Canadiens and Capitals draw heavy betting action to win East

With the NHL schedule just getting underway, futures markets are already offering a snapshot of where bettors see value. Updated conference winner odds and handle figures from BetMGM as of Sept. 30 show two Canadian clubs leading the action in the East, while a pair of Central Division teams have become early focal points in the West.

Capitals and Canadiens headline Eastern Conference betting

In the Eastern Conference, the Florida Panthers carry the shortest price to reach the Stanley Cup final, but public money is flowing elsewhere. The Washington Capitals, listed behind several contenders on the odds board, are drawing the largest share of dollars wagered, accounting for nearly one‑third of all money in this market.

Washington is coming off a 95‑point season and a fourth‑place finish in the Metropolitan Division, one that ended without a playoff berth. A retooled roster featuring forwards Alex Tuch, Jordan Kyrou and Boone Jenner appears to have boosted expectations among bettors, who are backing a bounce‑back run through the East.

The Montreal Canadiens are also a major story in the futures market. Despite longer odds than the top Eastern favourites, the Canadiens have attracted the highest volume of individual bets and the second‑largest share of total handle. Montreal is riding momentum from a 48‑24‑10 campaign that produced 106 points and third place in the Atlantic Division, positioning the club as a trendy pick to emerge from the conference.

Florida still commands a significant slice of tickets and money, but trails both Washington and Montreal in popularity. The defending Stanley Cup champion Carolina Hurricanes, who own the second‑shortest price to win the East, have so far generated only a modest percentage of bets and handle, suggesting the market is cooler on a repeat run than the odds might imply.

Stars and Mammoth drive action in wide‑open West

On the Western side, the betting landscape appears more dispersed, yet two teams have quickly become magnets for futures wagers. The Dallas Stars and Utah Mammoth together account for just under half of all money bet on the Western Conference winner at BetMGM.

Dallas sits among the front‑runners on the board and leads the conference in share of handle, above 20 percent. That interest comes despite a season in which the Stars finished second in the Central Division before bowing out in the first round of the playoffs. Utah, which claimed a playoff spot for the first time since relocating and finished fourth in the Central, is drawing a nearly identical share of money, reflecting significant enthusiasm around the franchise’s upward trajectory.

From a pure odds perspective, the Colorado Avalanche still own the lowest number in the West and attract a healthy chunk of tickets and wagers. The Edmonton Oilers and Vegas Golden Knights hold the next‑shortest prices and each pull in roughly a tenth of the overall handle, keeping them firmly in the mix of early favourites.

Taken together, the figures highlight a familiar split between bookmaker projections and betting patterns. Models continue to favour established powers like Florida, Carolina and Colorado, while the public is leaning into teams perceived to be rising fast, such as the Canadiens, Capitals, Stars and Mammoth as the new season begins.