The 2025 Stanley Cup Final between the Edmonton Oilers and Florida Panthers is set to begin this Wednesday in Edmonton, marking a highly anticipated rematch of last year's thrilling seven-game series. 

The Panthers are playing in their third straight Stanley Cup Final, continuing a streak that marks the sixth consecutive year an Eastern Conference team from Florida has reached the final. They advanced by beating the Maple Leafs, Hurricanes, and Lightning. The Oilers, meanwhile, look to overcome last year’s loss, when they nearly came back from a 3-0 series deficit to force a Game 7. They earned their spot by defeating the Stars, Kings, and Golden Knights. This rematch sets the stage for a hard-fought battle as both teams compete for the Cup.

Both teams listed at near-even odds with Edmonton at -118 and Florida at -108 but bettors will have a wealth of intriguing betting options to make this year's final that much more exciting. 

🏆 Series Odds & Outcomes

• Oilers in 7: +390 (shortest odds)
• Panthers in 7: +460 (2nd-shortest odds)
• Panthers in 6: +470 (3rd-shortest odds)
• Oilers sweep (4-0): +1400
• Panthers sweep (4-0): +1500 
• Series Over 5.5 Games: -210
• Series Under 5.5 Games: +168

The betting market and the entire hockey world anticipate another tightly contested series, with both teams facing off once again, knowing each other better than they know themselves. It should culminate in another seven game series for the ages.  

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Top Goal Scorer Odds

• Leon Draisaitl (EDM): +300
• Connor McDavid (EDM): +500
• Sam Reinhart (FLA): +800
• Matthew Tkachuk (FLA): +800
• Sam Bennett (FLA): +1200

Draisaitl leads the odds, showcasing his trademark scoring ability with seven goals this postseason. Right behind him is McDavid, who remains a major threat thanks to his elite offensive skill set. And let’s not overlook Florida’s Sam Bennett, the league’s current top scorer with ten goals, who’s making a strong case for a new contract with his standout performance.

Series Points Leader Odds

• Connor McDavid (EDM): +140
• Leon Draisaitl (EDM): +240
• Aleksander Barkov (FLA): +1200 

McDavid’s odds are notably strong, highlighting his potential to take over the series offensively. He leads all players in playoff points once again, tallying 26 in 16 games. Over the past two postseasons, he’s racked up an incredible 68 points in just 41 games, solidifying his status as the clear favorite. Close behind him, though, is Draisaitl with 25 points, keeping the race tight.

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🧢 Potential Hat Trick?

Any player to record a hat trick: +168

Hat tricks are a rare feat in the Stanley Cup Final, but 33 players have accomplished it throughout NHL history. The most recent came in 2023, when Mark Stone scored three goals in Game 5 against the Panthers while playing through a fractured wrist. With elite offensive talents like McDavid, Draisaitl, and Tkachuk on the ice in this year’s series, the possibility of another hat trick emerging is very real and definitely worth keeping an eye on.

Conn Smythe Trophy Odds (Playoff MVP)

• Connor McDavid (EDM): +100
• Sergei Bobrovsky (FLA): +250
• Aleksander Barkov (FLA): +500

Alternate Bets:

• Winner's position - Forward: -360
• Winner's position - Goaltender: +270
• Winner's position - Defenseman (e.g., Evan Bouchard): +21000
• Winner's nationality - Canadian: -110
• Winner's nationality - Finnish: +450
• Winner's nationality - American: +2400 

McDavid leads the Conn Smythe odds, reflecting his pivotal role in Edmonton's playoff run.  Bobrovsky and Barkov provide strong value picks for Florida, especially if the Panthers clinch the series. 

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🏆 Who Will Receive the First Cup Handoff?

Edmonton Oilers:

• Ryan Nugent-Hopkins: +260
• Leon Draisaitl: +300
• Adam Henrique: (+10000) 

Florida Panthers:

• Nate Schmidt: +380
• Seth Jones: +750
• Aaron Ekblad +1200

Insiders suggest veteran forward Adam Henrique for the Oilers, given his long-awaited opportunity, and Nate Schmidt for the Panthers, recognizing his leadership and experience. 

Notable Player Props

• Connor McDavid to record 10+ points: +140
• Leon Draisaitl to record 7+ points: -280
• Sam Reinhart to record 5+ points: -172
• Aleksander Barkov to record 5+ points: -230
• Sam Bennett to record 5+ points: -112
• Ryan Nugent-Hopkins to record 5+ points: -172
• Jake Walman to record 3+ points: +108

These props highlight players expected to make significant contributions throughout the series.  Jake Walman, in particular, presents a potential steal given his recent offensive surge of four points over his last four games. 

Stanley Cup Finals Fun Facts

• The 2025 Stanley Cup Final between the Edmonton Oilers and Florida Panthers marks only the third time in NHL history that the same two teams have met in consecutive Finals. Previously, back-to-back matchups occurred in 1983 and 1984 when the New York Islanders faced the Edmonton Oilers, and again in 2008 and 2009 with the Detroit Red Wings against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Each team that lost the first series, came back and won the following year.       
• The distance between Rogers Place in Edmonton and Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, Florida, is approximately 2,541 miles (4,089 kilometers). This marks the longest travel distance between two teams in Stanley Cup Final history, surpassing the previous record of 2,500 miles set in the 2011 Final between the Vancouver Canucks and Boston Bruins.         
• The geographical spread between Edmonton and Sunrise also represents the largest latitude difference between two cities in a championship series in North American professional sports history. Edmonton is situated at 53.5461°N, while Sunrise is at 26.1670°N, creating a significant north-south divide.         
• Due to the substantial distance, both teams face unique travel challenges. The Oilers' flight to Florida takes approximately five hours and 38 minutes, not accounting for the two-hour time difference between Edmonton's Mountain Standard Time and Florida's Eastern Standard Time. 
• To pass the time during their flights, players engage in various activities, according to reports. The Panthers' plane features a card table for games, while the Oilers' plane is reportedly equipped with a Nintendo Switch, where players, including goalie Stuart Skinner, enjoy competitive rounds of Mario Kart.

• The Oilers boast 16 Canadian-born players on their roster, the most among all teams in the 2025 Stanley Cup Final.         
• During the 2024–25 regular season, the Panthers defeated the Oilers in both encounters. In the first game on December 16, 2024, Florida won 6–5 in Edmonton. In the second game on February 27, 2025, the Panthers secured a 4–3 victory in Sunrise.         
• Corey Perry is set to be the first ever player to reach the Stanley Cup Final representing five different franchises; the Anaheim Ducks (2007), Dallas Stars (2020), Montreal Canadiens (2021), Tampa Bay Lightning (2022), and now the Edmonton Oilers (2025).