Dave Portnoy, the passionate owner of Barstool Sports, is putting his money where his mouth is when it comes to Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers. On Saturday, Portnoy took to X/Twitter to announce a hefty $50,000 wager on the Oilers to topple the Florida Panthers in this year's Stanley Cup Final. He's betting on Edmonton in six games with enticing +550 odds, potentially pocketing a cool $325,000 if his prediction holds true.
Now, some might say McDavid's touching the trophy could be a bad omen, but Portnoy is unfazed as he confidently tweeted his support for the Oilers: "People thought McDavid touching the trophy was a jinx? Bad news. I’m on the Oilers in 6. #oilersin6."
This year's Stanley Cup Final is setting the stage for a dramatic rematch of last year's unforgettable series. In that epic showdown, the Panthers narrowly avoided a monumental collapse, recovering from a squandered 3-0 series lead to win their maiden Stanley Cup title in Game 7 with a nail-biting 2-1 victory. Now, with McDavid, widely regarded as the best player on the planet, leading the charge, the Oilers have a shot at sweet revenge.
The anticipation for this series is palpable, with oddsmakers appearing just as divided as fans. Various sportsbooks are split on favoring either team, making this a clash that truly could go either way.
This bout marks the first repeat Stanley Cup Final showdown since 2009, recalling the intense back-to-back battles between the Pittsburgh Penguins and Detroit Red Wings. Back then, Sidney Crosby and the Penguins managed to avenge their 2008 loss by clinching the title in a tightly contested Game 7, ending a 17-year championship drought.
The puck drops for Game 1 this Wednesday night at 8:00 p.m. EST in Edmonton.
This isn't Portnoy's first rodeo with big bets on the Oilers. Just last year, he placed a whopping $150,000 gamble on Edmonton with +700 odds to win the 2024 Cup, which would've netted him a staggering $1.2 million.
Despite the outcome, Portnoy’s faith remains strong, riding once more with McDavid and the Oilers in their quest for glory—and perhaps a little redemption too.
