The curtain closes on the offseason charades as we gear up for another tantalising NHL season. Are back-to-back defending champions, the Florida Panthers, headed for a three-peat? Or are the Vegas Golden Knights destined to dethrone them after landing the most prized free agent, Mitch Marner?
Vegas Golden Knights are among the bettors’ choices for 2025-26. Photo by Lewis.Bleiman@prohockeynews.comÂ
As the new season kicks off, Velobet offers plenty of betting markets to explore. Hockey’s twists and turns make it especially exciting, and we’re making bold predictions on the NHL teams most likely to draw the most action this year.
Popular NHL Betting Types
Whether you are a maestro or a novice to betting on hockey, knowing the different types of NHL bets is critical to making educated betting decisions. The popular NHL bets we expect this year are:
Moneyline Bets
This is a straight-up bet where you simply choose which team will win the game. There are no ties in the NHL, hence the final outcome only matters. For example, the Colorado Avalanche are -150, and the Vegas Golden Knights are +130. This means:
- A $250 bet on the Colorado Avalanche wins you $100
- A $100 bet on the Vegas Golden Knights wins you $130
Over/Under (Totals)
This bet represents the combined number of goals scored by both teams. The bookmaker sets a number (usually between 5.5 and 7.5) and you bet whether the final score will be over or under that number. For example, the total for a game is set at 6.5. It means:
- If you bet the over, you need seven or more total goals to win
- If you bet the under, you need six or fewer total goals to win
Puck Line Bets
This bet is used by bookmakers to even the odds of a game while giving punters the opportunity of backing both teams with a relatively even chance of winning. It’s almost always at -1.5 goals for the favourite and +1.5 goals for the underdog. For instance:
- Favourite (-1.5): The team must win the game by two or more goals for your bet to win
- Underdog (+1.5): The team must either win the game outright or lose by only one goal for your bet to win
Prop Bets
This is a bet where punters wager on specific events within the game. You’re not betting on who wins or the final score, but on a specific event. It’s a way to stake a claim in the action without being tied to the moneyline or totals bet. For example, you may bet on a particular player to score a goal, record a certain number of shots, or on whether the game goes to overtime.
Parlays
A parlay is a single bet that combines two or more individual wagers. Winning a parlay means every single bet must be correct. It’s popular due to its multiplied odds that can lead to a massive payout for a small stake. Still, it comes with a high risk, since a single loss can ruin your entire bet.
Live Betting
Also known as in-play betting, this format allows punters to place wagers on a game that’s already in progress. Throughout the course of the game, the bookmaker posts live numbers on the spread, totals, and moneyline.
NHL Teams with the Most Bets in 2025
It was an exciting summer transfer window, with some big-money moves and eye-catching free agents. Here are some of our bold predictions about which team will attract the most bets ahead of the new season:
Florida Panthers +600
There’s a certain buzz for the defending champions to complete the three-peat. Following their back-to-back Stanley Cup victories, they’ve positioned themselves, as noted in the new EIHL season preview, as the clear favourites to hoist the trophy for a third time. They’re more stacked in each position, with a more winning pedigree than the entire division combined.
Colorado Avalanche +800
While the Panthers might be darlings now, it’s only wise to add Colorado to the conversation. They rank at the top of the futures board with a loaded roster of talent. Nathan MacKinnon’s and Cale Makar’s presence adds experience and depth to the team. Still, health is a big issue, particularly if Blackwood is missing time due to a lower back injury.
Vegas Golden Knights +800
The more we dive into the Knights’ prospects, the more attractive they look. Let’s not forget they’re the perennial contenders before the Panthers won back-to-back. However, they added the most creative mind and skilled passer, Mitch Marner, whose marketability fits perfectly into the hockey sponsorship history that continues to evolve around star players. This adds to an already star-studded roster. Also, they added the experience of a previous Stanley Cup winner, Adin Hill.
Edmonton Oilers +850
The Oilers remain legitimate contenders entirely down to the genius of two players: Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. The duo is unarguably the league’s most dominant offensive players. Their ceiling is as high as any Cup contender’s, and they have a supporting cast, including sharpshooter Zach Hyman, defenceman Evan Bouchard, and veteran forward Ryan Nugent-Hopkins.
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