in the Eastern Conference, where usual Florida rivals like the Hurricanes and Lightning have a much greater chance at winning the Cup without the Panthers. 

The loss of other playoff mainstays like the Maple Leafs and Rangers allows some friskier Eastern Conference teams to earn playoff berths. Teams like the Penguins or Senators probably wouldn’t be playoff teams in years where the usuals were still contending. 

Here’s a look at who has the best odds to represent the East in the Stanley Cup Finals, with odds as of April 14. 

NHL Eastern Conference Odds

Who’s Favored to Win the Eastern Conference?

Carolina Hurricanes (+200)

The Hurricanes have clinched the top seed in the Eastern Conference with a 52-22-7 record and 111 team points, the second-highest points total in the NHL. This is the first time in Carolina’s franchise history that they’ve earned the top seed in the conference. 

The Hurricanes are hoping to move out of a category they’ve been living in for a few years: contender-ish. 

Carolina has made the playoffs every year since the 2018-19 season. During that time, they’ve appeared in the conference finals three times and have only won a single game. Two of those conference finals appearances came against Florida, who are, as noted above, not in the playoffs this year. 

If this Hurricanes team is ever going to make noise in the conference finals and advance to their first Stanley Cup Finals since winning in 2006, this is probably their best chance. 

If the standings hold, Carolina will likely face the second Wild Card team, Ottawa, in the first round. The Hurricanes are 2-1 in their three meetings with the Senators this year, losing 6-3 in the most recent meeting on April 5. 

Assuming Carolina makes it past the first round, they’ll face off against the winner of Pittsburgh-Philadelphia. The Hurricanes should easily dispense with either one of the divisional rivals. 

Their only real test en route to a Finals appearance will be whichever Atlantic Division team reaches the Conference Finals. Carolina has had trouble with the four Atlantic playoff teams this year: Buffalo, Boston, Tampa, and Montreal. They have a 6-6-0 record against, which looks worse than it really is because of a series sweep by the Canadiens. 

Still, I’d take the Hurricanes in a matchup against any of those teams…except for the Lightning. Despite a 2-1-0 record against Tampa, Andrei Vasilevskiy gives them a goalie advantage over Carolina. Maybe Canes tender Brandon Bussi proves he’s in that upper class of netminders, but, for now, in a close series, Vasilevskiy would be a difference maker.