What Are the Strongest NHL Playoff Divisions For 2025?

I’m sure NHL fans are counting down the days to the playoffs like kids do for Christmas, wondering how many ‘sleeps’ they have left until the most exciting team in sports. 

The divisional and Wild Card standings are about to be locked in, but, not all divisions are created equally this postseason. Some divisions are more likely to produce the eventual Stanley Cup winner than others. 

With that in mind, here’s a look at the odds for what division will win the Stanley Cup this spring.

Central (+180)

This year’s central standings is stacked with three of the foremost contenders in the NHL coming from this division. 

Winnipeg, Dallas and Colorado have a combined 320 points between them. Additionally, both of the current Western Conference Wild Card teams, St Louis and Minnesota, are from the Central Division. 

So, not only does the division boast the current odds-favorite to win the Stanley Cup, the Dallas Stars, but they also have the hottest team in hockey over the last few weeks in St Louis. They probably could also have the President’s Trophy winner, in Winnpieg, as well as a playoff team with a Hart contender and a Norris Trophy favorite, in Colorado. 

What this division lacks, though, is the playoff seasoning that’s in some of the other divisions. Outside of Colorado, the teams don’t have a Stanley Cup win in their recent history. 

But with an impressive regular season in the Central Division it makes sense that oddsmakers have named them as the most likely to produce the Stanley Cup winner. 

Atlantic (+230)

The Atlantic Division is probably the most premier division in the NHL. A lot of the league’s most historic teams and current contenders live in this division. 

In my view, the Florida Panthers are still the team to beat in this year’s playoffs, despite their recent bad stretch of games and the injuries throughout their roster. Additionally, Toronto and Tampa Bay are perenially strong teams who could be looking at a breakthrough run to the Stanley Cup this season. And like the Central Division in the West, the two current Eastern Conference Wild Card teams come from the Atlantic. 

What’s worth considering also is their competition across the Eastern Conference in the Metropolitan Division, which is significantly weaker than the Atlantic. 

While it’s hard to envision a run to the Cup final for Montreal or Ottawa, almost any of these teams could be the one raising the Stanley Cup this offseason. 

Pacific (+340)

This year’s Pacific Division is a little less imposing than in previous years but they still have some teams you could envision making a deep run in the playoffs. 

Of course with Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, the Edmonton Oilers will always be viewed as a major Stanley Cup contender, they have +850 odds to win the Stanley Cup. But, Edmonton isn’t the strongest team in the division just by looking at points. Vegas and Los Angeles are the top two seeds in the division and could be Stanley Cup winners in their own right. 

They also have more playoff experience than their Central Division alternates in the Western Conference. If Edmonton is matched up in a series against Winnipeg, for example, the majority of the NHL’s fans and media will likely be viewing the Oilers as the favorite. 

Maybe it’s not as deep as the Central but they’ll still have a good shot at producing the Stanley Cup winner. 

Metropolitan (+360)

A pick for the Metropolitan Division is almost only a pick for the Washington Capitals to win the Stanley Cup. This division is by far the weakest one in the playoffs this year. 

You have the Capitals at the top, who are still in contention for a President’s Trophy if they can close with a flawless stretch this regular season. They have the momentum from the Ovechkin goal-record and the infusion of youth from their Boston College prospect Ryan Leonard who joined the team after BC was eliminated from the NCAA tournament. 

Beyond that, yes, Carolina could be a Stanley Cup contender, they’re +1000 right now to win the Stanley Cup. But, the New Jersey Devils are a real ‘Why are you here?’ team in this playoffs. After the season ending unjury to Jack Hughes before the deadline you’d assume they’d be out of contention by now but their still technically in the hunt for the Stanley Cup. 

If you have a strong belief in the Wahsington Capitals as a playoff contender, I’d grab the +360 odds for the Metro to win the Stanley Cup.