2026 NHL Conference Championship Odds | East & West Betting Lines

• Track the odds for all 32 NHL teams to win their conference championship
• Carolina leads the Eastern Conference at +380, Vegas tops the West at +400
• Florida’s three-peat champions dropped to +550 after losing Aleksander Barkov

Betting on the Stanley Cup is not the only way to put money on NHL futures. A raft of sportsbooks routinely post odds to win each conference. The odds fluctuate throughout the season as teams play better/worse, make significant trades, and suffer key injuries.

This odds tracker monitors each of the 32 NHL teams’ odds to win their conference. The tables are divided along East/West lines.

The Eastern Conference race has been turned upside down after Florida’s Aleksander Barkov suffered a season-ending injury. Carolina has emerged as the new favorite, while the defending champion Panthers face an uphill battle without their captain. In the West, Vegas leads a tight four-team race after adding Mitch Marner.

2026 Eastern Conference Champion Odds

NHL Eastern Conference odds above are updated every 15-60 minutes from top sportsbooks including DraftKings, FanDuel, and BetMGM among others.

The Carolina Hurricanes lead Eastern Conference betting at +380 following major roster improvements. The odds reflect a 20.8% implied probability of reaching the Stanley Cup Final. A $20 wager on Carolina would return $96 total, including $76 in profit.

• [September 29]: Carolina has emerged as the Eastern Conference favorite at +380 after Florida’s Aleksander Barkov suffered a season-ending injury. The defending champion Panthers dropped from +300 to +550.

Past 10 Eastern Conference Champions

*Note: the current playoff seeding process was adopted in 2014 playoffs.

Florida’s three-peat hopes took a major hit with Barkov’s injury. The Panthers had won three straight Eastern Conference titles, joining elite company with Tampa Bay and Pittsburgh as the only teams to achieve that feat in the cap era. Now Carolina and Tampa Bay have surged past them in the odds.

The Hurricanes have been knocking on the door for years, reaching 100+ points in four of the past five seasons. Their addition of Nikolaj Ehlers and K’Andre Miller during the offseason finally gives them the offensive depth to compete with anyone in a seven-game series.

Looking for the latest NHL odds? – Get current moneyline odds, puck lines, and totals for all upcoming games today here.

2026 Western Conference Champion Odds

NHL Western Conference odds above are updated every 15-60 minutes.

Vegas Golden Knights top the Western Conference market at +400 after acquiring Mitch Marner from Toronto. The acquisition gives them a 20% implied chance of reaching the Finals. A $20 bet on Vegas would net $80 in profit with a total return of $100.

• [September 29]: Vegas has opened as +400 Western Conference favorites, with Edmonton (+450) and Colorado (+450) close behind. The Stars sit fourth at +475 after their trade deadline acquisitions.

Past 10 Western Conference Champions

*Note: the current playoff seeding process was adopted in 2014 playoffs. The 2021 season featured realigned divisions due to COVID-19 restrictions.

The Western Conference race shapes up as the most competitive in years. Vegas (+400), Edmonton (+450), Colorado (+450), and Dallas (+475) are tightly bunched at the top of the odds board, reflecting genuine uncertainty about who will emerge from the West.

Edmonton has reached consecutive Stanley Cup Finals but fell to Florida both times. The Oilers’ championship window with Connor McDavid entering his contract year adds urgency to their pursuit. Vegas made the biggest splash by acquiring Mitch Marner, giving Jack Eichel the elite linemate he’s needed.

Colorado boasts the most raw talent when healthy, but injuries have plagued them in recent years. Dallas represents the most complete team with elite goaltending from Jake Oettinger and balanced scoring throughout their lineup.

Conference Championship Trends

• Three-peats have become more common: Florida just completed a three-peat (2023-2025), joining Tampa Bay (2020-2022) and Pittsburgh (2016-2017) as teams to win three straight conference titles in the salary cap era. Now Florida attempts an unprecedented fourth straight.
• Wild cards can win: Six teams seeded as wild cards have won their conference since 2014, including Florida in 2023 and Nashville in 2017.
• Home ice matters less: Five of the past 10 conference champions didn’t have home-ice advantage in the conference finals.
• Experience counts: Eight of the past 10 Stanley Cup champions had previously reached at least one conference final with their core group.

Archived NHL Conference Odds:

• 2022
• 2021
• 2020