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- The Edmonton Oilers look to win back-to-back Western Conference championships for the first time since the 1987 and 1988 seasons
- The Oilers, Dallas Stars, Colorado Avalanche, Nashville Predators, and Vegas Golden Knights have the best odds to win the Western Conference in 2024-25
- The 2024-24 NHL Season begins on Friday, Oct. 4, when the Buffalo Sabres play the New Jersey Devils in the 2024 NHL Global Series at O2 Arena in Prague
The 2024 Stanley Cup Final series between the Florida Panthers and Edmonton Oilers went seven games, with Florida jumping to a 3-0 lead to open the series. The Oilers won the next three games to force Game Seven, but Edmonton could not pick up a fourth straight win, dropping that game 2-1 in the Panthers’ home barn of Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise. The early betting odds for the 2025 Western Conference have the Oilers as the slight betting favorite to win the conference for a second straight season.
The Oilers ended a lengthy drought last year, winning the Western Conference for the first time since 2006. The team dominated the conference in the 1980s, winning the West in 1983, 84, 85, 87, 88, and 90. They also won the Stanley Cup in four of those years, the only year they fell short was 1983 when they lost to the NY Islanders. Before 2024, the team’s most recent Western Conference championship run was 2006. They fell in the Cup final to the Carolina Hurricanes that year.
Last year, the Dallas Stars were the pre-season betting pick to win the Western Conference.
Below, we look at the 2025 NHL Western Conference Futures. You can also find the best NHL hockey betting sites here, and see our pick to win the 2025 Stanley Cup.
2025 NHL Western Conference Futures
| To Win 2024-25 NHL Western Conference |  |  |  |  |
| Edmonton Oilers | +400 | +375 | +400 | +370 |
| Dallas Stars | +500 | +425 | +500 | +490 |
| Colorado Avalanche | +675 | +600 | +550 | +570 |
| Nashville Predators | +800 | +750 | +850 | +830 |
| Vegas Golden Knights | +800 | +750 | +800 | +780 |
| Vancouver Canucks | +1000 | +1000 | +1100 | +870 |
| Los Angeles Kings | +1100 | +1200 | +1100 | +1125 |
| Winnipeg Jets | +1200 | +1200 | +1400 | +1175 |
| Minnesota Wild | +2200 | +2000 | +2200 | +2200 |
| St. Louis Blues | +2800 | +2800 | +2800 | +2800 |
| Utah Hockey Club | +2800 | +5000 | +3300 | +3500 |
| Seattle Kraken | +3300 | +2800 | +2800 | +2900 |
| Calgary Flames | +4000 | +6600 | +4000 | +4200 |
| Anaheim Ducks | +8000 | +10000 | +12500 | +11000 |
| Chicago Blackhawks | +8000 | +6600 | +8000 | +7500 |
| San Jose Sharks | +15000 | +20000 | +12500 | +18000 |
Edmonton Oilers
The Edmonton Oilers have the best player in the NHL in Connor McDavid. One could argue that the Oilers also have the second-best player in the league in Leon Draisaitl. However, after making it to the Western Conference Finals in 2022, the Oilers fell to the Vegas Golden Knights in six games in the second round of the 2023 Stanley Cup playoffs. The team came within one win of capturing the Cup in 2024. This year is the final year on Draisaitl’s eight-year, $68 million contract and his future with the club could depend on the Oilers winning the Cup in 2025. Another expiring contract the team has to worry about is that of defenseman Evan Bouchard, who put up a career-high 82 points in 2024.
The Oilers signed free agents Jeff Skinner and Viktor Arvidsson this summer. The pair have combined for 536 career goals. Edmonton also re-signed forwards Adam Henrique, Mattias Janmark, Connor Brown, Corey Perry, and Troy Stecher. However, the club took two big hits recently when they lost Philip Broberg and Dylan Holloway to the St. Louis Blues via offer sheets. The reason the team lost those players is that it does not have any wiggle room against the salary cap. There are some who see the Oilers as a weaker team right now than they were at the end of the 2024 NHL season.
Edmonton let GM Kevin Holland walk at the end of the season, as his contract with the club expired on July 1. Jeff Jackson, who has been with the club since August of 2023 as the CEO of hockey operations, served as interim GM until late July when Stan Bowman was named GM of the club.
Dallas Stars
The Dallas Stars had the second-best record in the NHL in 2024, trailing the NY Rangers in the standings by just one point. The team, which put together a 52-21-9 mark last year, made it to the Western Conference Final, where they lost to the Oilers in six games. The last time the team won the Western Conference was 2020. The Stars fell to the Tampa Bay Lightning in six games in that series.
The Stars lost some notable veterans since last season in Chris Tanev (trade), Joe Pavelski (retirement), and Ryan Suter (buyout). However, the team’s core remains, and those players are entering their prime. Players like Roope Hintz, Jason Robertson, Wyatt Johnson, Matt Duchene, and Miro Heiskanen should produce this year. Further, the team expects improvements from youngsters Logan Stankoven and Mavrick Bourque. The team also has its captain, Jamie Benn, who is returning for a 16th season.
The Stars play an excellent game on defense, and when that fails them, they have an outstanding goalie, Jake Oettinger, to bail them out.
Dallas is a deep team with a fantastic culture. The fact that the club did not make any drastic changes in the offseason shows that management has faith in the lineup, at least for another season.
Colorado Avalanche
The Colorado Avalanche finished in third place in the Central Division in 2024 with a 50-25-7 record. The club, which won the Stanley Cup in 2022, made it to the second round of the playoffs before losing to the Stars in six games. Once again, the team was without their captain, Gabriel Landeskog, who missed the entire season following knee surgery. Landeskog has not played since 2022. Currently, the team expects Landeskog to play in 2024-25, perhaps returning to the ice near the start of the season. His return will significantly boost the team on the ice and in the dressing room. It will also help reinvigorate the fan base.
No team scored more goals than the Avalanche in the 2024 regular season (304). Nathan MacKinnon put up 51 of those goals while leading the team and the Western Conference in points (140). MacKinnon picked up the Hart Trophy and Ted Lindsay Award at the end of the year. Meanwhile, Mikko Rantanen broke the 100-point barrier for the second straight year. There’s no reason to believe the Avalanche offense will fall off in 2025.
The Avalanche lost some depth and locker room leadership when Andrew Cogliano and Zach Parise retired and Jack Johnson left for Columbus as a free agent. Landeskog’s return would make up for those losses.
Another thing to watch is if Valeri Nichushkin returns at some point. The winger is in the NHL/NHLPA player assistance program. He is suspended until at least mid-November.
As for goaltending, the team has faith in Alexandar Georgiev, but as a backup, Justus Annunen can help if Georgiev falters.
Best bet to win the NHL Western Conference in 2024-25
Look for the Dallas Stars to have another great year. They have all the tools and personnel to get back to the top of the conference in 2025.
The betting pick is for the Dallas Stars to win the NHL Western Conference in 2024-25.
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