The conclusion of the Stanley Cup Playoffs means that gamblers across the country have already begun considering who should be the favorites in next year’s playoffs, with the Dallas Stars ranking highly in multiple sports books.
ESPN Bet currently has the Stars tied with the Florida Panthers for the shortest odds of any team to win the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs at 9-1, with the Panthers having slightly better odds to make the final series than the Stars.
The Panthers have the best odds of any team in the league to make the Stanley Cup Finals next season at +450, with the Stars and Oilers each having 5-1 odds to represent the Western Conference.
Fanduel Sportsbook has also released odds for the 2024-25 season, with the Stars having the fourth-best odds to win next season at +1000.
The Panthers, Carolina Hurricanes, and Colorado Avalanche all have shorter odds than the Stars at +900.
Additionally, the Stars are currently listed in two of the top six most likely Stanley Cup Finals matchups: a Stars vs. Panthers matchup is at +3200, and a Stars vs. Hurricanes matchup currently sits at +3300.
These short odds come as the Stars recently finished the season with a loss in the Western Conference Finals for the second straight season, losing to the Edmonton Oilers in six games.
More than a few roster changes have already taken place within the Stars’ organization since the team lost, with the most recent change being the team opting to buy out the contract of defenseman Ryan Suter, according to Sportsnet’s Jeff Marek.
Although this move will add roughly $1.4 million to the team’s salary cap in the 2024-25 season, it will also save the franchise the same amount the following season.
Other roster moves by those within the organization include the retirement of forward Joe Pavelski, who finishes his career after 13 seasons with the San Jose Sharks and five seasons with the Stars, as previously reported by The Dallas Express.
Similarly, the team adjusted the roster by trading forward Ty Dellandrea to the Sharks, receiving a future fourth-round pick in exchange for the former first-round selection.
