The Edmonton Oilers are coming off their second straight defeat in the Stanley Cup Final. Many believed that this year would have been different for the Oilers as they entered the championship series with home-ice advantage.

With offseason fully upon us and most of the big free-agent signings in the books, The Athletic asked its NHL staff for their 2025-26 picks.

A Stanley Cup champion with the Florida Panthers revealed in breaking news that, despite the franchise’s needs, he wants to stay and play alongside Brad Marchand, Sam Bennett, and Matthew Tkachuk in the 2025-26 NHL season.

The Florida Panthers are one win away from their second straight Stanley Cup after beating the Edmonton Oilers, 5-2, in Game 5. Brad Marchand and the Panthers took control of the game early, and they never gave the Oilers any life.

The Golden Knights won free agency by acquiring the only 100-plus point-scorer on the market and one of the best wingers in the league for the better half of the decade in Marner. They resolved a hole in the lineup on the wing, and it's no surprise to see them back in the Cup conversation.

For years, people called the Florida Panthers the “sleeping giants” of the NHL, where once that giant woke up, nobody would stop it. Once the Panthers learned how to build a contender and attract talent,

While there, Greer gave fans a chance to have their picture taken with the Cup for a charitable donation to Clemente House, a nonprofit benefitting families with disabilities. The first 100 fans also had Greer in the photo as well.

After winning the Stanley Cup with the Florida Panthers, Nate Schmidt signs with the Utah Mammoth and issues a subtle warning to the NHL, signaling his determination to bring championship success to his new team.