Only four teams remain vying for the 2025 Stanley Cup: the Carolina Hurricanes, Dallas Stars, Edmonton Oilers, and Florida Panthers. These teams have advanced through the initial two rounds of the playoffs.
Intriguingly, both conference finals are rematches from recent years. The Dallas Stars and Edmonton Oilers faced off in the 2024 Western Conference final, while the Carolina Hurricanes and Florida Panthers met in the 2023 Eastern Conference final.
With a coveted spot in the Stanley Cup Final at stake, who do the experts believe will emerge victorious in these conference final series? The ESPN hockey staff shares their predictions:
Contents
Eastern Conference Finals
Carolina Hurricanes vs. Florida Panthers
- Blake Bolden: Panthers in seven
- John Buccigross: Panthers in seven
- Ryan Callahan: Panthers in six
- Cassie Campbell-Pascall: Panthers in six
- Sachin Chandan: Hurricanes in five
- Meghan Chayka: Hurricanes in seven
- Ryan S. Clark: Panthers in seven
- Linda Cohn: Panthers in seven
- Rachel Doerrie: Panthers in six
- Ray Ferraro: Panthers in six
- Emily Kaplan: Panthers in seven
- Tim Kavanagh: Hurricanes in six
- Peter Lawrence-Riddell: Panthers in seven
- Steve Levy: Panthers in six
- Vince Masi: Hurricanes in seven
- Victoria Matiash: Panthers in six
- Sean McDonough: Panthers in six
- Mark Messier: Panthers in six
- Mike Monaco: Hurricanes in seven
- Arda Öcal: Panthers in six
- Kristen Shilton: Panthers in six
- John Thoering: Panthers in six
- Bob Wischusen: Panthers in seven
- Greg Wyshynski: Panthers in six
Consensus pick: Panthers (19 of 24 picks)
Western Conference Finals
Dallas Stars vs. Edmonton Oilers
- Blake Bolden: Stars in seven
- John Buccigross: Oilers in seven
- Ryan Callahan: Stars in six
- Cassie Campbell-Pascall: Stars in seven
- Sachin Chandan: Stars in seven
- Meghan Chayka: Oilers in six
- Ryan S. Clark: Oilers in six
- Linda Cohn: Stars in seven
- Rachel Doerrie: Stars in seven
- Ray Ferraro: Stars in seven
- Emily Kaplan: Stars in seven
- Tim Kavanagh: Stars in seven
- Peter Lawrence-Riddell: Stars in six
- Steve Levy: Stars in seven
- Vince Masi: Oilers in six
- Victoria Matiash: Stars in seven
- Sean McDonough: Stars in seven
- Mark Messier: Oilers in six
- Mike Monaco: Oilers in six
- Arda Öcal: Oilers in six
- Kristen Shilton: Stars in six
- John Thoering: Stars in seven
- Bob Wischusen: Stars in seven
- Greg Wyshynski: Stars in seven
Consensus pick: Stars (17 of 24 picks)
