Stanley Cup Hand-Off Odds 2025: Which Non-Captain Will Be First to Hoist Stanley Cup?
Nate Schmidt and Brad Marchand are the new Stanley Cup hand-off odds favorites, the most likely to be the first non-captain to hoist the Stanley Cup.
With the Panthers in the driver's seat to win it for a second consecutive season, it's unsurprising to see five of the seven front-runners members of Paul Maurice's team.
Let's get right into the Stanley Cup hand-off odds favorites. We've also asked AI to weigh in with its "opinion."
🤝 Stanley Cup hand-off odds
Stanley Cup hand-off odds via FanDuel, one of our best sports betting sites.
| Player | Odds (via FanDuel) | Implied probability | Profit ($10 bet) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nate Schmidt | +190 | 34.48% | $19 |
| Brad Marchand | +190 | 34.48% | $19 |
| Ryan Nugent-Hopkins | +600 | 14.29% | $60 |
| Leon Draisaitl | +950 | 9.52% | $95 |
| Sergei Bobrovsky | +1100 | 8.33% | $110 |
| Seth Jones | +1200 | 7.69% | $120 |
| Aaron Ekblad | +3000 | 3.23% | $300 |
| Corey Perry | +4100 | 2.38% | $410 |
🤖 Stanley Cup hand-off 2025 AI prediction
We asked ChatGPT, a large language model chatbot from OpenAI, for its best Stanley Cup hand-off prediction. Please note that ChatGPT is not an experienced bettor but can provide additional information and insights into the tournament and betting markets. This is for entertainment purposes only.
🏆 Most likely to hoist the Cup first: Brad Marchand
✅ Why Marchand?
🟥 1. Finals Heroics and Performance
- Six goals in the 2025 final: Marchand has been dominant in the biggest moments. Only a handful of players in modern history have scored this many goals in a single Cup Final—let alone for a team on the brink of clinching the title
- Game 5 brilliance: He scored two key goals to turn the tide, showing not just scoring touch, but a clutch factor that's defined champions for decades
- Leading Florida in the final: He’s arguably been the team’s best forward during this series—not just in raw numbers, but in presence and pressure
➡️ Why this matters: The Stanley Cup handoff often reflects recent performance. Marchand’s heroics give him an undeniable claim
🟧 2. Symbolic redemption arc
- Traded from Boston, where he was the longtime emotional core, after the Bruins fell short in 2023 and 2024
- Now, just months later, he’s on the verge of winning it all with a different franchise, contributing at an elite level
- Reinvention in Florida: Once seen as the ultimate villain, Marchand has embraced a leadership role and become a team-first, battle-hardened warrior
➡️ Why this matters: NHL Cup ceremonies often elevate players with powerful personal arcs—especially those who change the narrative. Marchand is writing one of the best comeback stories in recent NHL memory.
🟨 3. Locker room leadership and veteran respect
- Despite being a trade deadline acquisition, Marchand’s intensity and Cup-winning pedigree (2011 with Boston) immediately resonated with Panthers players
- He’s taken on a quieter, more mentor-like tone, a departure from his brash Boston persona—something that’s reportedly earned Barkov’s admiration
- Players like Tkachuk and Bennett have cited him in interviews as a calming presence and playoff “truth-teller"
➡️ Why this matters: Barkov, a quiet and respectful leader, is likely to honor veterans who provide intangible leadership. Marchand fits that mold—and then some.
Best odds: +190 via FanDuel
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📜 Stanley Cup hand-off betting history
The first non-captain to lift the Stanley Cup in the last 10 years.
| Year | Non-captain recipient |
|---|---|
| 2024 | Sergei Bobrovsky |
| 2023 | Reilly Smith |
| 2022 | Erik Johnson |
| 2021 | Victor Hedman |
| 2020 | Victor Hedman |
| 2019 | Jay Bouwmeester |
| 2018 | Nicklas Backstrom |
| 2017 | Ron Hainsey |
| 2016 | Trevor Daley |
| 2015 | Kimmo Timonen |
| 2014 | Robyn Regehr |
📖 Opening Stanley Cup hand-off odds
- Brent Burns (+330)
- Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (+600)
- Tyler Seguin (+650)
- Matt Duchene (+650)
- Leon Draisaitl (+700)
- Aaron Ekblad (+700)
- Brad Marchand (+1600)
- Nate Schmidt (+2400)
- Matthew Tkachuk (+2900)
- Sergei Bobrovsky (+2900)
❓ Stanley Cup hand-off FAQs
When did the Stanley Cup Final start?
The 2025 Stanley Cup Final began on June 4 and can run no later than Saturday, June 20.
Who was the first non-captain in 2024 to hoist the Stanley Cup?
Aleksander Barkov first passed the Cup to Sergei Bobrovsky when the Panthers hoisted in the Cup in 2024.
When did the last non-captain receive the Cup first in consecutive years?
Steven Stamkos passed the Stanley Cup directly to Victor Hedman after the Tampa Bay Lightning won the Stanley Cup in 2020 and 2021.
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