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Don Cherry’s Big Stanley Cup Final Concern About Oilers’ Stuart Skinner

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Antonio Losada | Last updated Jun 2, 2025 8:58 AM ET

The Stanley Cup Final will once again be decided between the Florida Panthers and Edmonton Oilers.

It’s a rematch of last season’s seven-game series, and a showdown between goaltenders Sergei Bobrovsky, of the Panthers, and Stuart Skinner, of the Oilers, in net.

While Bobrovsky enters with more accolades and experience, the Oilers are hoping Skinner can help them flip the result this time after losing last year's finals as the starter.

Don Cherry isn’t sure how it will go in goal, but he isn’t backing away from his preseason prediction, doubling-down on his Oilers pick when asked by his son, Tim, about it.

"I’m still sticking with Edmonton," Cherry said on Episode 310 of the "Don Cherry Grapevine Podcast."

Don's confidence remains despite his acknowledgment of how tight the goaltending matchup could be. Tim Cherry said he’d take Bobrovsky over Skinner in a seven-game series.

Don Cherry didn’t argue against his son's logic but made clear he still believes Skinner has earned the right to be trusted.

That said, Don posed a big question casting some doubts and concern over Skinner's performances in the upcoming finals compared to earlier rounds.

"Skinner’s playing just as good," Cherry said. "Whether he’ll do it in the finals... we’ll see."

Skinner has battled inconsistency throughout the playoffs. He lost his starting job in Round 1 but reclaimed it in Round 2 and has gone 6-1 in his last seven games.

He enters the finals with a 2.53 goals-against average and a .904 save percentage in the playoffs.

Bobrovsky, by contrast, has a more proven playoff resume, including winning the Stanley Cup title last season and two Vezina Trophy awards.

The Panthers goalie has posted a .912 save percentage allowing 2.11 goals-against on average.

Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final is set for puck-drop at Rogers Place in Edmonton on Wednesday at 8 p.m. ET, with the Oilers having home-ice advantage, contrary to last season.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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