For hockey players Summer lasts forever, at least for most. So when September rolls around and training camp gets underway the energy in the air is tangible. This goes for fans as well, the excitement of seeing your team’s newest acquisition is enough to supplement for… nevermind. You get the point though, September is the start of the hockey season and so comes the daydreams about where your team will be come June. Will they finally reach the top of the mountain and win the coveted Stanley Cup or will reality set in about how the year will look after the first five games. In any given season there are about four to seven realistic candidates to win that year’s Stanley Cup with two usually ahead of the pack. Today we’re looking at some of the front runners for this year’s Stanley Cup and who I ultimately think will raise the silver.
For organizational purposes I’ll be splitting these contenders up into A tier and B tier contenders but do keep in mind that any one of these teams, if hot at the right time could be the one to win it all. In the B tier is; Winnipeg, Washington, Toronto and Edmonton. In the A tier we have; Dallas and Florida. Starting with the B tier I’ll be focusing first on the Winnipeg Jets. If you’ve been following the standings this year you’ll see that the Jets sit atop the league and you’re probably asking; Why are they in the B tier if they have such a big lead for first. Well the simple answer is that it’s important not to read too deep into regular season standings. Aside from the usual injuries and cold streaks that can contribute to a teams rise or fall in the standings the pressure of the playoffs is a whole nother puck game. See what I did there? Playoff history matters greatly for a team when trying to predict their success as well as individual players’ playoff history. Justin Williams is a good example. Back in 2019 when the Hurricanes made it back into the playoffs they were severe underdogs against the reigning champ Washington Capitals, but they had an ace up their sleeve: Justin Williams. Dubbed Mister Game Seven, Williams always showed up and showed out in the playoffs for every team he played on. Even in the later years of his career he would always turn it up to another level come postseason. Additionally the Winnipeg Jets have had little success in the playoffs aside from a third round run back in 2018 nearly seven years ago. Hellebuyck has continuously had phenomenal regular seasons coupled with atrocious playoff series. I like to go off what I’ve seen when it comes to the playoffs and in short, I just don’t think Winnipeg has the experience or the history to make me believe that this club could go much further than round two.
Washington sits in a similar boat with Winnipeg as they are far and away the leaders in the Eastern Conference, yet I’m not buying into a deep playoff run. It’s not like they haven’t done it in somewhat recent history either, of course winning the 2018 Stanley Cup. Ovechkin has found a resurgence and the team is seemingly firing on all cylinders. So where does my hesitation stem from? Simply lack of experience. Aside from veterans Carlsson and Ovi, this is a relatively new look Caps team. It’s also a young team. I see Washoington as a team that can win a series or two and isn’t far off from being back as an A-tier contender, but just not this season.
Next of the B-tier contenders is my favourite the Toronto Maple Leafs and no I don’t mean my cup favourite. The Leafs are one of the most peculiar cases on this list as for several years now they have been in this B-tier yet have just one series win under their belt. They’re always a serious contender, and still it’s difficult to take them seriously. If you looked at this roster on any other club it would be one of the scariest across the league with a backend consisting of Tanev, Carlo, McCabe playing for forwards Matthews, Marner, and Nylander. This in theory is a scary team to compete with. Call it a curse, call it lack of heart, this Leafs core has time and time again shown that they don’t have what it takes to get it done as they begin to age into their 30’s. It feels like any year could be the one they break through and go all the way but until I see it, I no longer believe it. Toronto will not be your 2025 Stanley Cup Champions.
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The last of the B-tier contenders is the Edmonton Oilers. Last year’s Stanley Cup runner up has the best player in the world along with another top 5 player, this alone gives the club a boost. The team all around is relatively deep and they have a decently constructed roster. The team speaks for itself and the only reason that Edmonton sits in the B-tier is that the two remaining teams are just too good for the rest.
Our first team in the A-tier is the reigning champions the Florida Panthers. The Panthers have continued to get better acquiring highly touted defenseman Seth Jones prior to the deadline before picking up backup goalie Vitek Vanecek and forward Brad Marchand from Boston. My only hesitation with Florida is the injury to Matthew Tkachuck. He may be out into the playoffs with a lower body injury, however the addition of Marchand should be enough to fill the gap. All in all when you look at Florida they are the scariest, nastiest, and meanest team in the league and have somehow found a way to improve their roster after winning a Stanley Cup. Anything other than a finals appearance would be falling short for this club and don’t be surprised to see another Florida parade.
https://x.com/BarDown/status/1898605155177599135
Finally my favourite to be your 2025 Stanley Cup champion: the Dallas Stars. The Stars are such a good team top to bottom they have a star defenceman in Miro Heiskanen, a star goalie in Jake Oettinger, and now a star forward in MIKKO FRICKEN RANTANEN. The stars are a wagon with young superstars at every position. When players like Roberton, Johnson, and Lyndell are considered your “depth” you’re in a pretty damn good position. Dallas has shown they can go on deep playoff runs, having made it to round 3 or 4 often for half a decade now. Dallas is the team to beat in the west and will ultimately win this year’s Stanley Cup.
It’s an exciting time of year with the trade deadline having just passed and the playoffs under 20 games away. Any team that gets hot at the right time has a fighting chance, maybe even one of the teams you least expect it from. Vancouver hello?? Who do you think will win this year’s Stanley Cup Championship?