'The Oilers time has come': NHL's elder statesmen both pick Edmonton to win

Edmonton Journal

2 days ago

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This in from Don 'Grapes' Cherry, 91, and Stan 'The Maven' Fischler, 93, the two elder statesmen of National Hockey League commentary, their predictions that the Edmonton Oilers will win the Stanley Cup in 2025 over the Florida Panthers.
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'I'm still sticking with Edmonton,' Don Cherry said this weekend on his Grapevine podcast. 'Skinner is playing just as good (as Bobrvosky). Whether he'll do it in the Finals, we'll see.'
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If Florida tries to injure Skinner by accidentally mashing into Skinner, Oilers pest Corey Perry will respond in kind, Cherry said. 'That's his style.'
As for Fischler, the long-time Hockey News columnist and New York hockey writer, has been on social media with his prediction that the Oilers will win in five.
'The Maven cannot imagine a more fascinating, hard-to-predict, well-balanced Final coming up between the
defending champs, Florida Pantherfs and Edmonton Oilers; truly the best in the NHL. This looms as a fantastic playoff. Lots to like on both sides; especially good-guy-good-coaches…. This is obvious but what the heck, a Maven redundancy; the series will hinge on whether Florida Panthers (coach) Paul Maurice can produce an
anti-McDavid machine in time for Wednesday. Stopping or not stopping Connor will decide the series. If not, then it might be up to Brad Marchand.
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Fischler continued: 'I'm as impressed with Edmonton Oilers' KrisKnoblauch as I am with Florida Panthers PaulMaurice. I'm picking Edmonton in 5 because the Oilers time has come. And the Cats don't have McDavid. Still, it could go 7 and I'd just love that as would many fans. Really sorry about Hyman!'
And: 'I'm itchy for the Final to start; very excited; more even than last year. I'm sticking with the Edmonton Oilers in 5 because of — McD, Leon, Stu, plus and plus MOTIVATION (WIN IT FOR ZACH). BUT The Maven
overflows with respect for the Florida Panthers. (Should be a best of 9 series!)'
My take
1. I've never found Fischler or Cherry to be major boosters of the Edmonton Oilers, which makes sense given both are somewhat neutral commentators, with Fischler's focus the New York-area teams and Cherry all about the Boston Bruins and the Toronto Maple Leafs. I'm glad then that both of them see enough in the Oilers to pick them over a fantastic two-way team like the 2025 Florida Panthers.
2. Florida is a beast of a team. It's likely better than it was last year. It's got a Core 12 of players as good as any team, and it's surrounded them with aggressive, hitting role players. But I think the Oilers mobile defence corps will be the difference in this series, as well as the better health this Final of players like Leon Draisaitl, Darnell Nurse and Evander Kane, who were all seriously banged up last year.
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