NHL betting odds split for Rangers, Islanders and Devils as 2025-26 season looms
Devils seen as contenders but not top-tier; Islanders in transition; Rangers in limbo ahead of puck drop.
The 2025-26 NHL betting landscape shows three New York teams in markedly different places as training camps approach. The Rangers are listed at 28-1 to win the Stanley Cup and projected for about 95.5 standings points. The Islanders sit at 100-1 to win the Cup, with +220 to make the playoffs and an over-under set at 84.5 points. The Devils, meanwhile, are viewed as the most interesting of the trio because some markets still see them as conference contenders, even as they trail the East’s top teams. Across FanDuel’s East odds, only Florida, Carolina and Tampa Bay carry shorter odds to win the division than New Jersey.
New Jersey failed to meet the lofty expectations set before them last October, but the betting market remains undeterred. The Devils are expected to reach the playoffs, though they’re not viewed on the same tier as the conference’s heavyweights. Among the uncertainties are depth up the middle and on the blue line, plus an injury history that has limited their best player, Jack Hughes, to missing 40 games over the last two seasons. Still, the market treats New Jersey as a legitimate postseason club with upside if health cooperates and the supporting cast improves behind Hughes.
On the Devils’ roster, Dougie Hamilton stands out as a long-shot Norris Trophy candidate at 500/1, per BetMGM. Hamilton missed 62 games in 2023-24 and 18 last season, which makes such a price relatively risky. Yet the defenseman delivered 22 goals and 74 points two years ago, and if he can stay healthy, he could be a pivotal factor for New Jersey’s offense and overall ceiling. That same market environment includes long-shot bets across the Devils’ roster as teams chase a potential breakout.
Gabriel Perreault is also drawing attention as a Calder Trophy candidate, listed at 50/1 on FanDuel. He faces a crowded field, with 11 players priced between 13/1 and 30/1, including several proven performers. Perreault could begin the season in Hartford or earn an early call-up; if he makes the NHL squad out of camp, his price could move quickly as evaluators assess his ceiling in the league.
The Islanders’ outlook centers on goaltending, with Ilya Sorokin available at 20/1 to win the Vezina Trophy, per BetMGM. New York’s second club has been described as a team in transition as it hands responsibilities to Matthew Schaefer, but the betting market also sketches a wide range of potential outcomes. If Sorokin returns to form at a Vezina level, the Isles could exceed expectations and push for a playoff berth despite uncertainties around the roster and forward depth. The Islanders are listed at +220 to make the playoffs, and their season’s trajectory will hinge heavily on front-end play and defensive support, factors that have influenced Sorokin’s statistics in recent years.
The Rangers, fresh off a disappointing season, sit in what some markets call a no-man’s-land. At 28/1 to win the Stanley Cup, they’re not the favorites, and an Over/Under around 95.5 points keeps them in wild-card range rather than clean division scuffles. The market’s stance reflects a need for a bounce-back year from a club that has the talent but confronted with inconsistent results, injuries, or roster changes that could swing their ceiling in either direction.
Taken together, the odds tell a story of three very different seasons the NHL could offer in 2025-26. New Jersey’s high-end potential exists alongside questions about depth and durability; New York’s two other teams diverge in terms of trajectory—one undergoing transition with young players emerging and another fighting to reclaim a top-tier status after a rough 2024-25 run. In that mix, bettors are watching for the health and performance of a handful of standout players, from Dougie Hamilton’s availability to Gabriel Perreault’s development and Ilya Sorokin’s consistency in net.
The betting markets also reflect the broader dynamics of the Eastern Conference, where a handful of teams are expected to push for the top after a season of shifts and retooling. For Islanders fans, the question is whether Sorokin’s elite play can mask structural gaps on the roster. For Devils supporters, the challenge is turning strong underlying trends into sustained results, balancing health with depth across defense and forwards. For Rangers followers, the task is translating talent into wins that translate into a steadier path into the playoffs.
Ultimately, the 2025-26 season could unfold on three distinct arcs: a Devils surge that keeps them in the mix among the East’s elite; an Islanders campaign driven by goaltending if the team comes together in front of Sorokin; and a Rangers season that hopes to translate talent and opportunity into consistent production. As markets set the odds and rosters take shape, fans and bettors alike will be watching how health, depth, and goaltending play out over the long NHL grind.