Letting Go of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final

Am I the only one who needs to say a proper goodbye to the playoffs before jumping into all the draft and free agency fodder?

Two months ago, I wrote to you all on the first day of the 2024-25 Stanley Cup Playoffs. I threatened you to enjoy that day — the best day of the year — or else.

The first day of the playoffs is the best day of the year because almost anything feels possible. We realized pretty quickly this time around that we’d end up where we are today, with the Florida Panthers going back-to-back after a six-game SCF rematch with the Edmonton Oilers.

But for a brief moment in time, anything else was possible. And as we spent the weekend living vicariously through Brad Marchand’s ice cream and Michelob Ultra bender (I mean, I was at a NASCAR race so I was basically living the same life), maybe a two-peat wasn’t the most boring scenario after all.

Yyyyyit’s been one week since the Panthers’ second straight title, and to be completely honest, I’ve been struggling to sit down and put it all to rest. It’s not that I’m afraid that “anything is possible” feeling won’t come back — the draft is in three days and free agency has already started with a bang. It’s not even that I loved it so much that I’m devastated to see it go.

I think I’m just grappling with the simplicity of it all. Panthers good. Got better. Oilers good. Didn’t get better. Goaltending not good enough.

Is that really it?

I think that might be it.

Oh, and something about taxes…

As much as i’m struggling to accept the simplicity of it all, and as much as everyone has already moved on to free agency and draft fodder, my brain needs to put a bow on things before I’m ready to fully lock in on the offseason.

How about a list of things I loved, hated, and tolerated about the 2025 Stanley Cup Final?

Loved

The Brad Marchand of It All