As the NHL offseason progresses, many fans may notice a significant reduction in activity around their local arenas. This period, stretching from late July to late August, is often characterized by a lull in major transactions as insiders retreat for summer breaks and players share glimpses of their off-ice lives through social media. Teams are generally reluctant to make significant moves during this time, resulting in limited fluctuations in betting odds.

With teams in a holding pattern, it presents a suitable moment for fans to explore potential futures bets for the upcoming 2025-26 season. DraftKings offers a plethora of options, and some bets appear more intriguing than others. Among the prominent futures, the Florida Panthers are positioned as favorites to win the Eastern Conference at +310. Although predicting the conference’s victor is notoriously challenging, the Panthers seem to have solidified their status, making any wager on another team as an unlikely choice.

In the Western Conference, the Minnesota Wild hold a compelling line at -150 to make the playoffs, a wager deemed more favorable compared to the Los Angeles Kings at -350. Meanwhile, the Pittsburgh Penguins may face a challenging year, prompting some analysts to recommend an under bet at 78.5 regular-season points (-120). With key players and team dynamics in flux, the outcomes seem uncertain, allowing for calculated risks on teams like the Dallas Stars, who are pegged at +225 to capture the Central Division amidst looming decisions surrounding their rivals, the Colorado Avalanche.