The field for the 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs, which began with 16 teams, has now been narrowed down to just four contenders: the Carolina Hurricanes, Dallas Stars, Edmonton Oilers, and Florida Panthers.
Both of the upcoming conference final series are rematches of recent playoff battles. The Dallas Stars and Edmonton Oilers will face off again after meeting in the 2024 Western Conference Final. Similarly, the Carolina Hurricanes and Florida Panthers will renew their rivalry from the 2023 Eastern Conference Final.
With a trip to the Stanley Cup Final at stake, who do the experts predict will emerge victorious this time around? Members of the ESPN hockey team share their picks for each series:
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 out of 24 predictions)
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 out of 24 predictions)
Gareth Tenby