The last two Stanley Cup Finals have had a familiar look, with theFlorida Panthersdowning theEdmonton Oilersboth times. Are we looking at a third consecutive meeting and a three-peat for the Panthers? USA TODAY Sports' NHL panel doesn't think so, with neither team chosen to make the Final. Two have theCarolina Hurricanesreaching the Final for the first time since 2006 and two have theColorado Avalanchecoming out of the Western Conference. One had the Panthers winning the Atlantic Division and the Oilers are represented in individual awards with Connor McDavid or Leon Draisaitl winning the Hart Trophy. Here are USA TODAY Sports' preseason predictions for the2025-26 NHL season: The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast.Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:NHL predictions 2025-26: Who wins the Stanley Cup?
