Panthers vs Oilers Part 2: a Stanley Cup Preview

Zak Drapeau
Jun 2
2 min read

by Zak Drapeau 6/3/2025 FansOnlySportz

The 107th Stanley Cup Finals will start on Wednesday, June 4th in a rematch from last year's final between the Edmonton Oilers and Florida Panthers. The Panthers would defeat the Oilers in 7 games last year after starting the series up 3-0 and then losing the next 3.

The reigning champions Panthers had a slightly worse season in 2025, finishing with the 5th seed in the Eastern Conference with 47 wins and 98 points. The Oilers would follow suit and actually make the 6th seed in the West with 48 wins and 101 points.

The teams didn't set the world on fire with their regular season records but they have both been elite in these playoffs. The Oilers have dismantled the West with a 12-4 record through the first three rounds and besides a Game 7 win against the Maple Leafs, the Panthers would also make quick work of their foes winning their other two series in five games.

The series this year should be headlined by several future Hall of Famers on both teams, with the renowned "Best Player since Gretzky", Connor McDavid searching for his first Cup win. His Oiler teammate Leon Draisaitl is also a Top-5 player in the league and combine for the best Top-2 Centers in the league with McDavid. Both players are leading the playoffs in points with McDavid at 26 and Draisaitl at 25.

Florida may not have the same elite caliber of 2 Centers but they do have the best Top-2 Forward Lines in the sport. Reinhart, Barkov, Tkachuk, Bennett, Verhaeghe and mid-season addition Brad Marchand have combined for 35 goals in 17 games this postseason.

This series will be the first immediate rematch in a Stanley Cup Finals since 2009 when the Red Wings and Penguins split their two series at one a piece. Could the Oilers repeat history and finally give McDavid his first ring he absolutely deserves?

We'll find out starting Wednesday at 8:00 pm EST.