2026 NHL Atlantic Division Odds, Predictions, And Betting Preview

The Atlantic Division could be one of the most competitive groups in the NHL again in 2026-27, with several teams entering the season with legitimate playoff aspirations and Stanley Cup dreams. From established contenders to emerging clubs looking to take the next step, there’s plenty of intrigue surrounding the division heading into the new campaign. Our NHL Atlantic Division season predictions break down every team’s outlook, offseason moves, key strengths and weaknesses, and the best betting angles for the season ahead. Can the Panthers and Lightning remain among the league’s elite? Will Toronto finally turn its talent into postseason success? And which teams could surprise or fall short? We examine all eight Atlantic Division teams and identify the futures bets at online sportsbooks worth considering.

Florida Panthers

Stanley Cup odds: +650
To win conference odds: +350
To win division odds: +150
To make the playoffs odds: -850
Regular season points over/under: Over 107.5 (-130), Under 107.5 (+100)

Key additions: F Brady Tkachuk, G Jacob Markstrom, D Radko Gudas, G Akira Schmid

Key subtractions: G Sergei Bobrovsky, F Evan Rodrigues, F Jesper Boqvist, F Ben Steeves, F A.J. Greer

Betting prediction: Under 107.5 points (+100)

The Panthers responded to a very disappointing 2025-26 campaign by significantly overhauling their roster this winter, most notably bringing in forward Brady Tkachuk to play with his brother, Matthew, from the Ottawa Senators. This move sent shockwaves around the NHL following the hype of the Tkachuk brothers and their triumph at the 2026 Olympics for the Americans, and it should be very exciting for fans to watch the duo play in unison in Florida for years to come.

However, this team is stacked with injury-prone veteran players, and we saw firsthand how injuries can decimate the Panthers last year. Aleksander Barkov’s return from a serious knee injury should be a shot in the arm for the squad, but questions remain about his ability to retain his status as an elite two-way player moving forward.

The team will also begin the 2026-27 campaign without two-time Vezina Trophy and Stanley Cup winner Sergei Bobrovsky between the pipes after trading him to the Maple Leafs. They replaced him with the duo of Jacob Markstrom and Akira Schmid, but those two netminders are obviously downgrades from Bobrovsky between the pipes.

The Panthers should be a lock to make the playoffs and record one of the highest point totals in the league this season, but with so many veteran players on the roster, keeping the team healthy for the playoffs will be the team’s biggest concern. Expect Florida to be good, but not great, at least during the regular season.

Tampa Bay Lightning

Stanley Cup odds: +1200
To win conference odds: +650
To win division odds: +290
To make the playoffs odds: -400
Regular season points over/under: Over 103.5 (-110), Under 103.5 (-110)

Key additions: D John Carlson, F Ilya Mikheyev, G Dennis Hildeby, G Mads Sogaard

Key subtractions: F Nick Paul, D Darren Raddysh, F Corey Perry, F Olivr Bjorkstrand

Betting prediction: Over 103.5 points (-110)

Fresh off a 106-point campaign, the Lightning should be one of the top teams in the NHL again this season. They boast an elite goaltender,Andrei Vasilevskiy, and a very impressive top-six group of forwards led by Nikita Kucherov and Jake Guentzel.

The loss of breakout defenceman Darren Raddysh on the back end certainly hurts, but signing veteran defenceman John Carlson should help fill that void, at least in the short term. Victor Hedman’s rapid decline on the back end is also concerning, but the Lightning have enough depth on defence to hold it together.

Tampa is a well-coached, well-oiled machine and should have no issues getting close to 50 wins again in 2026-27.

Montreal Canadiens

Stanley Cup odds: +2000
To win conference odds: +1200
To win division odds: +600
To make the playoffs odds: -180
Regular season points over/under: Over 99.5 (-105), Under 99.5 (-115)

Key additions: F Chris Kreider, G Kaapo Kahkonen

Key subtractions: F Sean Farrell

Betting prediction: To make the playoffs (-180)

We’re getting a very generous -180 price on an up-and-coming squad that recorded 106 points last season and enjoyed a deep playoff run.

It was an incredibly quiet offseason for the Canadiens until recently, when veteran forward Chris Kreider inked an affordable one-year deal after the Ducks bought him out for cap space purposes. His addition to an already deep top-nine should help bolster the team’s depth through any injuries this season.

He also brings a proven net-front presence to Montreal and has a reputation as one of the best tippers in the league, which should be beneficial on the power play. The 35-year-old has scored at least 20 goals in each of the last eight seasons.

The -180 price tag on this market is steep, but a lot would have to go wrong in order for Montreal not to make the playoffs this season considering its exceptional depth at every position.

Buffalo Sabres

Stanley Cup odds: +3000
To win conference odds: +1600
To win division odds: +1000
To make the playoffs odds: -115
Regular season points over/under: Over 95.5 (-130), Under 95.5 (+100)

Key additions: D Olen Zellweger, D Louis Crevier, D Daxon Rudolph

Key subtractions: F Alex Tuch, F Jordan Greenway, D Bowen Byram, F Anton Wahlberg

Betting prediction: To make the playoffs (-115)

The Sabres snapped a 14-year playoff drought with an outstanding 109-point campaign last year to capture the best record in the Eastern Conference before bowing out in the second round of the playoffs to Montreal.

