The NHL’s landscape is changing.

The salary cap has exploded. Star players are wielding power. More teams are thinking outside the box with their front office hires.

But one thing that, thankfully, hasn’t changed is that the race for the Stanley Cup should be wide open. There are eight teams between +650 and 13/1 odds at FanDuel Sportsbook, and nine under 20/1.

The Florida Panthers are the favorites at +650 after a Murphy’s Law season kept them out of the playoffs in their bid to three-peat, but the Cats reloaded in the summer by acquiring Brady Tkachuk from the Ottawa Senators.

The Colorado Avalanche will check into the new campaign as the second favorite (+700) after winning the Presidents’ Trophy last year, while the defending champion Carolina Hurricanes are just a shade back at +800.

With so much uncertainty and chaos expected, we’ve gathered our favorite value bets for the upcoming season, starting with a great price on a serious Stanley Cup contender:

NHL 2026-27 season preview, best bets

Stanley Cup: Montreal Canadiens (25/1, Fanatics sportsbook)

The Montreal Canadiens made it to the Eastern Conference finals last spring, but they’re just getting started. This elite young core should only get better, and the stability under Martin St. Louis, now the fourth-longest-tenured coach in the NHL, should continue to pay off.

I get the concerns about playing in the juggernaut Atlantic Division, but no team in the NHL has a higher ceiling than the Habs.

Hart Trophy: Matthew Schaefer, Islanders (100/1, bet365) and Wyatt Johnston, Dallas Stars (300/1, bet365)

Sometimes a player’s price in one market can help you find value in another. That’s the case for both Schaefer and Johnston.

Schaefer, fresh off a near-unanimous Calder Trophy, is 15/1 to win the Norris Trophy in his sophomore campaign on Long Island. If he does that, which means he beats out Cale Makar, Quinn Hughes, and Lane Hutson, there’s a strong chance he’ll be in the conversation for the Hart Trophy, especially since he’s become a face of the league.

As for Johnston, he’s 16/1 to lead the NHL in goals this season and 300/1 to win the Hart. That doesn’t make sense. He potted 45 for the Dallas Stars in 2025-26 and has increased his total in each of his first four campaigns. A 60-goal campaign is not out of the question for the 23-year-old and would be enough to get him on plenty of ballots.

Calder Trophy: Viggo Bjorck, Winnipeg Jets (40/1, DraftKings)

The Winnipeg Jets have made no secret that they’re willing to commit to Bjorck as the No. 2 center as long as he shows well in camp. Judging by the early returns in rookie camp, the Swede seems like a safe bet to do just that. I have a feeling this number will be slashed in half by the time we get to Opening Night, so act fast.

Norris Trophy: Jake Sanderson, Ottawa Senators (33/1, bet365)

The now-departed Brady Tkachuk was the face of the Ottawa Senators, but Jake Sanderson is undoubtedly the team’s most important player. The American rearguard is an every-situation defender for Travis Green, racking up nearly 25 minutes of ice time per game. If his offense ticks up even just a little bit, he’ll be a serious contender for this award.

Betting on the NHL?

Jack Adams: Scott Arniel, Winnipeg Jets (60/1, bet365)

The Jets are dealing with a lot of off-the-ice turmoil. Star goaltender Connor Hellebuyck wants out, and there are questions about whether more of Winnipeg’s best players will follow him out the door in due time. Since that’s eating up a lot of the oxygen, plenty of pundits are overlooking that this team has a decent chance to contend for a playoff spot.

With everything going against the Jets, just getting them to the postseason would be enough to put Arniel in the conversation for the Jack Adams.

Why Trust New York Post Betting

Michael Leboff is a long-suffering Islanders fan, but a long-profiting sports bettor with 10 years of experience in the gambling industry. He loves using game theory to help punters win bracket pools, find long shots, and learn how to beat the market in mainstream and niche sports.