Now that we have looked at some of the top teams in the league and my four favorite NHL teams to win the Stanley Cup and their conferences, it is time to dig into the NHL awards. I absolutely love these markets, specifically rookie of the year (the Calder). Today we will break down two more awards which I believe have the most value and disparity season over season. We’ll look at my favorite pick for these awards and a runner up.
With puck drop just around the corner it is time to lock in some NHL future bets to give you something to root for all season. And don’t forget, Betting News will be dropping sharp NHL player props, game scripts and bets to keep your bankroll rolling for the entire NHL season. But first, let’s dissect the upcoming 2025-2026 NHL season, and see how much of the script we can get right.
Be sure to keep you eyes out for more NHL future bets pieces here at Betting News. In the next couple weeks we will highlight everything from NHL awards, team point totals and player props in the Betting News NHL future bet series.
Betting Odds
Odds via BetOnline, an industry leader in the sports betting world.
1. Vezina Trophy (top goalie): Jake Oettinger +1500 on BetOnline:
The Stars have relied on Oettinger in net all season long and he could be the top goalie this year
Why it’s a strong bet: Last season Oettinger finished 3rd in wins (36) with a 2.59 GAA and .909 SV%, a profile that keeps him on ballots because Vezina voters still reward wins—especially when they come on a contender. Dallas again projects as a high-win team after a Western Conference Final run in 2025.
Defense and Special Teams:Dallas returns a sturdy blue line headlined by Miro Heiskanen and Thomas Harley (Harley posted 15G, 47P last year) with Esa Lindell locked up—continuity that matters for shot suppression and net-front control. The Stars also finished top-5 on the penalty kill (~82%) and ran a 22% power play, a combo that tilts game script, limits chaos, and helps a goalie’s GAA/SV% stabilize.
The Price is Right: Most books have Oettinger in the +1200 to +1500 range—outside the top two favorites but clearly in the first tier. That’s a sweet spot for upside without paying the “favorite tax.” And at this price it is easy to see why it’s an NHL futures best bet.
The Chalk Option: Connor Hellebuyck (Winnipeg) +350
Hellebuyck is coming off one of the great modern goalie seasons—and a Vezina/Hart double—after leading the league in wins (47), posting a 2.00 GAA and .925 SV%, and backstopping Winnipeg to the Presidents’ Trophy (116 pts). Books have him as the favorite to three-peat, and the Jets’ defensive environment (structure, shot suppression, and his massive workload) hasn’t meaningfully changed. At ~+310, you’re getting an elite floor with real repeat probability—rare in goalie futures
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2. Jack Adams Trophy (top coach): André Tourigny (Utah) +750 on BetOnline:
Andre Tourigny will look to take the Jack Adams this year by leading the Mammoth to the playoffs
Why it’s a strong bet: Voters love a turnaround story, and Utah has the ingredients: a swelling young core (Clayton Keller, Logan Cooley, Dylan Guenther, plus newcomer J.J. Peterka) and real momentum. If the Mammoth hang in a playoff spot, Tourigny’s narrative heat will spike—he’s already a co-favorite at several books at +750. Utah’s depth charts/line projections show Tourigny has multiple scoring duos he can ride and a PP that could pop with Keller/Cooley/Peterka.
Roster context that helps: The forward group is measurably deeper than a year ago (extensions for key centers, the Peterka trade, and internal growth). If Utah clears the playoff bar, voters will give Tourigny disproportionate credit. Let’s not forget, that the Mammoth just missed the playoffs last season, all the while missing two of their top four defensemen for nearly 3/4 of the season. This is a young team who was still growing. This season it feels like the Mammoth are ready to show the NHL that the franchise is anything but extinct, making this a great NHL Best bet.
The other playoff hopeful: Lindy Ruff (Buffalo) — +2500. Lindy Ruff is in a similar spot to Tourigny, but will have a much steeper hill to climb. The Buffalo Sabres haven’t made the playoffs for 15 years. And while the team does not look as strong on paper as the Mammoth, the offset that Buffalo is able to capture a playoff spot could be enough to award the veteran NHL coach the Jack Adams.
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