The arrival of the Utah Hockey Club marks a big moment for both Utah and the NHL.
With the Arizona Coyotes relocating from Phoenix to Salt Lake City, hockey fans in Utah are about to experience professional hockey on home ice for the first time.
The relocation comes after years of uncertainty about the Coyotes’ future in Arizona. Now all eyes are on the Utah Hockey Club as they make their debut in the 2024-2025 season.
But while the excitement is building, sports bettors are already wondering — what are the team’s odds of winning the Stanley Cup? And should you place a bet on Utah?
Odds to Win Stanley Cup: +5500
As of now, the Utah Hockey Club has odds of +5500 to win the Stanley Cup.
In simple terms, these odds mean that if you bet $100 on Utah to win it all, you would walk away with $5,500 in winnings if they pull off the victory. Those are long odds, but they’re not unreasonable. That’s especially true for a team that’s going through a major transition.
A +5500 line easily puts Utah in the category of an underdog. However, we’ve seen underdogs rise to the occasion in sports before. We’ve seen the 2012 Kings come up to win the Stanley Cup from being the 8th seed; we’ve seen the Preds fight all the way to the Finals against the Penguins in 2017 where they ultimately lost; and we’ve seen the Blue Jackets win the Stanley Cup against one of the best teams in the NHL.
It’s always possible.
It also reflects the uncertainty surrounding the team as they move into a new market with the existing Coyotes roster.
Most of the core players and staff will transfer from Arizona, and while the Coyotes weren’t exactly setting the league on fire in recent seasons, they weren’t a team to ignore either.
If you’re looking for a high-risk, high-reward betting opportunity, this could be a shot worth betting on. While Utah’s odds of winning the Stanley Cup are slim, there’s always the potential for surprises and they wouldn’t be the first team to do it..
One key factor in evaluating Utah’s Stanley Cup odds is that they are essentially inheriting the Arizona Coyotes’ roster.
The team moving to Utah isn’t brand new — it's simply a relocation. This includes the same group of players, coaches, and hockey operations staff that Coyotes fans are familiar with.
So, what does that mean for bettors?
The Coyotes were a rebuilding team for years, but they had a young, talented core with players like Clayton Keller, Lawson Crouse, and defenseman Jakob Chychrun before they were traded.
The current roster has talent in prospects like Dylan Guenther and Logan Cooley, who are expected to play bigger roles moving forward. While it’s too early to say if they’ll make Utah an immediate contender, these young players have the potential to develop into future stars and with the new ownership, they might want to spend to add some more to the club.
Ryan Smith, who already owns the NBA's Utah Jazz, is buying the team from Alex Meruelo for $1.2 billion, with a $200 million relocation fee baked into the deal.
This gives Utah a stable owner with deep pockets and a know-how to make the moves. Smith has already shown a willingness to invest in sports, and he’ll likely make moves to strengthen the hockey club’s infrastructure and player development.
Bettors will want to keep an eye on how Smith builds the team moving forward, as this could impact the team’s performance and their future betting odds.
Even the most optimistic fans will acknowledge that the Utah Hockey Club faces an uphill battle to win the Stanley Cup in its first season.
While the +5500 odds offer a tempting payout for risk-takers, it's important to have realistic expectations before you load up your bet slip with the club.
The Coyotes, before the move, were struggling to make the playoffs, and relocating to a new city doesn’t automatically fix those issues. It changes some things, but it’s not a sure-shot.
The team’s odds reflect a long shot at best. The most realistic outcome is that Utah will go through some growing pains in their first couple of seasons and might make the playoffs in a few years.
But that doesn’t mean they’re a bad team to bet on. For bettors looking for some potential value, the key will be watching the team’s early performance.
If Utah starts off strong or makes significant moves in free agency or at the trade deadline, those +5500 odds might start to look like a bargain. You could see them slide to +2000 after the first month or two.
There’s also the potential for midseason bets. As the season progresses, sportsbooks will adjust the odds based on performance, and sharp bettors might find opportunities if Utah shows signs of improvement.
We think there’s a chance.
While the odds are long, the NHL is known for its unpredictability. Every season, there’s at least one team that exceeds expectations. Recent expansion teams like the Vegas Golden Knights have shown that a new team can be competitive right out of the gate.
While Utah isn’t an expansion team in the traditional sense, they are entering a new market with a fresh slate, and sometimes that fresh start can light a spark. It’s like a new beginning for the team.
If Utah’s young core players take a big leap, if the front office makes smart roster moves, and if the team stays healthy, there’s always a chance for them to overachieve.
Plus, with an owner like Ryan Smith willing to invest in the team, there’s hope for Utah to grow quickly into a competitive force.
Betting on the Utah Hockey Club to win the Stanley Cup at +5500 is certainly a gamble, but it’s not without its appeal.
While the team will need time to establish itself, the fact that they’re inheriting the Coyotes’ roster means they aren’t starting from scratch. That’s always a plus.
If you’re a bettor who loves taking risks for the potential of a massive payout, this could be the kind of bet you’ll enjoy.
However, the team’s current odds reflect a long shot, and it’s important to weigh that risk carefully. Most bettors should approach Utah as a dark horse — fun to watch, full of potential, but unlikely to go all the way in their first season.
Keep an eye on the early games and any roster moves. If Utah starts strong, their odds will shorten, and you might be glad you placed your bet early.