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Today the Edmonton Oilers play the Florida Panthers in Game 1 of the 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs. It’s a rematch of last year’s series that the Panthers won in seven games, thwarting an Edmonton team that had comeback to win three straight.
Who will win this time? Social media, podcasts and mainstream publications have been on over-drive talking about and analyzing the series for the past few days. Here are some of the lighlights:
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Panthers fan @SazonBailando
Death, Taxes, Florida Panthers in the Stanley Cup
New York  hockey commentator Steve Valiquette on Real Kyper and Bourne podcast
I think the biggest storyline about this series is gonna be what the Edmonton Oilers are gonna be able to do to slow down Florida’s forecheck. It’s gonna be their forecheck against Edmonton’s counterpunch and transition rush.
Dan Rosen, senior writer NHL.com
The Oilers are better all around their generational stars. They will not be intimidated by the moment. They will not be overwhelmed. They will not lose the first three games like they did last year. They’re rolling and they have home ice this time. Edmonton will be the City of Champions again. Lock it in.
Los Angeles hockey writer Helene Elliott @helenenothelen
The Oilers owe the Kings a thank-you for forcing them to become resilient after the Kings took a 2-0 series lead in the first round….
ESPN’s  Greg Wyshynski @wyshynski
There is a non-zero chance that McDavid could win back to back Conn Smythes in a losing effort. Which is absolutely crazy.
Tom Gulitti, senior writer NHL.com
McDavid is driven to win the Cup for the first time and will finish the job.
“The team here is the best team I’ve ever coached and it’s not really that close.”

Paul Maurice on the @FlaPanthers ⬇️ #TimeToHunt
🎥: PantherVision pic.twitter.com/WRqApPsm00
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Amalie Benjamin, senior writer NHL.com
With Stuart Skinner looking like he can hold the fort in goal and McDavid and Draisaitl working their magic, I think it’s finally time for the game’s best player to get over the hump and get his Cup.
Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman on 32 thoughts podcast
I love the way the Oilers play. They’re committed and now everybody has a role. That was the final thing for the Oilers to get that everybody on their team felt important… It’s going to be an awesome series. I picked Edmonton at the beginning of the season. I always stay with the team I picked at the beginning of the year until they’re out. Edmonton’s not out. I’m going to pick them.
Hall of Famer and former Oiler Chris Pronger @chrispronger
The Oilers just put on a clinic the last 10 mins of this hockey game (5 vs Dallas). Their defensive game has grown so much. Genuinely excited to see this rematch against Florida. Will be a much different series than the one they just polished off tho, and they know it.
Oilers play-by-play announcer Jack Michaels on Oilers TV
They kind of snuck up on me… I wasn’t sure the Edmonton Oilers could get through the Western Conference. I didn’t know the team they had. I didn’t know the team they had quite frankly after the first two games of the Los Angels seires. … I just wasn’t quite sure the Oilers would steamroll their through the Western Conference  the way they have, beginniung with being given a life-line — lets’ be candid — by L.A. in games 3 and 4. L.A. gave them lifeline and the rest of the NHL has paid dearly for it.
Spittin’ Chiclets podcaster and former Oilers player Ryan Whitney @ryanwhitney6
The rematch is happening but its starting in Edmonton this time. 12 and 2 in their last 14 games just steam rolling Vegas and Dallas (thank you Jim Hiller). McDavid is on a mission and in the process will do something 99 and 87 did for their first Cup. Here we go.
Edmonton hockey commentator Terry Jones @byterryjones
Ninth Stanley Cup Final for Edmonton Oilers opens Tuesday in Edmonton. Rematch vs Florida Panthers except this time Game 7 would be in Edmonton. McDavid with series winner in 6-3 Game 5. This town is going to go crazy if they finally win 6th. And I believe they will.
Oilers Now host Bob Stauffer @Bob_Stauffer
Stanley Cup Finals appearances for Canadian teams since the
@EdmontonOilers
joined the NHL in 1979-80:
EDM: 9
MTL: 4
CGY: 3
VAN: 3
OTT: 1
WPG: 0
TOR: 0
Dave Stubbs, columnist NHL.com
To a full generation of Canadians, the Stanley Cup has been only a rumour. Nothing scientific about this pick, but it’s time that fantasy became reality.
Former NHLer Jordan Schmaltz @J_Swish24
Oilers faithful I will be boots on the ground and chin tucked in the greater city of Edmonton Wednesday- Saturday for games 1 and 2. I will be wearing my Zack Kassian jersey and look forward to being in the mix with all you northern Alberda folk. I have the Oilers in 7. It will take snot, balls, and guts to hoist Lord Stanley but this is the year the Cup comes back home to Canada.
