Stanley Cup Final 2024: Latest Championship Odds & Biggest Storylines in NHL Conference Finals

2023-24 NHL Stanley Cup odds and the biggest conference finals storylines are brought to you by BetOnline. BetOnline is a market leader in sports betting, offering various options from NHL postseason odds to the NBA and everything in between.

With June approaching, the hockey world is inching closer to unveiling the champions of this year’s Stanley Cup.

Only four teams remain — Dallas Stars, Edmonton Oilers, Florida Panthers, and New York Rangers — as this postseason’s conference finals continue. Both series have been closely fought thus far with the matchups being fairly close heading into Friday’s action.

While the conference final action is still ongoing, it is not premature to contemplate which team will lift the Stanley Cup next month. Each of the four remaining teams has proven themselves worthy of this honor, yet only one will have the privilege of etching their name into the annals of history.

Considering this, we shall now examine the most recent NHL Stanley Cup odds and the prominent storyline for each team as the conference finals of the 2023-24 season progress.

NHL Stanley Cup Updated 2024 Odds

2023-24 NHL Stanley Cup odds are courtesy of BetOnline as of Friday, May 31 at 10:02 a.m. ET. 

• Florida Panthers (+130)
• Dallas Stars (+240)
• Edmonton Oilers (+290)
• New York Rangers (+875)

The most recent Stanley Cup odds from BetOnline indicate that the remaining four teams are incredibly evenly matched. Three of these teams have odds ranging from +130 to +275 to win the title this year, while the fourth team, the Rangers, has odds of +875. However, if the Rangers manage to secure a win in Game 6, their odds could significantly improve.

This year, three teams have a chance to break their long championship droughts by winning the Stanley Cup. The Stars have not claimed the title since 1999, while the Rangers’ championship-less streak extends back to 1994. However, the Oilers hold the longest drought, as their last Cup victory was in 1990.

In contrast, the Panthers remain the sole team among the group that has not yet engraved their name on the prestigious Stanley Cup. Despite making it to the Stanley Cup Finals twice in their 31-year history, the elusive taste of championship victory has eluded Florida thus far.

Again, you can argue for any of these teams to go all the way and it would be valid. But regardless of who takes home the Stanley Cup this year, it’s exciting to know that we’re guaranteed to see a team succeed that either hasn’t won it in 25-plus years or ever.

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4 Biggest NHL Conference Storylines Ahead of Stanley Cup Final

1. Edmonton Oilers — Can they End Canada’s Drought?

When hockey comes to mind, Canada is often the country that people link it with. This is because the NHL, which was established more than a century ago, originated in the Great White North. Additionally, many of the sport’s legendary players, including Wayne Gretzky and Sidney Crosby, hail from north of the border.

However, even though Canada has a strong connection to the sport, it has been more than 30 years since the country last won the Stanley Cup. The Montreal Canadiens of the 1992-93 season were the most recent Canadian team to accomplish this, making the ongoing drought officially reach 31 years.

The Oilers of this year embody Canada’s last opportunity to seize the Stanley Cup in the current playoffs. Guided by the exceptional tandem of Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, they have yet to ascend to the pinnacle of championship glory.

Edmonton appeared to be at risk of trailing 3-1 against the Stars in the Western Conference Finals, but a decisive 5-2 win in Game 4 leveled the playing field. With the series now reduced to a best-of-3, the Oilers are under scrutiny as they have the opportunity to become Canadian heroes.

2. Dallas Stars — Will Their Impressive Depth Pay Off?

Although teams like the Oilers rely on a few superstars to secure victories, the Stars have a different approach. While Dallas certainly possesses top-tier talent, they also have one of the most extensive rosters in the NHL.

In order to provide context, it is worth noting that the Stars have had a total of 22 players participate in this postseason, and out of those, 16 players have managed to score at least one goal. Furthermore, five players from the Dallas team have already accumulated point totals reaching double digits, with four of them having achieved at least 15 points.

