Three of the biggest brands with the NHL Betting Lines are no longer commanding support from gamblers. Namely, the Toronto Maple Leafs, New York Rangers, and Boston Bruins are nowhere near the top of the future market odds board. All three of these Original Six legacy brands have recently been in the Stanley Cup mix.
Consider that from 2018 through 2025, the Maple Leafs finished with over 100 points six times. Boston finished with 100 or more points six out of seven years (2018-2024). At the same time, the Rangers finished with over 100 points three straight years (2022-24). This year, only Boston has shown the ability to be a serious playoff contender.
The fall of the Rangers, Bruins, and Maple Leafs is a cautionary tale of making hay while the sun shines. Accordingly, the Stanley Cup window of all three teams has slammed shut. And gamblers have taken notice.
2025-26 Stanley Cup Championship Futures
Falling Leafs
Following a first-round exit in the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs, the Toronto Maple Leafs fired head coach Sheldon Keefe. Keefe departed with the highest winning percentage in Toronto history, but with a playoff record of 16-21. In five playoff appearances, Keefe advanced no further than the second round only one time. As a result of his playoff failures, Keefe’s teams were panned for being soft and chokers.
Craig Berube took Keefe’s place and was expected to tighten and toughen up the Maple Leafs. Previously, Berube beat long sports betting odds by leading the St. Louis Blues to the 2019 Stanley Cup championship as an interim coach. Overall, St. Louis was in last place when Berube took over. Thus, Berube has the resume that Toronto management believed would put them over the top.
Last year, Berube proved to be the leader of Toronto’s last gasp. The Maple Leafs beat the NHL Betting Odds with 108 points and a .659 winning percentage. However, the playoffs were more of the same with a second-round exit. Following the disaster, the Leafs raised the white flag by trading Mitch Marner to the Vegas Golden Knights. At that moment, it was obvious that Toronto had given up on winning a Stanley Cup. Berube is struggling to keep the team above the .500 mark and is on one of the NHL’s hottest seats.
Mediocrity Bruin in Boston
Under Bruce Cassidy, the Boston Bruins lost to Berube’s Blues in a 7-game Stanley Cup Final. Boston lost the opportunity to defeat the Blues at home ice. Cassidy was given three more years, but he could not get Boston past the second round. Thus, Cassidy was fired after the 2022 season and replaced by Jim Montgomery.
First-year coach Jim Montgomery led the Bruins to the best regular season in NHL history. However, the Bruins suffered a shocking and humiliating first-round playoff exit. Since that debacle, the Bruins have never been the same. Montgomery was fired less than two seasons later and is now, ironically, with the Blues. Meanwhile, Cassidy is firmly ensconced as head coach of the Vegas Golden Knights, with whom he won the 2023 Stanley Cup championship.
Now, Marco Sturm, a German native and former NHL and German national team player, is the Bruins’ bench boss. So far, Boston is exceeding expectations and is in the 6th playoff position in the Eastern Conference. Still, gamblers are not sold on Boston’s ability to win a Stanley Cup this season.
Rags to Rangers
On the whole, the New York Rangers are the most disappointing team in the NHL. In a similar way to the Maple Leafs and Bruins, the Rangers are a product of past heartbreak. In 2024, the Broadway Blueshirts lost to the eventual Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers in the Eastern Conference Final.
Following that loss to Florida, the Rangers were touted as a Stanley Cup favorite. Instead, New York flopped on its face, missing the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Last summer, Mike Sullivan arrived after a long run as head coach of the Pittsburgh Penguins that included two Stanley Cup championships. So far, the Rangers are struggling to stay above .500 with an offense ranked 29th for goals scored.