There’s a new Super Bowl favourite at FanDuel.
The Buffalo Bills have emerged as the new frontrunner following a perfect 3-0 start, with their odds cut from +1000 entering Week 1 to +650.
Meanwhile, Buffalo’s toughest competition might very well reside in the AFC once again.
The Los Angeles Rams and Seattle Seahawks both lost on Sunday, while the Kansas City Chiefs improved to 3-0 with a win and their first ATS cover as a double-digit favourite with Patrick Mahomes at quarterback.
LA’s odds to win it all ticked up from +500 to +650, although the market is willing to dismiss the preseason favourite following a 1-2 start without Myles Garrett and Puka Nacua available the last two games.
Meanwhile, the defending champion Seahawks suffered one of the biggest upset losses of the year on the road against a Washington Commanders side that started Marcus Mariota at quarterback.
The San Francisco 49ers, Minnesota Vikings, and the Las Vegas Raiders all improved to 3-0.
The Los Angeles Chargers, Houston Texans, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Tennessee Titans, and Miami are all 0-3.
While it’s still early, only two teams have rallied from an 0-3 start to make the playoffs dating back to 2000.
The Texans did it in 2018 and then again in 2025.
Houston is +144 to make the playoffs this morning – shorter odds than the 3-0 Raiders at +176.
Next up, the Philadelphia Eagles visit the Chicago Bears on Monday Night Football to wrap up Week 3 in the NFL.
Stay tuned for my FanDuel Best Bet later this afternoon.
You can’t win the Super Bowl in the first few weeks, but teams can eliminate themselves from contention.
It’s reasonable to reset expectations for teams like the 49ers and the Chargers based on what we’ve seen from them over the first three weeks of the season.
Regardless of what happens in the offseason, it’s the results on the field that separate the contenders from the pretenders.
The same rule applies to the National Hockey League.
We’re a little more than 24 hours away from the start of the 2026-27 NHL season, and expectations have been set.
Before the puck drops, I decided it would be a good time to revisit those expectations for all seven Canadian clubs and attempt to predict which teams will overachieve and underachieve relative to the FanDuel futures markets.
Let’s dive into the numbers in this Morning Coffee for Monday September 28th, 2026.
Revisiting Expectations For All Seven Canadian NHL Teams
Expectations vary dramatically from market-to-market, as well as within the same market in the NHL.
For example, the Toronto Maple Leafs remain the most popular bet to make the playoffs at FanDuel in Ontario.
Toronto is also the second-most popular bet to miss the playoffs in Ontario, behind the rival Ottawa Senators.
It’s one thing for a fan base to be divided, but what about expectations for all seven Canadian NHL teams based on FanDuel’s futurues markets?
Below is a look at each team’s over/under for this upcoming season with their actual point total from the 2025-26 season and the differential in brackets.
Keep in mind that the NHL regular season schedule will jump from 82 games last year to 84 games this year.
Edmonton Oilers 104.5 (93 Points in 2025: +11.5)
The Oilers have the highest regular season point total on the board at 104.5 at FanDuel – an 11.5-point jump from their actual point total in 2025-26.
Edmonton is the favourite to win the Pacific Division at +155.
The Oilers are also the fourth choice to win the Stanley Cup at +1000 behind only the Florida Panthers (+650), the Colorado Avalanche (+750), and the defending champion Carolina Hurricanes (+750).
Montreal Canadiens 98.5 (106: -7.5)
The Montreal Canadiens are expected to take the biggest step back among the Canadian clubs in 2026-27.
At least, that’s according to FanDuel’s 2026-27 NHL regular season point total futures.
Despite two more games on their schedule, FanDuel has Montreal’s regular season point total at 98.5 – a 7.5-point dip from a year ago.
I can’t buy that Montreal will be worse, and neither will the FanDuel bettor with a six-figure position on the Habs to make the playoffs.
I locked in the Canadiens to make the playoffs at -140 as a FanDuel Best Bet, albeit with a much smaller bankroll.
Toronto Maple Leafs 95.5 (78: +17.5)
Toronto is expected to be the most improved Canadian NHL team based on FanDuel’s odds.
The Maple Leafs finished last season with 78 points.
However, FanDuel has Toronto’s regular season point total over/under at 95.5 – a 17.5-point jump.
It’s also interesting to note that the Maple Leafs have a slightly higher regular season point total over/under than the next team on this list, despite having longer odds to make the playoffs at FanDuel this morning.
Ottawa Senators 94.5 (99: -4.5)
Toronto is +100 to make the playoffs at FanDuel.
Ottawa is -113 to get in and their point total is 94.5.
A three-team parlay with the Canadiens, Senators, and the Maple Leafs to all get in can be found at +622 odds.
