Are Any NHL Eastern Conference Teams Elite?

The NHL Eastern Conference is having what many consider a down year. Consider the two previous President’s Trophy winners, the Boston Bruins and the New York Rangers.

The Bruins are in playoff contention, but remain one of the league’s most puzzling disappointments. The Rangers, on the other hand, are in total disarray. The players are fighting with the coach, the GM is under fire, and the Blue Shirts will likely miss the postseason.

However, it’s not all bad news. A mediocre Eastern Conference has allowed the Bruins to remain in playoff contention. They’re one winning streak and a few trade deadline moves away from competing for the Atlantic Division.

Who are the elite teams of the Eastern Conference, or are there any? Let’s take a look at the top three Stanley Cup contenders according to FanDuel Sportsbook’s odds.

Carolina Hurricanes +750

The Carolina Hurricanes have it all and have had it all except a birth in the Stanley Cup Finals. They’re loaded with star players like Brent Burns, Sebastian Aho, and Martin Necas.

Veteran center and team captain Jordan Staal provides Stanley Cup leadership and carries an immense hockey IQ. Head coach Rod Brind’amour is a well-respected former player and has guided these Hurricanes to several spectacular regular seasons.

Despite holding the best odds of any team in the Eastern Conference to win the Stanley Cup, the Canes have sputtered at times this year. Through the last ten games, the Canes are 5-4-0-1.

The Hurricanes struggle on the road. Carolina is a woeful 8-9-2 away from the friendly confines of the Lonovo Center.

Florida Panthers +850

The defending champs played a lot of meaningful hockey over the previous two seasons, making the Stanley Cup Final twice. That’s likely why they have the second-best odds of winning it all.

The Panthers are a physical machine. Players like Matthew Tkachuk and Sam Reinhart impose their will on the opposition, and the Panthers once again lead the league in hits with 1,095 on the season.

Florida is atop the Atlantic Division, neck and neck with the Toronto Maple Leafs. So what’s different about this year’s Panthers team? Sergei Bobrovsky has struggled.

The mercurial Russian netminder posts a 2.81 GAA with a .899% SV. A leaky Bob could be the Panthers’ undoing.

New Jersey Devils +1000

Where’s Jack Hughes? The young superstar looked poised to explode all over the NHL after a 43-goal 2022-23 campaign. Injuries plagued Hughes last season, limiting him to 62 games.

A healthy Hughes is playing well, but not well enough. He’s on pace for 30 goals and 92 points, well below the 43-goal and 99-point high-water mark of 2022-23. The Devils need more from their superstar to climb into elite status.

What’s more troubling is Hughes’ lack of shot production. His 3.7 shots per game average is down from 4.4 per game last season.

A Mediocre NHL Eastern Conference Helps the Boston Bruins

The Bruins defined mediocrity in 2024, but so far, no Eastern Conference team has pulled away from the pack. If the Bruins can hold steady through January and February, a trade deadline move could help vault them up the standings and into a more favorable playoff position.

Boston’s odds of winning the Stanley Cup in 2025 are +3100. Those odds could shrink fast with one January winning streak.