In order for the Detroit Red Wings to end their nine-year playoff drought, at least one of last season\u2019s Eastern Conference playoff teams has to fall out.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s not easy foreseeing which team that would be.<\/p>\n
The Atlantic Division\u2019s Florida Panthers (-750), Tampa Bay Lightning (-425) and Toronto Maple Leafs (-300), according FanDuel Sportsbook, are three of the top seven teams most likely to qualify for the Eastern Conference playoffs. Metropolitan favorite Carolina (-800) and the Vegas Golden Knights are considered the most likely team to make the playoffs. FanDuel pegs the New Jersey Devils (-270) with a 73% chance of making the playoffs. FanDuel gives last year\u2019s non-playoff team, the New York Rangers (-190) a 65.5% probability of making the playoffs. The Washington Capitals boast the same odds. The Ottawa Senators (-160) have a 61.5% chance of qualifying again in the Eastern.<\/p>\n
Those are the eight teams that FanDuel believes will make it in the east, and none of those teams have less than a 61.5% implied probability.<\/p>\n
The most vulnerable team among last year\u2019s playoff team is the Montreal Canadiens (+115). That\u2019s a 46.5% implied probability team.\u00a0 Their odds are below 50-50, but still better than Detroit\u2019s implied probability of 31.3%. The Habs have Ivan Demidov and Lane Hutson, two difference-making youngsters, who are likely to improve as the season progresses.<\/p>\n
The most optimistic way for Detroit fans to view it is the Red Wings will likely be competing against the Rangers, Senators and Canadiens for the two wild card positions.<\/p>\n
COOLBET Featured Odds on the 2025\/2026 Stanley Cup Season odds. <\/p>\n
1. #Panthers<\/a> are the top favourites to win it all for the 2026 Stanley Cup pic.twitter.com\/pAGtDGWALl<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Evan Renaerts (@revingev) August 21, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n Red Wings In Case You Missed It<\/p>\n GM Steve Yzerman<\/a> is a supporter of the NHL\/NHLPA decision to go to 84 games.<\/p>\n What are the worst-case scenarios for coach Todd McLellan\u2019s<\/a> team heading into the 2025-26 NHL season? DHN offers an answer.<\/p>\n Axel Holmstrom<\/a> never made it as an NHL player, but he was appreciative that the Red Wings gave him an opportunity.<\/p>\n Red Wings Extra<\/p>\n It\u2019s surprising that two-year Grand Rapids Griffins defenseman Brogan Rafferty hasn\u2019t landed somewhere by now. The right-shot defender has only played three games in the NHL but has logged 328 in the American Hockey League. Would have guessed that he would have been picked up by another AHL team or headed to Europe.<\/p>\n Hockey Now Network<\/p>\n New Jersey: James Nichols zeros in on what should concern the Devils with training camp now weeks away. Aging goaltending and the defense are on his list. New Jersey Devils.<\/a><\/p>\n Pittsburgh: Dan Kingerski hasn\u2019t confirmed a sale of the team is imminent, but one source told him: \u201cIt feels real.\u201d<\/p>\n Vegas: Hannah Kirkell writes that Toronto\u2019s failures pushed Mitch Marner to the Vegas Golden Knights.\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
2. #Hurricanes<\/a>
3. #oilers<\/a>
4. #Avalanche<\/a> <\/p>\n