With the Panthers and Tampa Bay Lightning at the top of the board when it comes to the Atlantic Division winner, all three of Montreal, Ottawa, and Toronto getting in is highly unlikely.
It would likely require two of those three teams locking up the Wild Card spots in the Eastern Conference.
With the Canadiens expected to take another step and the Maple Leafs being the most popular team to make the playoffs at FanDuel, it makes a lot of sense that the Senators are the most popular pick to miss the playoffs.
Winnipeg Jets 85.5 (82: +3.5)
The Winnipeg Jets are the fifth choice to finish with the worst record in the NHL at +1300.
Despite their position in that market, FanDuel set Winnipeg’s regular season point total at 85.5.
For the Jets to go over that mark, they’d need to finish with four more points than they did a year ago.
Yes, Winnipeg will play two more games, but can they get to 86 points without Connor Hellebuyck?
Hellebuyck remains the Vezina Trophy favourite at +500.
The expectation is that he will still deliver elite numbers, regardless of whether it’s with the Jets or elsewhere.
It certainly seems like Winnipeg is at a crossroad.
I like the Jets to stay under 85.5 regular season points.
Calgary Flames 77.5 (77: +0.5)
Only the Vancouver Canucks have shorter odds to finish with the NHL’s worst record than Calgary at FanDuel.
The Flames are +380 to end up at the bottom.
The Canucks are +320 as the favourite to finish 32nd.
With Winnipeg, Calgary, and Vancouver all expected to miss the playoffs at FanDuel, Edmonton is the lone Western Conference Canadian team that’s considered more likely to make than miss the playoffs at FanDuel.
Vancouver Canucks 74.5 (58: +16.5)
I also don’t think the Canucks are prepared to improve from a 58-point team to a 75+ point team in 2026-27.
Vancouver is clearly a team in transition, and it doesn’t help that a 32nd-place finish guaranteed them nothing more than the best chance to win the draft lottery.
The Canucks have some decent young pieces, but my model predicts a 32nd place finish by a fair margin.
Give me Vancouver under 74.5 points as a best bet.
While the Senators and Maple Leafs are both considered a toss-up to get in, a five-team parlay with the Canadiens and Oilers to make the playoffs, along with the Jets, Flames, and Canucks to all miss the playoffs is +179.
Then there’s the odds for the individual player awards.
Which player is the most likely to win an award for a Canadian NHL team this season?
Connor McDavid to win the Hart Trophy is down to +250 as the obvious favourite at FanDuel.
FanDuel set McDavid’s regular season goal total at over/under 43.5 and his point total at over/under 129.5
McDavid to score 50+ goals is +350 at FanDuel.
That number represents a 22.2 per cent implied chance.
Nathan MacKinnon is the second choice at +370.
Macklin Celebrini is +500 as the third choice to win the Hart and the most popular bet in that market, per the FanDuel traders.
For perspective, Josh Allen of the Buffalo Bills is down to +170 to win AP NFL regular season MVP as the obvious favourite at FanDuel this morning.
Then there’s Gavin McKenna as the favourite to win the Calder Trophy at +270 odds.
Porter Martone (+310) of the Philadelphia Flyers, Ivar Stenberg (+500) of the San Jose Sharks, and Cole Hutson (+850) of the Washington Capitals round out the list of players at shorter than 10-to-1 odds to win the Calder.
FanDuel set McKenna’s regular season goal total at over/under 20.5 and his point total at over/under 59.5.
McKenna to reach the 70-point mark is +210 at FanDuel.
That number represents a 32.3 per cent implied chance.
Meanwhile, McKenna to record 30+ goals this season and the Maple Leafs to make the playoffs is +1300 or about a 7.1 per cent implied probability.
It’s been 33 NHL seasons since the Canadiens won the Stanley Cup back in 1993 – the last Canadian NHL club to win it.
Which Canadian team has the best chance to end the drought in 2026-27?
Edmonton is +1000 to win it all as the fourth choice overall behind the Panthers, Colorado Avalanche, and the defending Stanley Cup champion Carolina Hurricanes.
If I had to roll the dice on one Canadian team, I’d bet on Montreal to win the Stanley Cup as a long shot at +2000.
Which Canadian NHL team has the best shot to exceed expectations in 2026-27?
What do you think is more likely – McDavid to win the Hart Trophy or McKenna to win the Calder Trophy?
With the start of the 2026-27 NHL season just over 24 hours away, I’d love to get your take on Canada’s teams.
Hit me up @Domenic_Padula on X and let me know your thoughts.
Also, make sure to follow and turn on notifications to get my FanDuel Best Bet for Monday Night Football Week 3.
Have a great day, everyone!