The depth of the Stars team has been instrumental in their journey to the Western Conference Finals. Although key players such as Joe Pavelski, Matt Duchene, and Mason Marchment have not performed at their usual standards, it has not posed a problem due to the outstanding performances of Jason Robertson, Jamie Benn, and Wyatt Johnston. Additionally, Tyler Seguin, Logan Stankoven, and Evgenii Dadonov have also risen to the occasion, further bolstering the team’s success.

Dallas is faced with the shutdown of one of their lines, but fortunately, they have another line that can step up. It’s not common for teams to have such depth, especially when injuries occur at this crucial stage of the playoffs.

The Stars have the potential to be a major contender for the 2024 Stanley Cup, thanks to the consistent opportunities created by their four lines.

3. Florida Panthers — Did They Learn From Last Year’s Stanley Cup Final?

As previously mentioned, the Panthers are currently the only team that has not secured a victory in the Stanley Cup. Following their initial finals appearance in 1993, Florida recently made a comeback to the grand stage, encountering the Vegas Golden Knights in the previous season.

Regrettably, the Panthers proved to be no match for the Golden Knights, who secured their first-ever Cup in a mere five games. Florida’s main setback was their lack of offense, as they failed to score more than three goals in any game, while Vegas maintained an impressive average of 5.2 goals per match.

Having said that, sometimes teams must go through hard times to become champions. The Golden Knights even lost their first Stanley Cup Final appearance before winning five years later. Hell, the 2008 Pittsburgh Penguins lost to the Detroit Red Wings in six games before winning a seven-game series the following year. 

The Panthers are just as good as the other remaining clubs, however, it’s last year’s experience that could separate them from the pack. Matthew Tkachuk, Aleksander Barkov, Sam Bennett, etc. already know what it’s like to get to hockey’s biggest stage and that’s already helped them take a 3-2 ECF series lead over the Rangers. 

When the Panthers’ forwards, defensemen, and goaltenders are playing up to their potential, they’re adamant to defeat. Throw in last year’s Stanley Cup experience and it wouldn’t be shocking if they end up as the league’s latest champs. 

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4. New York Rangers — Can Shesterkin Continue Standing on his Head?

The Rangers have faced a lot of close calls on their road to a potential Stanley Cup Final appearance. Of their 10 postseason victories thus far, six of them came by a single goal with four of those wins taking place in overtime. 

A reliable goaltender can be the difference between winning and losing one-goal games, which is why the Rangers are lucky to have Igor Shesterkin. The former Vezina Trophy winner has played a big role in New York’s run, backstopping his way to a 2.36 goals-against average and .924 save percentage through 15 starts. 

The Rangers are currently 7-2-1 in the playoffs when Shesterkin tallies a .900 SV% or better, further illustrating how instrumental he’s been to their success. That’s without mentioning how nine of his appearances were deemed “quality starts,” per Hockey Reference. 

On the flip side, New York is only 3-2-0 when he plays below that mark.

As long as Shesterkin plays like his usual self, the Rangers can defeat any of the 31 other teams. Strong goaltending performances lead to the forwards and defensemen playing more confidently, which tends to produce results. We’ll see if the Russian netminder can help his club even up the series.

NHL Playoffs 2023-24 FAQ

When are the 2023-24 NHL Playoffs?

• The NHL playoffs for the 2023-24 season are set to commence on Saturday, April 20th, with the highly anticipated Stanley Cup Final kicking off on Saturday, June 8th.

Where is the 2023-24 Stanley Cup Final?

• The determination of the 2023-24 Stanley Cup Final’s location will take place when only one team remains from each conference in the playoffs.

How can I watch the 2023-24 NHL Playoffs?

• All NHL postseason games of the 2023-24 season will be broadcasted on ESPN, TNT, and ABC.

Where can I bet on the 2023-24 NHL Playoffs?

• Hockey bettors can wager on this year’s NHL playoffs and Stanley Cup betting odds on the majority of online sportsbooks, including the following that Betting News highly recommends: