Would Toronto Maple Leafs have walked over Edmonton Oilers in hypothetical 2025 Stanley Cup Final matchup?

The Edmonton Oilers’ largely disappointing showing against the Florida Panthers in the 2025 Stanley Cup Final raised plenty of questions about the Toronto Maple Leafs' chances of defeating the Oilers.

But before the Stanley Cup Final, the Panthers ran into some trouble in the second round against the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Leafs had the Panthers on the ropes, up 2-0 in the series.

The Leafs allowed the Panthers to get back into the series as the showdown went the distance. In the end, it was the Panthers who prevailed.

One has to wonder, though: What would have happened if the Toronto Maple Leafs had knocked off the Panthers?

The possibility of a Stanley Cup Final matchup between the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Edmonton Oilers would have been quite high. The Leafs would have entered the Cup Final as a juggernaut against an equally formidable Oilers squad.

So, is it fair to say that the Toronto Maple Leafs would have steamrolled the Edmonton Oilers?

Using logical deduction, the Leafs pushed the Panthers to seven games, nearly knocking them out. The Edmonton Oilers, on the other hand, struggled against the Panthers, falling in six games.

Assuming all things remained equal, the Leafs would have defeated the Oilers in a hypothetical Stanley Cup Final. Toronto got the upper hand on Florida while Edmonton never really had a chance.

It’s too bad the series never happened as it would have been one for the ages.

Toronto Maple Leafs vs Edmonton Oilers Stanley Cup Final would have pitted the NHL’s two best players against one another

Connor McDavid and Auston Matthews would have headlined a dream Stanley Cup Final - Source: Imagn

An added bonus to an Edmonton Oilers-Toronto Maple Leafs Stanley Cup Final matchup would have been seeing the league’s two best players, Connor McDavid and Auston Matthews, go head-to-head to the Stanley Cup.

McDavid and his uncanny speed would have gone up against Matthews’ superb two-way play. The two superstars would have had plenty of opportunities to dazzle, settling the score as to who is the best once and for all.

The victor would have had the bragging rights to claim he was the best.

McDavid and Matthews are still young and the Leafs and Oilers are still good teams. There’s certainly a chance fans will get to see a Stanley Cup Final featuring Connor McDavid and Auston Matthews.

But that will have to wait at least one more season.

The 2025-26 season will kick off this fall with all 32 teams starting from scratch. While the Florida Panthers will likely enter as the favorites to three-peat, who knows if next season will finally be the year the Maple Leafs make it to the Cup Final.

Perhaps next spring, fans will be treated to one of the best toe-to-toe matchups in recent memory.

Wayne Gretzky’s wife Janet responds to critics questioning his loyalty to Canada, Bobby Orr's support following 4 Nations drama

Edited by Nestor Quixtan