Sixteen teams made the field for the 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs, but the list has been whittled down to two. For the second time in as many years, the Florida Panthers and Edmonton Oilers are facing off in the Stanley Cup Final.
Do the Oilers finish the story, raising the Cup for the first time since 1990? Or do the Panthers repeat, establishing a new dynasty in the Sunshine State?
Members of ESPN’s hockey family have considered both possibilities and made their picks.
Sean Allen: Panthers in six Blake Bolden: Oilers in seven John Buccigross: Oilers in seven Ryan Callahan: Oilers in six Cassie Campbell-Pascall: Oilers in seven Sachin Chandan: Oilers in six Meghan Chayka: Oilers in seven Ryan S. Clark: Oilers in seven Rachel Doerrie: Panthers in six Emily Kaplan: Oilers in seven Tim Kavanagh: Oilers in six Peter Lawrence-Riddell: Panthers in six Steve Levy: Oilers in seven Vince Masi: Oilers in five Victoria Matiash: Panthers in seven Sean McDonough: Oilers in seven Mark Messier: Oilers in seven AJ Mleczko: Panthers in six Arda Öcal: Oilers in six Kristen Shilton: Panthers in seven John Thoering: Panthers in seven Bob Wischusen: Panthers in seven Greg Wyshynski: Panthers in six
Consensus pick: Oilers (14 of 23 picks)
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McDavid: Everybody stepped up in series win
Connor McDavid reflects on the Oilers heading back to the Stanley Cup Final to play the Florida Panthers.