Should You Bet on the Minnesota Wild to win the 2026 Stanley Cup?

Quietly lurking in the shadows in the Central, the Minnesota Wild have rivaled the Colorado Avalanche and Dallas Stars, cementing themselves as one of the top contenders to win the Stanley Cup. Their high level of play on both sides of the ice helps them avoid playing in highly volatile contests, increasing their likelihood of being able to make a deep run in the playoffs.

Minnesota Wild to Win Western Conference?

Unfortunately for the Wild, their path to the Western Conference Championship is as daunting as it can get, kicking things off with a first round matchup against the Dallas Stars. Even with the Stars front line dealing with some harsh regression, they are still well rounded and capable of matching the Wild’s output, making it very difficult to pull away on the scoreboard.

If the Wild are able to get past the Stars, then they will most likely draw the Colorado Avalanche who are listed as the betting favorite to win the Stanley Cup. The Avs have been in a tier of their own this season, fielding a deep front line who is capable of pressuring the net for the full duration of their contests while their back line consistently smothers opposing shot attempts, lessening the quality of their Shots on Goal.

While a matchup against the Avs most likely signals the end of Minnesota’s run, it is worth noting the Wild are also a well rounded unit and have proven they are capable of competing with the top contenders. Heading into the playoffs, the Wild have been getting hot at just the right time, climbing up into the top half of the board in Expected Goals For in All Situations while their defense ranks seventh in Expected Goals Against.

Filip Gustavsson has also been able to round back into form after a slow start to the year, averaging 2.59 Goals Against per game and a .909 Save Percentage. With Gustavsson patrolling their net, the amount of variance in their contests drastically declines, increasing their chances of winning.

With the Wild having to go through a brutal stretch of games just to make the Western Conference Finals, they are a pass in the futures market. Should they be able to make a run and get paired with the likes of Edmonton or Vegas, then I will bet them on their series moneyline since both the Oilers and Golden Knights possess at least one glaring weakness at one side of the ice.

Best Odds: Minnesota Wild to win Western Conference

Minnesota Wild to Win Stanley Cup?

If the Wild are able to weave their way through the West, then they would find themselves listed as a slight underdog in the Finals assuming they match up with either the Tampa Bay Lightning or Carolina Hurricanes. Two elite units in their own right who rank in the top-10 in Expected Goals For and in Expected Goals Against.

While Minnesota may be outmatched on both sides of the ice, one potential advantage that helps even the playing field is the Wild possess a second goalie who is able to give Gustavsson the night off without suffering any sizable loss of production. Heading into the playoffs, Jesper Wallstedt has been a reliable goaltender for the Wild, averaging 2.65 Goals Against per game.

By being able to swap their goalies throughout the playoffs, the Wild are able to preserve Gustavsson’s legs which will help them brush aside regression when they get deep into the later rounds. With fresh legs, either goalie will be able to neutralize the opposing front line, helping the Wild match their output to keep it close on the scoreboard.

If the bracket breaks the Wild’s way and they face off against the likes of Pittsburgh or Buffalo, then they would be listed as the favorite on the series moneyline, creating more profitable hedging scenarios. Both the Penguins and Sabres have struggled with at least one side of the ice, bringing in more variance to the benefit of the Wild.

With that being said, avoid placing a wager on the Wild to win the Stanley Cup now, but be prepared to place a wager mid playoffs if the bracket starts to break their way. Especially if the Avs fall to Nashville in the first round, skyrocketing the Wild’s odds to win the title in the process. If you already have positions on the Avs and Stars at longer odds, then consider adding the Wild to help diversify your portfolio.

Best Odds: Minnesota Wild to win Stanley Cup

Any Minnesota Wild Players to Win Conn Smythe?

When at full health, Kirill Kaprizov has been able to play at a very high level, averaging 0.49 Expected Goals and 3.49 Shots on Goal per game. His production has helped spark the Wild’s run to the top half of the board in Expected Goals For, using his gravity to help create wider shooting lanes in front of the opposing net for his linemates to exploit, improving the quality of their Shots on Goal.

The only other player who rivals Kaprizov in regard to his scoring output is Matt Boldy, generating 0.41 Expected Goals per game. Should opposing back lines heavily shade their coverage towards Kaprizov, then the Wild will need to lean heavier on Boldy to keep them afloat, shining the spotlight brighter on him for the Conn Smythe.

If you believe the Wild will be able to make a run, then consider adding Gustavsson to your portfolio as his play in their net will be more vital than ever, needing to shut down the likes of Dallas and Colorado just to make it to the conference finals. Even with Wallstedt getting a few starts, Gustavsson will receive a majority of the workload, keeping him in contention for the award.

Photo Credit: AP/Paul Sancya