The Edmonton Oilers and Dallas Stars are facing each other in the NHL Western Conference finals for the second year in a row, starting Wednesday night in Dallas.
In the Eastern Conference finals, the Florida Panthers and Carolina Hurricanes will meet in a rematch of the 2023 series. That series will open on Tuesday in Raleigh, North Carolina.
That leaves four possible matchups in the Stanley Cup Final: Stars vs. Hurricanes, Stars vs. Panthers, Oilers vs. Hurricanes or Oilers vs. Panthers, last year’s championship round.
Which matchup would be the best one to watch? All have their merits. USA TODAY ranks the four possibilities for the 2025 Stanley Cup Final:
1. Edmonton Oilers vs. Florida Panthers
Why not a rematch? Last year’s Stanley Cup Final certainly was entertaining, at least by the end. Florida won the first three games and appeared poised to sweep, only to be blown out 8-1 in Game 4. The Oilers forced a Game 7, but the Panthers found their game and won 2-1 at home for their first Stanley Cup title.
Both teams are filled with stars and are deeper than they were last season. Edmonton and Florida have the top offenses of the four remaining teams. Plus, the storylines abound. Can the Panthers repeat, and would we call them a dynasty if they do after three consecutive trips to the final? Will the Oilers become the first Canadian team since the 1993 Montreal Canadiens to win the Stanley Cup? Will Edmonton’s Connor McDavid, last year’s playoff MVP, and Leon Draisaitl win their first championships? The Oilers would have home-ice advantage this time.
2. Dallas Stars vs. Carolina Hurricanes
Want some fresher faces? This one works. Dallas was last in the final in 2020, Carolina in 2006. Plus, there is the Mikko Rantanen factor. He already beat the Colorado Avalanche this postseason after that team surprisingly traded him to the Hurricanes earlier in the season. He would have a chance to knock off another former team because the Hurricanes dealt him to the Stars when they feared he wouldn’t sign in Carolina. He has been a force in the playoffs with a league-best nine goals and 19 points. The Hurricanes, though, have been good at neutralizing other teams’ stars. Carolina’s Andrei Svechnikov is right behind Rantanen with eight goals.
3. Dallas Stars vs. Florida Panthers
These teams were well-represented at the 4 Nations Face-Off, so there is top-end talent. The Finnish Olympic team certainly would be paying attention. These teams also have the best remaining power plays. Panthers coach Paul Maurice and Stars coach Peter DeBoer are friends and are highly quotable. We would want this to go to Game 7 because DeBoer is 9-0 in winner-take-all games and Maurice is 6-0.
4. Edmonton Oilers vs. Carolina Hurricanes
This would be the top remaining offense (Edmonton) vs. the best defense (Carolina), though the Hurricanes’ style isn’t always the most exciting to watch. This would also be a rematch of the 2006 Stanley Cup Final. The Hurricanes led that series 3-1, but the eighth-seeded Oilers fought back before Carolina won in Game 7. Rod Brind’Amour was the first player to lift the Stanley Cup as Hurricanes captain. Will he get to lift the trophy for the first time as a coach?
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NHL playoffs: Ranking Stanley Cup Final matchups among remaining teams
