The quest for the Stanley Cup in 2025 has commenced, with 16 teams battling through four intense playoff rounds to claim hockey`s ultimate prize. The reigning champions, the Florida Panthers, are back to defend their title, but face stiff competition from regular-season leaders such as the Winnipeg Jets, Washington Capitals, and Edmonton Oilers.
The Toronto Maple Leafs are determined to break their long-standing championship drought. To achieve this, they must overcome their provincial rivals, the Ottawa Senators, spearheaded by Brady Tkachuk and Jake Sanderson. In the Metropolitan Division, the New Jersey Devils, led by Nico Hischier and facing injury challenges, will clash with the Carolina Hurricanes, who have witnessed a remarkable season from rookie forward Jackson Blake. The Panthers will engage in a fierce cross-state rivalry with the Tampa Bay Lightning, a team that has been dominant in the latter half of the season.
In the Western Conference, a first-round showdown features two strong contenders: the Dallas Stars and the Colorado Avalanche. Interestingly, former Avalanche star Mikko Rantanen now plays for Dallas. In their opening game, Colorado made a statement with a decisive 5-1 victory. Meanwhile, the Winnipeg Jets rallied from a 3-2 deficit to secure a 5-3 win against the St. Louis Blues.
Last year, Connor McDavid received the Conn Smythe Trophy as the playoffs` most valuable player, despite his team not winning the Stanley Cup. This year, he aims to win both. Below are the leading contenders for the Conn Smythe Trophy, along with odds for each team to win their first-round series, advance in the playoffs, and ultimately win the Stanley Cup.
