The 2024 Stanley Cup Final is set to be a showdown between the Florida Panthers and the Edmonton Oilers, with the Panthers being slight favorites to win the championship at -130 odds. However, the Oilers are not far behind with +110 odds to claim the Cup. The series is also being billed as a battle between the best team, represented by the Panthers, and the best player, Connor McDavid of the Oilers. McDavid, who has +200 odds to win the Conn Smythe Trophy for Most Valuable Player of the playoffs, leads all players with 31 points in the postseason, including five goals and 26 assists.
Despite being the underdog in terms of team odds to win the Stanley Cup, Connor McDavid holds the best odds to win the Conn Smythe Trophy as the playoff MVP. McDavid’s stellar performance throughout the postseason, as evidenced by his impressive 31 points, has put him in a prime position to clinch the award. It’s worth noting that there have been instances where a player from the losing team in the Stanley Cup Final has won the Conn Smythe Trophy, albeit with only one non-goalie player among those instances and the last occurrence happening in 2003. This history offers hope for McDavid’s chances of taking home the prestigious award even if the Oilers do not emerge as the champions.
Taking a closer look at the current Stanley Cup odds and Conn Smythe Trophy odds, the Florida Panthers are favored at -135 to win the championship, while the Edmonton Oilers have +115 odds. In terms of the Conn Smythe Trophy, Connor McDavid leads the pack with +190 odds, followed by Aleksander Barkov at +400, Sergei Bobrovsky at +450, Matthew Tkachuk at +550, Leon Draisaitl at +950, and others. Both teams faced tough challenges in the latter rounds of the playoffs, with the Panthers needing six games to beat the Boston Bruins and New York Rangers, while the Oilers clinched victory in seven games against the Vancouver Canucks and six games against the Dallas Stars.
The Panthers, who swept the season series against the Oilers, are also strong contenders for the championship. Matthew Tkachuk leads the team in points this postseason with 19, followed closely by Aleksander Barkov and Carter Verhaeghe with 17 points each. Verhaeghe leads the Panthers in goals with nine, while Sergei Bobrovsky has been a reliable force in the net, allowing two or fewer goals in 10 of the last 11 games. For the Oilers, Leon Draisaitl emerges as a key player alongside McDavid, holding the second-best odds to win the Conn Smythe Trophy after his teammate. Draisaitl has tallied 28 points and 10 goals in the postseason, contributing significantly to the Oilers’ journey to the Stanley Cup Final.
As fans and bettors gear up for an exciting conclusion to the NHL season, the battle between the Panthers and the Oilers promises to be fierce and thrilling. With key players like McDavid, Tkachuk, Barkov, and Draisaitl showcasing their talent and determination on the ice, the race for the Stanley Cup and the Conn Smythe Trophy is heating up. Stay tuned to FOX Sports for the latest updates on the shifting odds and developments in the NHL, as the two teams vie for hockey’s ultimate prize.
