5 NHL Futures You Should Consider for the 2025-26 Season

The NHL season is right around the corner, which means it’s time to dig into the futures market. From Calder Trophy long shots to Rocket Richard bounce-backs and division finishes with significant value, there are plenty of betting angles to watch. Here are a few plays worth considering before the puck drops.

Connor McDavid +1400 to win the Rocket Richard

Connor McDavid has openly said he wants to get back to his 60-goal form this season. It was a down year in 2024-25, when he scored only 26 goals in 67 games, following a career-high 64 two years earlier. It was his lowest goal total since his rookie season.

Going from a career low to a Rocket Richard winner seems like a huge leap, but if anyone can do it, it’s McDavid. With Leon Draisaitl now a permanent linemate, he should generate far better scoring opportunities.

If you don’t like the straight Rocket Richard bet, there are alternatives. For example, bet365 offers milestone goal totals, up to 50 goals.

Sam Rinzel +4000 to win the Calder Trophy

Ivan Demidov is already the runaway favourite to win the Calder Trophy. After a short stint in North America to end last season — scoring two points in the regular season and another two in the playoffs over a combined seven games — the hype around Montreal’s potential next star is real. At +180, there’s little value in betting Demidov to win the award. So, how about going deeper?

It’s a strong rookie class with Ryan Leonard, Michael Misa, and Zeev Buium all expected to become full-time NHLers. One player floating under the radar, despite excitement around him last season, is Sam Rinzel. Rinzel, a Chicago Blackhawks defenceman, played nine NHL games last season and scored five points. He’s on track to be a top-pairing defenceman for the Blackhawks this season and is projected to run their top power-play unit. At +4000 to win the Calder Trophy, that’s tremendous value for a player who will be given maximum opportunity.

Steven Ellis was on Oilersnation Everyday last week and suggested Rinzel could have a rookie season similar to Brock Faber, who finished second in Calder voting. His line has already dropped from +5000 to +4000 in the lead-up to the season, so don’t hesitate to jump on this price.

Anaheim +600 to finish 4th in the Pacific Division

I’m high on the Anaheim Ducks this season — maybe even too high. They’ve been on the rise for a few years now, thanks to their youthful core. The odds of them finishing fourth are solid, considering their roster and a weaker division. Vancouver and Calgary both have roster question marks, which leaves the door open for Anaheim.

The Ducks also made strong additions this summer with Chris Kreider and Mikael Granlund, while naming Joel Quenneville as head coach. If you think fourth is too high, you can also get them at +450 to finish fifth in the division.

Florida +550 to finish 4th in the Atlantic Division

Normally, you wouldn’t pick the back-to-back Stanley Cup champions to finish as low as fourth in the division. But with the injuries Florida has already suffered — Aleksander Barkov and Matthew Tkachuk are both sidelined — this feels like a season where they could drop some extra games.

Ottawa finished only one point behind them last season, and Montreal was close too, despite winning seven fewer games. Both teams improved this offseason, so closing the gap on the Panthers seems plausible given their injuries.

Don’t get me wrong: Florida is still a strong team. But if they’re going to fall off, this feels like the year.

Carolina +450 to be eliminated in the Eastern Conference Final

No team loves to get to the Eastern Conference Final and lose more than the Carolina Hurricanes. Since beating the Oilers in the 2006 Stanley Cup Final (boo!), they’ve made it to the ECF four times and won only once. They’ve had a strong lineup over the past few years, and this summer, they’ve improved further with the addition of Nik Ehlers. However, the superstar player is still missing from their roster. The Metropolitan division is weak and they remain the top team amongst that group. Once they get into the Conference Final, they’ll have to face either Toronto, Florida, or Tampa Bay, who all have significantly better firepower. Honestly, this is my favourite futures bet of the bunch.