New York hockey commentator  Steve Valiquette on Real Kyper and Bourne podcast
Dallas was a legit squad. I mean, I know it didn’t appear that way after five games, but going into that series, you looked at their forward group and you thought they were pretty deep, at least I did. I think at one point, I said deepest group going into the playoffs up front and (the Oilers) totally neutralized it. Edmonton shut them down so bad at five-on-five.
TSN’s Darren Dreger on Ray & Dregs podcast
I’m going with the Oilers in Game Seven.
Florida hockey account FL PanthersMuse @flpanthersmuse
Sergei Bobrovsky’s playoff record:
Columbus
— 11-16 record
Florida
— 46-30 record
Came here to win🐱
St. Louis hockey writer Andy Strickland @andystrickland
If you took Connor McDavid and threw him on any NHL roster in the league, how many teams could he lead to the Stanley Cup Final?
Toronto commentator and former NHLer Nick Kypreos on Real Kyper and Bourne podcast
I do believe that there would be outside influences pushing him (McDavid) to leave Edmonton (after his current contracts ends). I think there’d be some outside pressures — and who knows where the league is on it — that you would be better utilized in the United States selling our game… I don’t, no, I don’t think it would be Gary Bettman per se, but there’s people that would make it clear that he is our most marketable player and maybe the most gifted player in the history of the game. Yeah. And not unlike Wayne Gretzky, everything really pushed in the U.S. after Gretzky went to Los Angeles. Let’s be honest. But you know what? Could he (McDavid) do the same thing in 2025, ’26, ’27?
Nicholas J. Cotsonika, columnist NHL.com
Since reclaiming the net May 10, Skinner has gone 6-2 with a 1.73 goals-against average, .931 save percentage and three shutouts for Edmonton. Over the same period, Bobrovsky has gone 7-2 with a 1.34 GAA, .944 save percentage and two shutouts for Florida. The Panthers will repeat.
Adam Kimelman, deputy managing editor NHL.com
I have a tough time trusting Skinner in a big spot. Florida didn’t celebrate after eliminating the Carolina Hurricanes in the Eastern Conference Final; the Panthers know the only party that matters will be the one they have after they win the Cup again.
The Daily Faceoff’s Matt Larkin @MLarkinHockey
Doubling down just so people understand I’m not picking on the Panthers. 18.75% of NHL teams (six in total) play in markets without state income tax. Those six teams have earned 62.75% of the Conference Final berths since 2020. Get it?
Columnist Larry Brooks, the New York Post
Maybe the Panthers and Stars front offices are smarter than just about everyone else, just the way the Lightning and Golden Knights hierarchies once were. Maybe these franchises would even succeed in a level playing field. But that is impossible to evaluate under the NHL system in place in which these teams, plus the ones from Seattle and Nashville, start each season with a head start of maybe 5 percent or 10 percent on the salary cap by operating in states that do not levy personal income taxes. And these six teams out of five states — Florida, Texas, Nevada, Washington and Tennessee — have accounted for 13 of the playoffs 24 semifinalist slots this decade.
Toronto broadcaster Sid Seixeiro @Sid_Seixeiro
Not giving a National Hockey League team credit for advancing to a Stanley Cup Final and reducing the argument to “they’re only there because of low state taxes” is the dumbest thing you’ll see on this app.
Florida Panthers General manager Bill Zito
Sasha (Barkov) has almost become like a planet, with the energy that comes from him. How caring he is as a human and a teammate — he forces you to want to be better. It cannot be overstated the grace of each of our guys. If you came into the meal room you wouldn’t know who just scored the winning goal and who didn’t play.
Hockey writer Chris Johnston @reporterchris
Bill Zito credits Florida Panthers ownership and the quality of his coaching staff and dressing room for helping him attract free agents to South Florida: “I think the tax thing is marginal at best.”
ESPN senior hockey writer Greg Wyshynski @wyshynski
The great thing about this Final is that, for me, there’s no bad outcome. Panthers win, they’re a nearly dynastic cap era team. Oilers win, Connor kills the career championship caveat. I don’t care if Canada wins the Cup. The drought has been lovely and funny but non-essential.
ESPN hockey analyst Kevin Weekes @KevinWeekes
As someone that was drafted by and played for expansion and relocated teams ; the tax code has always been the tax code, weather has always been the weather- many people saying how advantageous that is are the same ones that used to mock those markets and clubs… The problem is, while these people were mocking, and now being hypocritical, those franchises have been innovative, built winning teams and franchises. People used to mock Edmonton as well, they’ve also built a great franchise with one of best venues/ facilities in the world.
