It’s that time again! Here’s my 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs bracket, something that is always fun for me to write for the eleven people in the world who care about it. (Hi! I’m glad you’re all here!)
Round One
Campbell Western Conference
Vegas vs. Minnesota
As much as I very intensely dislike VGK, they aren’t pulling that IR bullshit from years past, so I grudgingly set that moniker aside this year. Minnesota is in the playoffs because of the ridiculous start to their season. The Wild (I almost typed North Stars, sigh) are hurt, and the last six weeks of the regular season were brutal for them. If the team that we saw at the beginning of the season shows up, they will give Vegas a serious run. They looked pretty great yesterday, and boy did they make Vegas work for the win at Medieval Times Arena. I still favor Vegas, though. They have most of a team has been here before, and they know how to win in the playoffs. I expect Minnesota to take at least one of their home games, and I think this one goes to 6 before Vegas advances.
Winnipeg vs St. Louis
The Jets have the best record in hockey for a reason that goes beyond Connor Hellebuyck. In the old 1 plays 8 days, I’d give The Blues a stronger upset chance, but I think they’re just outmatched here. This is the only sweep in the first round. Winnipeg in 4.
Dallas vs. Colorado
My heart wants to cheer for Dallas, because my dear friend Stepto (may his memory be a blessing) loved them the way I love my Kings. Colorado isn’t going to make it easy. Blackwood will steal a game for the Avs, and yesterday was not that game; the Stars lost that one all on their own. This series will go 6, maybe even 7, but the Stars are moving on to face the ‘Peg.
Los Angeles vs. Connor McDavid
This is our year. Fucking finally. The Kings have a team that can neutralize Edmonton’s line. The Kings are hot as hell right now, and have home ice advantage, where they had the best home record in the league (like, it wasn’t even close). Kuemper is locked in and Skinner has looked shaky. Edmonton has the best player in the world, another generational talent, and 24 other guys. For the first time in four seasons, the Kings have 4 lines who can score and a goalie who can keep them in it. Kings in 6.
Wales Eastern Conference Round One
Toronto vs. Ottawa
Brady, I’m real happy for you, and ima let you finish, but Toronto actually looks like a hockey team this year, and the Senators are just beginning to draw back the curtains, and open their Cup window. This isn’t Ottawa’s year, which is fucking crazy because it’s NEVER Toronto’s year. They have an incredibly rich history of finding truly creative ways to lose, but I’m picking Toronto because it serves a greater narrative. Leafs in 5.
Tampa Bay vs. Florida
Ah, the battle of America’s Wang. A playoff series for the ages that will live in the pages of hist– yawn I’m sorry I drifted off there thinking about this. These teams are basically even for me, but I freely admit I don’t pay much attention to them during the regular season, so I am absolutely missing a lot of nuance. But given the Panthers’ win last year by a team that they largely kept together, and the absolutely insane leveling up in Matthew Tkachuk’s play during Four Nations, I’m picking the Panthers in 5.
Washington vs. Montreal
Remember when the Habs were this unstoppable force? Remember when the Habs could score one and shut the door? This is not them. This team is mid af, just good enough to make it into the post season, but missing a lot of the parts it needs to go deep. I despise Ovechkin’s Team Putin bullshit, and for that reason alone I want them to get swept. But let’s be honest: the caps are a fucking incredible team who are going to be an autoaxe with legendary mods against Montreal’s weak feral ghouls. Anything can happen in this league on any night (the reason the NHL is the best league) so don’t count them out entirely, but I wouldn’t worry about having to change tee times with those guys in the beginning of April. Washington in 5.
Carolina vs. New Jersey
Hey, did you know the Devils are in the playoffs? Can you name one of their players? I just realized I can’t, and that means I haven’t paid attention to them at all this year. Meanwhile, after I retired Blaine Gretzky because the guy I named him after turned out to be garbage, I started a new create a pro game. My player wears #13, and his name is Johnny Marlowe. He plays for Carolina, and I have developed the same emotional connection to the real team that I had for the Kraken during Blaine’s career. I could come up with stats and reasons to support my choice, but where’s the fun in that? I’m picking Carolina for a silly reason, but it’s still a reason. Hurricanes in 7 because I presume New Jersey has some Dark Horse thing I don’t know about and that makes for good drama.
Round 2
Jets vs. Stars
This one goes 7 and Winnipeg wins in OT. Sorry, Stepto.
Kings vs Vegas
The Kings teams that won the Stanley Cup were built to grind down opponents over a 7 game series. Even when San Jose went up 3-0, the Kings were able to just check them into submission and come all the way back. This Kings team does not play that way, and the longer the series goes, the more it favors the other team. Sure, I could write a script where they do it again against all the odds and blah blah blah, but everything is terrible and I just want some excitement, so I’m giving this to the Kings in 4. Yeah, you read that correctly. Kings sweep Vegas in round two. Book it.
Toronto vs. Florida
In the second game of the second round, something happens in the second intermission. Down a game and trailing, a Toronto team that’s been struggling to keep up with the defending champions breaks through in that third period and never looks back. GG, Florida. Leafs in 7.
