NHL · 3 hours ago

5 Most Overrated Teams in the 2025-26 Stanley Cup Playoffs

Grant White

Host · Writer

Utah Mammoth
Stanley Cup Odds: +3000

This is just the second season under their current iteration, but this has been the Utah Mammoth's best campaign in over a decade. Still, they are being overvalued by the betting market and don't stand a real chance against the Vegas Golden Knights.

Utah stole Games 2 and 3 versus the Knights, but their on-ice performances have been consistently abysmal. They have been outplayed in all but one of their first-round matchups, with each one of those game scores falling below 45.2%. Predictably, that correlates with 37.4% scoring and 38.3% high-danger chance ratings.

Analytically, the Mammoth are the worst team in the playoffs. They are tied 2-2 with the Golden Knights, precipitating a sharp increase in their Stanley Cup odds. This is the highest they will go, and the Mammoth collapse is nothing more than a formality.
Edmonton Oilers
Stanley Cup Odds: +2500

The Edmonton Oilers staved off elimination in Game 5, forcing their first-round series against the Anaheim Ducks to a pivotal Game 6. Their betting odds have come down, but the Oilers are still overrated and aren't worth the futures investment.

While Edmonton has come out strong and had the lead in every game against the Anaheim Ducks. They haven't been able to sustain their advantage. The Oilers have been outplayed in each of the last three games, contributing to their lackluster 44.9% expected goals-for rating. Moreover, they have been out-chanced in each one of those contests and haven't attempted more than nine high-danger chances in any outing.

Injuries may be a factor, but this Oilers team is a shell of their former selves. Game 6 is their chance to steal all of the momentum, but we don't have faith that will be the case.
Tampa Bay Lightning
Stanley Cup Odds:+600

The Tampa Bay Lightning remain one of the Eastern Conference frontrunners. However, their playoff performances have been anything but assertive. Not surprisingly, the betting market has started to fade the Bolts.

Known for their well-rounded play, the Lightning have fallen off in the attacking zone. Twice already, they have been held to just one high-danger chance in the attacking zone and they have been out-chanced in all but one of those games. Cumulatively, this translates to a 47.0% expected goals-for rating, the third-worst mark among Eastern Conference teams.

Without Andrei Vasilevskiy stealing games, the Bolts don't have a conceivable path to the second round. They aren't Stanley Cup contenders, let alone second-round candidates.
Carolina Hurricanes
Stanley Cup Odds: +600

The Carolina Hurricanes are in a similar position to the Tampa Bay Lightning. Widely considered the premier Eastern Conference Stanley Cup contender, the Canes were hoping to exorcise their playoff demons against the Senators. All they did was validate the longstanding postseason concerns.

Carolina was out of sorts against the Senators. Even though they swept the wild card squad, Ottawa outplayed Carolina in two of the last three, including putting up a whopping 19 high-danger chances in Game 2. Further, the Canes skated into the second round on just seven five-on-five goals and an underwhelming 52.9% expected goals-for rating.

Frederik Andersen was the difference for Carolina, but the veteran netminder isn't the stalwart he once was. As he comes back down to earth, so do the Hurricanes' Stanley Cup chances.
Dallas Stars
Stanley Cup Odds: +3000

This was supposed to be the Dallas Stars' year. They had been to the Western Conference Final in three straight years, and were ready to take the next step. As it turns out, they probably won't make it out of their first-round matchup versus the Minnesota Wild.

The Stars are a step behind their division rivals, with their offensive well running dry. Dallas has been outplayed in three of five, failing to breakthrough the Wild's stout defensive structure. Factoring in the overtime contests, the Stars are averaging a not-so-nice 6.9 high-danger chances per game. More concerning, that has translated to just three goals at five-on-five.

Once a top contender to go on a deep run, the Stars on the verge of collapse. Given their scoring inability it's just a matter of time before they are sent packing.
Utah Mammoth
Stanley Cup Odds: +3000

This is just the second season under their current iteration, but this has been the Utah Mammoth's best campaign in over a decade. Still, they are being overvalued by the betting market and don't stand a real chance against the Vegas Golden Knights.

Utah stole Games 2 and 3 versus the Knights, but their on-ice performances have been consistently abysmal. They have been outplayed in all but one of their first-round matchups, with each one of those game scores falling below 45.2%. Predictably, that correlates with 37.4% scoring and 38.3% high-danger chance ratings.

Analytically, the Mammoth are the worst team in the playoffs. They are tied 2-2 with the Golden Knights, precipitating a sharp increase in their Stanley Cup odds. This is the highest they will go, and the Mammoth collapse is nothing more than a formality.
Edmonton Oilers
Stanley Cup Odds: +2500

The Edmonton Oilers staved off elimination in Game 5, forcing their first-round series against the Anaheim Ducks to a pivotal Game 6. Their betting odds have come down, but the Oilers are still overrated and aren't worth the futures investment.

While Edmonton has come out strong and had the lead in every game against the Anaheim Ducks. They haven't been able to sustain their advantage. The Oilers have been outplayed in each of the last three games, contributing to their lackluster 44.9% expected goals-for rating. Moreover, they have been out-chanced in each one of those contests and haven't attempted more than nine high-danger chances in any outing.

Injuries may be a factor, but this Oilers team is a shell of their former selves. Game 6 is their chance to steal all of the momentum, but we don't have faith that will be the case.

5 Most Overrated Teams in the 2025-26 Stanley Cup Playoffs

BETTING NEWS

FUTURES

EDITOR'S PICKS

For the Best of SportsGrid, Grab the App

BETTING NEWS

FUTURES