Edmonton Oilers already picked as early Stanley Cup favourites in 2026

National Post

a day ago

Cue the doom and gloom.
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The Edmonton Oilers lost in the Stanley Cup Final.
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Again.
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Again.
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And somehow, this time seems even worse than the last time around, when they bounced back from a 3-0 series deficit to force Game 7, only to end up losing by the slimmest of margins, 2-1, in their first trip back to the championship round in 18 years.
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This time, well, it's still too soon to talk about, really. What is there to say when your team didn't bother to show up for the most important game of the season? And the one before that, while we're at it.
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A 5-2 loss in Game 5 followed by a 5-1 loss in Game 6 to bump them in their first and last elimination scenario of these playoffs saw the Oilers go quietly into the night, making for another long flight home to a city whose heart was broken once again as the 35-year Stanley Cup drought continues.
But hang on.
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Don't be so quick to abandon all hope just yet.
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While the dust has yet to settle on another unsuccessful Stanley Cup Final, maybe don't scrap that map with the planned parade route through the heart of Alberta's capital entirely. Out of the darkness, a faint beacon can be seen, as the oddsmakers at BetOnline.ag already picked the Oilers as the early favourite to be the last team standing in 2025-26.
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That's right. They're expected to not only go on another long run all the way back to what would be their third consecutive Cup final appearance, but to finally get over the hump and win it all next year.
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You thought they were hungry this season? Just wait and see the team that shows up champing at the bit in the starting gates in October.
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And if you're playing these odds, chances are the Oilers don't even have to do anything to get better for next season. They just have to stand pat and stay the course while Florida and the rest of the field gets worse.
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2026 Stanley Cup champion odds
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Edmonton Oilers 6/1
Florida Panthers 13/2 (+650)
Carolina Hurricanes 15/2 (+750)
Dallas Stars 9/1
Colorado Avalanche 10/1
Vegas Golden Knights 12/1
Tampa Bay Lightning 16/1
Los Angeles Kings 20/1
New Jersey Devils 20/1
Toronto Maple Leafs 20/1
Winnipeg Jets 22/1
Ottawa Senators 25/1
Washington Capitals 28/1
Minnesota Wild 33/1
New York Rangers 33/1
Utah Mammoth 40/1
St. Louis Blues 45/1
New York Islanders 50/1
Vancouver Canucks 50/1
Montreal Canadiens 60/1
Nashville Predators 66/1
Columbus Blue Jackets 75/1
Detroit Red Wings 75/1
Boston Bruins 80/1
Calgary Flames 80/1
Philadelphia Flyers 80/1
Anaheim Ducks 100/1
Buffalo Sabres 100/1
Pittsburgh Penguins 100/1
Seattle Kraken 200/1
Chicago Blackhawks 300/1
San Jose Sharks 500/1