NHL Eastern Conference Winner Odds & Predictions 2024/25: Rangers' Odds of Missing Playoffs Increase

• The New Jersey Devils lead the Eastern Conference with 47 total points

• Carolina is the current betting favorite to win the Eastern Conference championship

• The Hurricanes offense averages 3.68 Expected Goals per game

With just 33 total points, the New York Rangers odds to miss the playoffs continue to grow as they are now five points back from the Ottawa Senators for the last wildcard spot in the playoffs. A shockingly low level of play for a team who entered the year listed as one of the betting favorites to win the Eastern Conference, yet their lack of defensive production has hurt their chances of winning. As of writing, the Rangers back line ranks 31st overall in Expected Goals Against in All Situations.

As for the current contenders, the Carolina Hurricanes and Florida Panthers still reside at the top of the board while chipping away at the New Jersey Devils lead for first place in the Eastern Conference standings. Speaking of New Jersey, the Devils have steadily built a case for being one of the best units in the league as they currently rank top-3 in both Expected Goals For and Expected Goals Against in All Situations while their starting goalie Jacob Markstrom averages just 2.20 Goals Against per game.

NHL Eastern Conference Championship Odds

Odds courtesy of BetMGM Sportsbook. Click on the odds in the table below to head to BetMGM Sportsbook and place your bets. Get Up to $1,500 in Bonus Bets.

The rest of field listed at +900 or higher

NHL Eastern Conference Championship Predictions and Favorites to Win 

After winning the Stanley Cup last season, oddsmakers believe the Florida Panthers are poised for another deep run in the playoffs as they enter the year listed as one of the betting favorites to win the Eastern Conference Championship.

Carolina Hurricanes (+450) at Caesars

It’s been an underwhelming past two weeks of play for the Carolina Hurricanes after going 4-6-0 in their last 10 games. Due to their slump, the Hurricanes offense no longer leads the league in Expected Goals For in All Situations as the New Jersey Devils have leaped over them for first. Fortunately for Carolina, their offense still has no issues with generating high quality scoring opportunities as their front line averages 3.68 Expected Goals per game.

Carolina’s defense has also steadily improved throughout the year after a slow start to the season as their back line now resides in the top-10 in Expected Goals Against in All Situations. With better coverage, Pyotr Kochetkov is in a more favorable position to sustain his high marks in net as the Hurricanes starting goalie is averaging just 2.51 Goals Against per game. Bet the Hurricanes to win the Eastern Conference championship now before they round back into form and crash their odds down in the process.

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Florida Panthers (+480) at FanDuel

While the Hurricanes have struggled the past few weeks, the reigning Stanley Cup champions have started to climb back up the Atlantic division standings after going 7-2-1 in their last 10 contests. Their defense rounding back into form after losing some key players in the offseason has played a major role in their resurgence as the Panthers back line currently ranks seventh overall in Expected Goals Against in All Situations.

Unfortunately for Florida, their offense has struggled to match their level of production as their front line has dipped down to 12th overall in Expected Goals For in All Situations with an average of 3.06 Expected Goals per game. With a sporadic level of offensive production, the Panthers will be prone to high variance contests when their front line struggles to generate high quality Shots on Goal. Pass on Florida for now, but continue to monitor their offense for a potential mid season wager later on.

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New Jersey Devils (+550) at Caesars

Even though the New Jersey Devils lead the Eastern Conference with 47 total points, their lead for first is vulnerable as the Washington Capitals possess a higher point percentage. Should the Devils want to hold on to their lead and secure the top overall seed in the playoffs, then they must continue to dominate the middle of the ice as their top-3 marks in Expected Goals For and Expected Goals Against indicates.

Not only have the Devils excelled in the middle of the ice, but their starting goalie Jacob Markstom has steadily built a case for winning the Vezina Trophy award after a hot start to the season. In his 25 starts, the Devils goalie is averaging an astonishing 2.20 Goals Against per game and a .911 Save Percentage. With a high level of production at all three areas of the ice, the Devils are worth a wager at their current odds to win the Eastern Conference championship.

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Who Will Win the Eastern Conference Championship - My Pick 

New York Rangers (+1400) at BetMGM

After bringing back a majority of their roster that led them to the Eastern Conference Finals last year, the New York Rangers were expected to maintain their high level of play and contend for the Stanley Cup. As of writing, the Rangers are not even in the playoff picture as they are currently five points back from the Ottawa Senators in the wildcard standings for the last wildcard spot in the playoffs.

Their inability to play defense has been a consistent thorn in their side as the Rangers back line currently ranks 31st overall in Expected Goals Against in All Situations with an average of 3.45 Expected Goals Against per game. Star goaltender Igor Shesterkin has not been able to mask their low level of play either as he continues to dip down the board in Goals Against per game. Even at their current inflated odds, pass on the Rangers to win the conference title until their defense elevates their level of play.

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Who Won the NHL Eastern Conference Championship in 2023/2024?

The Florida Panthers won the Eastern Conference Championship in 2023-2024, claiming their third conference title.

NHL Eastern Conference History

While the Western Conference has seen plenty of parity, the Eastern Conference has been dominated by the Florida Panthers and Tampa Bay Lightning as of late. Each club has repeated as conference champions over the past four years with the Florida Panthers winning the last two. Should the Panthers win the conference this season, then they would be the first club to three-peat since the New York Islanders did it in 1982-1984 when the Eastern Conference was called the Prince of Wales Conference.

Past NHL Eastern Conference Winners

How to Choose the Best Sportsbook for Betting on the NHL Eastern Conference Championship

When looking to make a wager on the Eastern Conference Championship futures market, it’s vital to get as many sportsbooks as you can get. This allows you to line shop the futures market as odds can vary between each book. When betting on the New York Rangers to win the Eastern Conference Championship, they can be found as low as +800 at Caesars and as high as +1400 at BetMGM. That is a difference of $600 in profit for a $100 bettor.

Another benefit of acquiring multiple sportsbooks is that you can collect multiple signup bonuses to help boost your bankroll ahead of the NHL season. FanDuel Sportsbook for example is giving new users $150 in bonus bets after creating an account and winning your first bet of at least $5 wagered.

How to Read NHL Eastern Conference Winner Odds

Before making any type of wager, it’s important to know how the listed odds work. Should you bet the Rangers to win the Eastern Conference at their current odds of +1400, then a $100 wager would profit you $1,400 if they win the conference championship. Should you wait to see if they make it to the Eastern Conference Finals and are listed with a minus sign in front of their number (ex: -130), then you would need to wager $130 to profit $100 if they win the conference title.