Named after the Lord Stanley of Preston, the Stanley Cup is the trophy presented to the winner of the NHL Playoffs. The team that wins the Stanley Cup is considered the champion of the NHL for that season. So far, 25 teams have won the cup. Twenty of those teams are still playing in the NHL, which means that there are ten other teams that are dying to get their hands on the trophy.
Who is going to get ahold of the Stanley Cup this season? Is it going to be one of the teams that have won it numerous times in the past? Or, maybe a team will record the biggest success in the franchise history by winning the Stanley Cup for the first time? If you think you know the answer, you can cash it in by betting on Stanley Cup futures!
What are Stanley Cup Futures?
Same as other future bets, Stanley Cup futures are settled weeks, months, or years in the future. Because you get to bet on who is going to become the next NHL champion, it’s possible to place these bets even before the start of the season.
An advantage of placing Stanley Cup future bets before the start of the regular season is that the odds are certainly going to be very attractive. There are thirty teams in the competition, so even the biggest favorite should be priced somewhere in the range of +300.
Lucrative betting odds can be thought of both as an advantage and disadvantage. The reason for the latter is that before the start of the season, you have no idea how good your team is going to be. Of course, you can base your prediction on their performances from the previous season, latest trades, injury news, and so on.
Still, the fact is that most bettors tend to bet on hockey futures only once the regular season is in its full swing. In fact, the start of the postseason is the time when the interest about the Stanley Cup futures peaks.
There are several reasons for this, starting with the fact that fewer teams are left in the competition in comparison with the regular season. On top of that, the playoffs last only a couple of weeks, so the bettors don’t have to wait too long for their Stanley Cup future bets to settle.
Examples of Stanley Cup Outright Bets
The main type of the Stanley Cup future bets is the outright winner. Basically, you pick one team and put your money on them to win the trophy. If they win, you win. If they get knocked-out, you lose.
For other Stanley Cup betting options, check out the examples below!
Stanley Cup Futures
- The Washington Capitals to Reach the Stanley Cup Final
- The New York Rangers to Qualify for the Stanley Cup Playoffs
- No Shutout Wins in First Round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs
- The Tampa Bay Lightning to Lose in the First Round
- The Boston Bruins to Win the Second Round in 7-Game Series
Stanley Cup Player Betting
- David Pastrnak to Win the Conn Smythe Trophy (Stanley Cup MVP)
- Connor McDavid to Score the Most Goals in the Playoffs
- Nathan MacKinnon to Score a hat-trick in the postseason
- Tuuka Rask to Have the Most Saves in the Playoffs
- Mitchell Marner to Make the Most Assists in the Playoffs
Stanley Cup FAQ
Who Was the Lord Stanley of Preston?
Frederick Arthur Stanley, 16th Earl of Derby a.k.a. Lord Stanley is the name after whom the Stanley Cup is named. Lord Stanley was Governor of Canada from 1888 to 1893.
During that period, he developed a strong love for ice hockey, which he expressed by donating a silver punch bowl to the best team in Canadian hockey. He named the trophy the Dominion Hockey Challenge Cup but over the years, it’s become known as the Stanley Cup.
Which Team Won the Stanley Cup Most Times?
The Montreal Canadiens are the team that won the Stanley Cup more than any other team. They did it on 24 occasions. The second on that list is another Canadian team, the Ottawa HC, with 21 wins. The team has been defunct since 1954.
When it comes to the active NHL teams, the one that’s just behind Montreal is Toronto. The Maple Leafs won it 13 times. The US-based team with the most Stanley Cups is Detroit. The Red Wings won the title on 11 occasions, while also losing 13 finals.
Who Won the First Stanley Cup in History?
The first team to be awarded with the Stanley Cup was the Montreal Hockey Club. This team won the 1893 AHAC (Amateur Hockey Association of Canada) season, which they finished with 7-1 record.
What is the Allan Cup?
The Allan Cup is the trophy awarded to the amateur hockey champions of Canada. It’s been in use since 1909 when the hockey association decided to start awarding the Stanley Cup to professional teams.