B/R NHL Staff Predictions for the 2025 Stanley Cup Final

As it was in 2024, it is again in 2025.

For the 12th time in NHL history, the Stanley Cup will be a rematch as the Oilers and Panthers take the ice against each other in the league's showcase series.

Will Florida win back-to-back Stanley Cups? Or will Edmonton get the win this time?

The B/R NHL Staff was called into to provide their predictions for the series.

Got your own take on the Final? Submit them now in the comments section of the app!

McDavid's Time is Finally Here

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The Oilers and Panthers both made an absolute fool out of you if you doubted them at any point on their way to this rematch. Round after round, they dismantled their respective opponents.

The Panthers have shown us a masterclass in grinding down your opponent, neutralizing its top players, and having enough first-class scoring depth to win both the matchup game and the "still scoring one million goals" game.

The Oilers have done something just as scary with their ability to gain confidence and momentum all over the ice as each series progresses. It seems like each game invigorates them and increases their collective confidence in each other, even when it comes to goaltender Stuart Skinner.

Last time around, the Oilers were on the verge of forcing a Panthers collapse, as Florida was up 3-0 in the series before Edmonton responded with three wins of its own. The Oilers learned from that experience, and it shows in their ability to close out rounds this year.

Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl lead the playoffs in points, Evan Bouchard has reached a new level on defense, Mattias Ekholm is back in the lineup, and Skinner hasn't been a problem since returning to the net.

It's McDavid's turn.

Prediction: Oilers in 6

-Sara Civian

Oilers Avenge Last Year's Loss

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This Stanley Cup rematch was seemingly inevitable after last year's thrilling series that went the full seven games.

The core of the Panthers' roster remains intact, led by forwards Aleksander Barkov, Matthew Tkachuk, the two Sams (Bennett and Reinhart), defensemen Aaron Ekblad and Gustav Forsling, and goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky.

They're augmented by late-season acquisitions Seth Jones and Brad Marchand. Jones provides all-around, big-minute depth to their defense, while Marchand's experience and pesky clutch offense provide additional punch to their scoring.

What's different this time is that the Oilers tasted the heartache of losing the Cup last year. Getting another shot fueled their drive throughout the regular season and postseason.

Their core also remains whole. Superstar forwards Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl power their offense, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins provides solid two-way play, Evan Bouchard and Darnell Nurse anchor the defense corps, and goalie Stuart Skinner rebounded from a poor start to backstop them into the Final.

This version of the Oilers' roster is deeper than last year's. They've overcome injuries to key players like Zach Hyman and Mattias Ekholm. They also learned what it took to win last season, as evidenced by their improved defense this time around.

The Panthers were in the Oilers' position last season. This time, the Oilers are the hungrier team.

Prediction: Oilers in 6

- Lyle Richardson

Panthers-Oilers Familiarity Breeds Contempt and a Chance for Payback

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It's hard to not be influenced by history when trying to come up with a prediction for how this year's Stanley Cup Final will go between the Oilers and Panthers.

In last year's Final, the Panthers nearly blew a 3-0 series lead before beating the Oilers in a tightly contested Game 7. You can't help but wonder if the Panthers thought, "Whew, glad we don't have to deal with Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl again" after finishing off that series.

That got me thinking about the back-to-back Cup Final between the Detroit Red Wings and Pittsburgh Penguins in 2008 and 2009. The Wings won in '08 and might've thought, "Thank goodness we don't have to deal with Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin again," only to see them again a year later and have the outcome reversed.

Go back even further to the early '80s, when the New York Islanders dynasty won their fourth straight Cup in 1984 after they swept Wayne Gretzky and Mark Messier's Oilers. They proceeded to lose in five games to them in 1985, and the Oilers began their own dynastic run.

All-time great players getting another crack at glory after being so close to it tend to get over the hump. The Oilers have been a completely different team after Stuart Skinner got over his issues against the Los Angeles Kings in the first round, and that's been a massive difference-maker. It also allowed McDavid and Draisaitl to settle into their elite abilities and take over games.

Then again, the Panthers are different from those Red Wings and Islanders teams from the past. They're also in their prime, and having Aleksander Barkov, Matthew Tkachuk, Sam Bennett and Sergei Bobrovsky dominating the playoffs since staring into the abyss when down 3-1 in Game 3 while facing a 2-0 series deficit against Toronto, they've been a nightmare to deal with. Neither team has faced a team like the other one in this year's playoffs and haven't since they met a year ago.

The Oilers have been ruthless of late, while the Panthers have been merciless. To be the man, you've got to beat the man. The man in this case is Barkov, and McDavid will again have his hands full in trying to get away from him. Good luck.

Prediction: Panthers in 7

- Joe Yerdon

Oilers Reach '97th Heaven'

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The Panthers are a terrific hockey team.

It’s no accident that they’re in the final round for a third straight time and entering this one as the defending champion. So, anyone suggesting they won’t win because of their own shortcomings simply doesn’t know what they’re talking about.

But you know what? The Oilers are pretty darn good, too.

It didn’t seem that way when they were down 2-0 to the Kings, but the 12-2 run they’ve been on since is evidence enough, isn’t it? And it’s not been just any 12-2 run.

Lest anyone forget, Los Angeles, Vegas and Dallas were three of the league’s top six teams across the entire 82-game regular season and entered the playoffs having gone a combined 17-9-4 in their last 10 games.

But once the tournament started, Edmonton scored enough to beat high-end goalies. It defended enough to disarm skilled forwards. And it showed enough resolve to work through adversities against foes expected to thrive with perceived edges in size, strength and mettle.

The best team Florida faced in its run was Toronto, and it took the champs seven games to finally vanquish the Maple Leafs. These Oilers are better than their Canadian contemporaries by every competitive measure, which points to only one viable conclusion: 97th Heaven.

- Lyle Fitzsimmons

Prediction: Oilers in 5

Panthers Win and Establish Modern Dynasty

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I've picked against the Panthers in every series this postseason, only to be proven wrong time and again.

I think I've learned my lesson. To quote Tina Turner, they're simply the best.

Whatever you think about their gritty and downright nasty style of play, it works. They have a deep team with goalie Sergei Bobrovsky locked in: a 12-3 record with a .912 save percentage and a 2.11 goals against average is a good foundation to have.

As we saw in last year's Final, the key will be the Aleksander Barkov vs. Connor McDavid matchup. Barkov is the NHL's best defensive forward and was a main reason why McDavid was held off the scoresheet in three of the seven games in 2024.

The scary thought? This Panthers team might be deeper than the one that won the Cup last season. The additions of Brad Marchand and Seth Jones around the trade deadline have added to a group that was already a strong contender.

Three Cup Finals in a row and back-to-back Stanley Cup Final victories? To me, you've established yourself as a dynasty.

Prediction: Panthers in 6

- Lucky Ngamwajasat