Now, the big question is whether or not they can run it back to the playoffs after losing two key roster pieces: Alex Tuch and Bowen Byram. The organization brought in Zellweger to fill the void left by Byram but is banking on internal production to make up Tuch’s 33 goals and 66 points. Rookie Konsta Helenius impressed during the playoffs and is the most likely candidate to step into a larger role, but the team also has other youngsters, like Noah Ostlund and Jiri Kulich, that could also break out.

The Sabres are also rumoured to be a potential trade destination for disgruntled Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck, who has requested a trade out of Winnipeg. If the Sabres can land the elite goaltender over the next couple of weeks, their futures markets will surely skyrocket as a result. And even if they don’t, the Sabres still have incredible depth at the forward position and that should help guide them back to the postseason again in 2026-27.

Toronto Maple Leafs

Stanley Cup odds: +3000
To win conference odds: +1600
To win division odds: +900
To make the playoffs odds: -115
Regular season points over/under: Over 95.5 points (-130), Under 95.5 (+100)

Key additions: F Gavin McKenna, G Sergei Bobrovsky, F Nick Paul, F Jack Roslovic, F Colton Sissons, F Teddy Blueger

Key subtractions: F Nick Robertson, G Dennis Hildeby

Betting prediction: Gavin McKenna to score 25+ goals (+160)

Optimism is high in Toronto for the first time in forever after the team lucked out by winning the draft lottery and selected standout forward Gavin McKenna with the first overall pick in the draft. Now, there’s a tremendous amount of pressure on the 18-year-old from the Yukon to vault the Maple Leafs back into contention, but he won’t have to weather that storm alone with a strong supporting cast of Auston Matthews, John Tavares, and William Nylander by his side.

McKenna thrived at the most recent World Juniors for Canada under the brightest lights, netting four goals and 10 assists in seven games, and he should have immediate success at the NHL level, especially playing alongside elite talents like Nylander and Matthews on the team’s top lines and power-play units.

We’re betting on McKenna to net 25 or more goals in his inaugural campaign, which will surely also come with some growing pains and a crash course in how to survive the intense scrutiny he’ll inevitably face in a large hockey market like Toronto.

Ottawa Senators

Stanley Cup odds: +3500
To win conference odds: +1800
To win division odds: +950
To make the playoffs odds: +100
Regular season points over/under: Over 94.5 points (-130), Under 94.5 (+100)

Key additions: F William Eklund, F Andre Burakovsky, G Samuel Ersson

Key subtractions: F Brady Tkachuk, F Lars Eller, G Mads Sogaard

Betting prediction: To not make the playoffs (-130)

The loss of captain and franchise forward Brady Tkachuk is going to hurt this team, at least in the short term. Although Tkachuk may be one of the most overrated players in the league, his brazen and physical style of play gave the Senators a much-needed edge on a nightly basis.

Bringing in William Eklund from the San Jose Sharks was a tidy move by GM Steve Staois in the wake of the Tkachuk trade, and it should help stabilize a team that already boasts several elite players, like Tim Stutzle and Jake Sanderson. Losing Tkachuk may be beneficial for the team in the long run depending on how the stockpile of draft picks they acquired pan out, but it’s going to be difficult for the team to rebound from such a dramatic offseason.

Unfortunately for the Senators, the Eastern Conference playoff race is shaping up to be a dogfight with several contenders, and without their top dog Tkachuk grinding it out on a nightly basis, we’re projecting Ottawa to fall just short of a playoff spot.

Boston Bruins

Stanley Cup odds: +9000
To win conference odds: +4500
To win division odds: +3000
To make the playoffs odds: +275
Regular season points over/under: Over 87.5 points (+100), Under 87.5 (-130)

Key additions: F JJ Peterka, D Will Borgen, D Connor Clifton,

Key subtractions: F Victor Arvidsson, G Joonas Korpisalo, D Andrew Peeke

Betting prediction: David Pastrnak under 37.5 goals (-110)

There’s no question that Pastrnak is an elite NHL talent, but he really stands alone as the only gamebreaker on Boston’s roster. His supporting cast is weak, and the front office did nearly nothing to improve the club from an offensive perspective over the winter, aside from bringing in JJ Peterka, who has failed to meet high expectations so far in his NHL career.

Pastrnak recorded a whopping 100 points in 77 games for the Bruins last year, but his 29 goals were his lowest total since 2020-21, when he tallied 20 in just 48 contests. It’s hard to imagine the Czech forward adding nine more goals to his tally this season, and that’s assuming he remains healthy for the entire campaign.

Take the under on this season-long player prop with confidence.

Detroit Red Wings

Stanley Cup odds: +10000
To win conference odds: +5000
To win division odds: +3300
To make the playoffs odds: +260
Regular season points over/under: Over 87.5 points (+100), Under 87.5 (-130)

Key additions: F Viktor Arvidsson, F Keegan Kolesar, G Daniil Tarasov

Key subtractions: F Patrick Kane, G Sebastian Cossa

Betting prediction: Red Wings to finish last in the Atlantic Division (+250)

It could be a miserable season in the Motor City.

Firstly, the team still doesn’t have a general manager heading into training camp after Steve Yzerman stepped down from the role. That’s obviously a massive issue with training camp on the horizon with several rosters decisions yet to be made.

Secondly, Dylan Larkin is still on the roster. The elite forward requested a trade this summer, but his full no-trade clause has essentially handcuffed the team into dealing with only a select few teams. Detroit has since stripped Larkin of his captaincy, and now it’s running out of time to get a potential deal done. Does Larkin show up at training camp and make things awkward? It’s looking like that will be the case, which won’t be good for the dressing room or morale.

This team isn’t going anywhere until the organizational structure is set and a clear path forward is forged.