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Irony Hits Wayne Gretzky 2025 Stanley Cup Final Prediction

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Matt Levine | Last updated May 30, 2025 2:38 PM ET

The 2025 Stanley Cup Final matchup has been set, with the Florida Panthers taking on the Edmonton Oilers. This is a rematch of last season, when the Panthers took down the Oilers in a dramatic seven-game series.

This is a matchup that not many people predicted, with each team looking much less formidable entering the postseason. But they both have persevered, and now they will have a chance to hoist the trophy up.

One playoff prediction that caught attention entering the playoffs came from NHL legend Wayne Gretzky. Gretzky predicted that the Oilers would make it back to the Stanley Cup Final, but that they would be facing off against the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Ironically, for Gretzky, the Panthers took down the Lightning in the first round of the playoffs. But his pick of the Oilers remains very much alive.

Gretzky changed his preseason pick, and if he had kept it, it would have been correct. The Great One had these two teams in the rematch to begin the season, but at least he got one of the two teams correct.

It's been a LONG season so now we have to look back at the guys' Stanley Cup picks from Opening Night pic.twitter.com/JeetN4ZUfb
— NHLonTNT (@NHL_On_TNT) April 19, 2025

Florida finished third in the Atlantic Division and will start this championship series on the road. The Panthers have not held home-ice advantage through the postseason so far, but they have found a way to push through.

Edmonton will have home-ice advantage for the first time this postseason, and is hoping that it will change things for them this time around. The Panthers held Game 7 in their building last year, and the Oilers fell just short of winning the title.

Game 1 between the two sides is set to begin on Wednesday, June 4, at 8 p.m. ET.

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

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