Former player, turned agent Drew Shore @Drew22Shore
It’s so funny how many people use this (low tax juridiction) excuse rather than looking at and focusing on all of the excellent trades/signings/ and waiver wire acquisition’s. For example, the tax code didn’t allow them to claim Forsling off waivers for free.
ESPN’s Greg Wyshynski @wyshynski
1. Incredible places to live
2. Well-managed teams, from owners to hockey ops to how they treat the players
3. Tax advantages on contracts
4. Lack of media/fan scrutiny
There’s your Sun Belt “problem.”
Oilers Now host Bob Stauffer @Bob_Stauffer
Top Scorers in the NHL over the Last 4 Playoffs:
#1. Connor McDavid: 32-89-121 (1.75 P/GP)
#2. Leon Draisaitl: 37-69-106 (1.54 P/GP)
#3. Evan Bouchard: 19-56-75 (1.09 P/GP)
Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman on the 32 Thoughts podcast
I’m so impressed with both Florida and Edmonton. Florida is now going to the final three straight times. That is a hard thing to do… Going to the final three times in a row is really hard. I wonder if it’s harder to get back there after losing in Game 7 the year before. Because at least Florida, last year, the second of those trips, it ends in the ultimate celebration. They’re taking the Stanley Cup into the Atlantic Ocean. You know, it’s all fun, right? It’s all fun. For Edmonton, your last year ends in pain. And it’s a short summer, and it’s a quick turnaround, and you’ve got to go through it all again. And I’m so impressed with them that they got back here. I think with them 4-4-4, four third period shots in game three allowed, four in game four, four in game five. Nothing to me tells me how much better they are as a group with that.”
Pete Jensen, senior director, fantasy NHL.com
The way the Oilers have rallied in many games this postseason and dismantled three deep, structured teams so far gives them a real chance to take down the ferocious Panthers…. Edmonton has shown it can win in every which way.
Day 1 of the season (Oct 4) most likely cup finals. pic.twitter.com/T2uAlpAGvy
Adam Proteau, The Hockey News
We’ve got to own it – we haven’t been high on the Oilers for the bulk of the playoffs, but we’ve seen enough now, and Edmonton deserves its due. When you have arguably the two best players on planet Earth in Draisaitl and McDavid, and you’re getting clutch contributions from forwards Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Connor Brown and Corey Perry, plus blueliner Evan Bouchard, you’re going to be about as close to unbeatable as it gets… It feels like Edmonton is a team of destiny, and like most all-time greats, McDavid and Draisaitl have learned from past defeats and appear fully ready, willing and able to win the first championship of what could be many. The Panthers are going to be a worthy opponent for them, but the Oilers have the juice and jam to carve out their names on sport’s toughest trophy to win.
Shayna Goldman, Sean Gentille and Dom Luszczyszyn of the Athletic
The bottom line: Edmonton has the best player on Earth, another who’s a Hart finalist, a goalie who might be peaking and a supporting cast that spent the playoffs proving its worth. All that, and they’re still the underdog. So it goes when your opponent has championship pedigree and no real weaknesses. Florida’s edge is real and earned.
Toronto commentator Justin Bourne of the Real Kyper & Bourne show
I had someone send to me an article, an Oilers writer wrote it about McDavid. And in the early stages, a lot of people, Toronto writers in particular, being like: ‘The Oilers are going to ruin McDavid. They’re going to break this guy. They’ve got to get him out of there.’ And I had a quote in there, too, where I was like, they got to get this guy out of there. I remember some interviews after like All-Star game (in 2019) or after the deadline or whenever they were eliminated with playoffs and him just being really miserable. And I want to say to the Oilers fans, they win. They won. The Oilers did not break McDavid. He is back to back Stanley Cup Finals. They have built around him. So it’s been a success for McDavid, for everyone.
New York  hockey commentator Steve Valiquette on Real Kyper and Bourne podcast
I think Edmonton is going to win. You know why guys? Because every time we’ve ever seen a team push year after year, return to a final, they’ve lost two conference finals. They continue to push. They’re a driven, perseverance-based group. … Three years ago, I spoke to an NHL GM that told me he thought Edmonton was going to win that year, but Connor was playing on one leg in the conference final. So I feel like this is destiny. It’s going to happen. This is legacy for him. Top players always seem to find a way in this game. And you go through all the years of all the Stanley Cups, how many stars, how many superstars never won? It’s a very short list. I feel like this is going to be Connor’s year, and I think he’s going to be an Oiler for life.
Oilers fan Dreamer-29-97-93 @Dreamer29_97_93
I sat at a blackjack table w/ Nazem Kadri & Chris Tanev in 2023
I asked Kadri what it was like to win the Stanley Cup
He paused & looked me in the eye
“What do you think it feels like?” he said to me
“Now, multiply that by a hundred million”
Incredible
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