2024-25 NHL Playoff Odds: Vancouver Drama Could Have Them Missing Playoffs

A quarter of the 2024-25 NHL season has passed and there's still a lot of jockeying for Stanley Cup playoff positions, specifically in the East where seven points separate the last-place team and a Wild Card spot. 

In the West, is it possible the drama surrounding the Vancouver Canucks sees them miss the playoffs after a 109-point season last year?

See the NHL Stanley Cup playoff odds to find where we can get value on teams to make or miss the postseason.

2024-25 NHL Playoff Odds: Eastern Conference

Odds as of December 20 at BET 99. Teams with * are currently in a playoff spot.
Playoff probability from Hockey-Reference

Best Bet To Make NHL Playoffs (East): Ottawa Senators, -180

Hallelujah, Linus Ullmark can stop a puck, the former Vezina winner has been on fire with a 0.967 save percentage and 0.99 goals against average over his last seven. It's no coincidence that Ottawa has gone on to win those seven games and find themselves in a playoff position by a single point but with two games in hand.

A shot-stopper was all Ottawa was missing, they finished with a respectful 3.05 goals per game last season, but goalies Korpisalo, Forsberg, and Sogaard combined to allow 33.7 goals above expected, dooming the Sens to a seventh-straight year without playoff hockey.

With Ullmark being the star Ottawa thought he was when they traded for him and getting a similar 3.01 goals per game, Ottawa has all it needs to make the playoffs in a weak Eastern Conference. Ideally, he's not out injured for too much longer.

Best Bet To Miss NHL Playoffs (East): New York Rangers, +100

A messy picture is getting messier in New York with punitive trades, a rumored mutinous players-only meeting, and results that are only getting worse with a pathetic 5-15 with a -31 goal differential over their last 20 games.

The Rangers are broken and I doubt they get back up in time to pile up enough points to make the playoffs. Cash in on those +100 odds to miss the playoffs.

2024-25 NHL Playoff Odds: Western Conference

Odds as of December 6 at BET99. Teams with * are currently in a playoff spot. 
Playoff probability from Hockey-Reference

Best Bet To Make NHL Playoffs (West): Utah Hockey Club, +190

They're so close! Utah is only four points back of the Canucks who are seemingly imploding before our eyes. Getting a 5-3 win over Calgary and ending a five-game losing streak was important and should have the Utahns back on track.

Goalie Karel Vejmelka has been key with a 0.915 save percentage and 2.43 goals against average on the season, while young forwards Dylan Guenther, Logan Cooley, and Clayton Keller continue to shine scoring 34 or more points on the season.

And look Utah has the cap space and assets to make a big move at the trade deadline to acquire another key piece. And we also have to remember that Jon Marino, a major defensive acquisition from the offseason, is getting closer and closer to joining his teammates. 

It would not surprise me to see Utah make the postseason in year one.

Best Bet To Miss NHL Playoffs (West): Vancouver Canucks, +230

Vancouver is coming back down to earth and they aren't slowing down with a 4-4-4 record over their last twelve and are now without standout defenseman Quinn Hughes, star center Elias Pettersson (who GM Patrick Alvin called immature recently), as well as starting goalie Thatcher Demko.

We haven't seen rock bottom yet for last year's PDO darlings who finished the season with 109 points. I said it as early as the pre-season that Vancouver would fall off this year, that's happening but the infighting and drama between Miller and Pettersson is making it worse. 

Expect them to miss the playoffs when it's all said and done.