As the NHL enters a quieter period from late July to late August, the focus shifts away from major transactions and towards evaluating the upcoming season. During this time, players frequently share personal milestones through their social media profiles, while hockey insiders retreat to their summer activities. This lull provides fans and analysts an opportunity to assess potential futures bets for the 2025-26 season, particularly as preseason approaches and betting lines are likely to shift.

DraftKings currently lists the Florida Panthers as the favorites to win the Eastern Conference at +310. While predicting conference champions can be challenging, the Panthers appear to have a strong chance based on their recent performance. Conversely, the Minnesota Wild are favored to make the playoffs at -150, despite incongruities in their odds compared to other teams in the Western Conference. Analysts feel confident in the Wild's potential, making this a sensible option for future consideration. Meanwhile, the Pittsburgh Penguins have set an over/under on regular season points at 78.5 (-120), highlighting a season where they may need to rebuild for long-term success, particularly for veteran Sidney Crosby.

In the Central Division, the Dallas Stars are positioned as strong contenders for the title at +225, although they trail behind the Colorado Avalanche, who are favored at +215. The Stars have promising prospects with a full season from Mikko Rantanen and the addition of a new head coach. In contrast, some analysts speculate the Los Angeles Kings could miss the playoffs at +260, given their unsteady offseason and previous playoff performances. On the other hand, the Detroit Red Wings at +260 offer a counterpoint with prospects for improvement, particularly following their acquisition of goaltender John Gibson and a successful coaching change mid-season. Additionally, the Tampa Bay Lightning and Vegas Golden Knights have raised eyebrows with their points projections—both teams will need to prove they can meet their expectations in the upcoming season.