2026 Stanley Cup odds: Purple Wings see playoff odds rise as they battle for wild card

Bookmakers had meager expectations for the Detroit Red Wings coming into the NHL season. The Red Wings opened at 75-1 to win the Stanley Cup, and those odds changed to 90-1 by opening night. As they battle the Boston Bruins and Columbus Blue Jackets for one of the Eastern Conference’s wild-card spots, the Red Wings have 60-1 odds to lift the Cup this season.

Though Detroit has not been a very popular pick for the championship, attracting just 4.9% of the wagers and 2.3% of the handle at BetMGM, Todd McLellan’s squad has been the public’s preference to win the East, garnering a sportsbook-leading 13.8% of the tickets in that market. The Wings are -285 odds to make the playoffs at DraftKings.

It was a relatively quiet week at the top of the Stanley Cup odds board, with most of the favorites holding pat on their odds. However, the Dallas Stars, winners of 15 of their past 17, made a move from 14-1 to 12-1, putting them fifth on the board.

The Buffalo Sabres, second in the Atlantic Division odds at +115, sit third in the latest ESPN NHL Power Rankings. The Tampa Bay Lightning, +185 to win the Eastern Conference, owe much of their recent success to Nikita Kucherov, currently the second-ranked forward in ESPN Fantasy Hockey.

All odds provided by DraftKings Sportsbook and are accurate as of publish time.

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