Conference Final
Kings vs. Jets
In reality, this is where the Kings go home.
Yeah screw that. In my story, this is a seven game series. The Kings steal a game in OT, we see at least one goalie battle, but the difference comes from Los Angeles’ young players. Byfield, Fiala, Laferriere and Turcotte surprise everyone with their maturity and composure in big situations. Kopitar and Doughty have been here before, and their experience both leads the other players and neutralizes the half a step or so they’re behind due to age and injury. Kuepmer doesn’t quite give us vintage Quick, but what he does give us rhymes with vintage quick. Winnipeg fully expects to win this at home, not unreasonably. But they didn’t count on this guy over here being the writer, and the Kings win it at home in game 7, right in front of me.
Toronto vs Carolina
It’s a classic Leafs vs Whalers matchup, just like the old days of 2002! Eddie Shore! Old Time Hockey! This is the series where Auston Matthews finally gets the national and casual fan attention he has deserved his entire career. Attention that has eluded him, because, come on, it’s Toronto. The Whale does not make it easy for the Leafs to win the series in 6 games.
Stanley Cup Final
It is the match-up we have all needed since 1993: a replay of the last time the Kings and the Leafs went deep in the playoffs, only this time it’s for the Big One. Leafs Nation wants revenge for the high stick that was not called, while Los Angeles desperately needs a series win that encourages our toxic trait of pretending that never happened. The drama is off the charts for this final. It’s Canada vs. USA. It’s East vs. West. It’s The Past vs. The Future. It’s so much better than whatever is really going to happen (which to be clear will still be cool) because there is no other potential Final match-up that carries this weight. It’s a series for the ages. No game is decided by more than one goal, at least two games to to OT, including game 7. The game and series and Stanley Cup winner comes from a Kopitar snipe at the top of the left circle, short-handed.
Okay, that’s the way I want this to go. And, if we accept that there are an infinite number of potential realities, all of them just beyond our perception, this is the way it will go, in at least one of them. So maybe it’ll be this one.
What do you think? I can talk about hockey the way I can talk about Star Trek. Let’s talk about it! Who are you cheering for? Who do you want to win? Who do you think will win?
And am I the only one who feels like the Stanley Cup Playoffs are always cool, but absolutely taking a back seat to the Four Nations Tournament this year?
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lol. I love “Kings vs. Conner McDavid”. Kind of tired of Edmonton and Vegas getting deep in the playoffs, but I think that McDavid and crew are hungry for it. I think the Kings go down in round 1. My team is the Kraken (sigh) but I grew up in Colorado and my SO is an Avs fan. Will be rooting for them for now, but I don’t expect them to beat the Stars. Not even if Landeskog comes back. Otherwise, I’d kind of like to see a Canadian team win it. It’s been a while for them. I’m going to put out Jets vs Florida in the finals.
Wil, from your lips to God’s ears, as they say.
In 2014 I was watching Game Five of the Finals from Vermont where I was back for my 40th high school reunion. The B&B we were staying at had no cable, just tiny B&W TVs in the room with rabbit ears picking up two channels. The staff was gracious enough to find a big screen and hook it up to something in the library so I could watch the game, and with the time difference it was way past midnight as we went to OT. Just outside the library was a massive, open stairwell leading up four floors, where everyone was asleep. When Martinez won it for us, I was dancing around like an idiot, wanting more than anything to scream at the top of my lungs but somehow managing to not make a sound. I think I broke something holding in all of that joy and energy.
Let’s do it again! GKG!
As a Canadian, I love your hockey knowledge. This is exactly what the men in my family are like when it comes to hockey. I’m more of a casual fan now, but I used to be into it a lot more in the 90s.
I really want a Canadian team to make it all the way to the finals, but, while I am from Ontario, I would rather ANY Canadian team than the Leafs… but if it has to be them so be it!
I ache to find out how the Whalers take out Putin’s prodigy.
I would be happy with a Kings v Leafs Final, as I have literally waited my entire life for my blue blood to be injected with Stanley’s nectar. Kerry Fraser’s hair will not be there to save you this time.
Go Kings (I’m a Kraken fan, but have to root for someone since we didn’t make it, so I’ll pick Wil’s team). 🙂
This year, of all years, I think it’s time for a Canadian team to take the Cup. If anything to give a huge f*** you to the cheeto nazi! Go Leafs Go!
Given everything that has happened recently, I really want a Canadian team to win the Cup this year. My Sabres aren’t in it (and haven’t been in it for A WHILE NO I’M NOT BITTER!), so I’ll throw my weight behind Toronto. They won their division, they play well, and if they can keep the specter of playoffs past out of their minds, they have a shot.
I would absolutely love a USA v Canada final, and I can honestly say it’s not guaranteed I don’t cheer for the Canadian squad, because of reasons.
Write about what you love. If that is Hockey and the Stanley Cup Playoffs go for it.
Blues fan. .would love to see them in the 2nd round, but if they make it a 6 games series against the Jets that will do.
Mostly agree, but think Jets will take the Western Conference in 7. This is the year! If you are able to make it up to the ‘Peg for a game, I’d highly recommend it. The Winnipeg Whiteout is something to be experienced!