‘The Oilers time has come’: NHL’s elder statesmen both pick Edmonton to win

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This in from Don “Grapes” Cherry, 91, and Stan “The Maven” Fischler, 93, the two elder statesmen of National Hockey League commentary, their predictions that the Edmonton Oilers will win the Stanley Cup in 2025 over the Florida Panthers.

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“I’m still sticking with Edmonton,” Don Cherry said this weekend on his Grapevine podcast. “Skinner is playing just as good (as Bobrvosky). Whether he’ll do it in the Finals, we’ll see.”

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If Florida tries to injure Skinner by accidentally mashing into the Edmonton goalie, Oilers pest Corey Perry will respond in kind, Cherry said. “That’s his style.”

As for Fischler, the long-time hockey author, Hockey News columnist and New York hockey writer, has been on social media with his prediction that the Oilers will win in five.

“The Maven cannot imagine a more fascinating, hard-to-predict, well-balanced Final coming up between the defending champs, Florida Pantherfs and Edmonton Oilers; truly the best in the NHL. This looms as a fantastic playoff. Lots to like on both sides; especially good-guy-good-coaches…. This is obvious but what the heck, a Maven redundancy; the series will hinge on whether Florida Panthers (coach) Paul Maurice can produce an anti-McDavid machine in time for Wednesday. Stopping or not stopping Connor will decide the series. If not, then it might be up to Brad Marchand.

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Fischler continued: “I’m as impressed with Edmonton Oilers’ Kris Knoblauch as I am with Florida Panthers Paul Maurice. I’m picking Edmonton in 5 because the Oilers time has come. And the Cats don’t have McDavid. Still, it could go 7 and I’d just love that as would many fans. Really sorry about Hyman!”

And: “I’m itchy for the Final to start; very excited; more even than last year. I’m sticking with the Edmonton Oilers in 5 because of — McD, Leon, Stu, plus and plus MOTIVATION (WIN IT FOR ZACH). BUT The Maven overflows with respect for the Florida Panthers. (Should be a best of 9 series!)”

My take

1. I’ve never found Fischler or Cherry to be major boosters of the Edmonton Oilers, which makes sense given both are somewhat neutral commentators, with Fischler’s focus the New York-area teams and Cherry all about the Boston Bruins and the Toronto Maple Leafs. I’m glad then that both of them see enough in the Oilers to pick them over a fantastic two-way team like the 2025 Florida Panthers.

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2. Florida is a beast of a team. It’s likely better than it was last year. It’s got a Core 12 of players as good as any team, and it’s surrounded them with aggressive, hitting role players. But I think the Oilers mobile defence corps will be the difference in this series, as well as the better health this Final of players like Leon Draisaitl, Darnell Nurse and Evander Kane, who were all seriously banged up last year.

3. One major positive signal with the Oilers? Compared to the last time they faced Los Angeles (2024), Las Vegas (2023) and Dallas (2024) in the playoffs, Edmonton is a much better two-way team at even strength.

In 2023, Vegas and the Oilers both had nine Grade A shots per game at even strength, a 0.0 differential. In 2025, Edmonton had 11.6, Vegas 10.8, +0.8 for the Oilers.

In 2024, Edmonton had eight Grade A shots per game vs the Kings 8.6 against at even strength, a -0.6 differential for the Oilers. In 2025, it was an Oilers even strength romp, 14.8 for Edmonton per game, just 10.5 per game for the Kings, a +4.3 differential.

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In 2024, Edmonton had 9 Grade A shots per game against Dallas, the Stars had 11.7, a -2.7 differential for Edmonton. This year Edmonton had 11.6 Grade As per game, Dallas had 9.6 per game, +2.0 for Edmonton.

Against Florida, Edmonton was 8.7 to 7.3 in 2024, +1.4 for Edmonton.

If Edmonton can also build on that this year versus Florida, as they did against Los Angeles, VGK and Dallas, that will be a strong foundation for victory.

At the Cult of Hockey

STAPLES: ‘Almost perfection’: major Edmonton doubter now raves about Oilers

STAPLES: McD leaves practice ice early. What of it?

STAPLES: ‘Do I chopper in?’: Evander Kane jokes about grand entrance vs Florida Panthers

LEAVINS: 9 Things

‘F*ck you’re soft’: Can Evander Kane stand up to the Florida Panthers bully boys?

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