The 2024 Stanley Cup Finals will be a geographically diverse matchup between the Florida Panthers and the Edmonton Oilers. The Panthers were in the Finals last year but lost in five games, which means they’re still chasing their first championship in franchise history. Of course, that history only dates back to 1994.
Florida wasn’t even a franchise the last time the Oilers won the Stanley Cup in 1990. Edmonton’s only trip to the Stanley Cup Finals since then came in 2006 when the Oilers lost a heart-breaking series in seven games to the Hurricanes. That should leave both franchises and both fanbases hungry for a title.
Heading into the series, oddsmakers list the Panthers as favorites, but not by much. That means most NHL betting sites should have competitive odds for either team being triumphant in the Finals. But what team will have the edge when they get on the ice starting with Game 1 on Saturday? Let’s take a closer look at the strengths and weaknesses of both teams.
Panthers Strengths
Florida’s overall quality, depth, and balance is almost too good to be true. They undoubtedly have all of the ingredients to win a championship. They’ve got bonafide stars like Matthew Tkachuk and Sam Reinhart but also plenty of scoring depth behind those two. Defensively, the Panthers got healthy in time for the playoffs and it’s shown. Equally important, Florida has a trustworthy goalie, as Sergei Bobrovsky has been strong between the pipes throughout the playoffs.
Another advantage Florida could have in the Stanley Cup Finals is experience from last season. Large chunks of the roster experienced last year’s loss and will understand what it’s like in these pressure-packed games. Plus, the Panthers have been made stronger by their playoff run, winning seven of their 12 games by just one goal, so they should be comfortable playing close games against Edmonton.
Panthers Weaknesses
It’s almost impossible to find a weakness on this Florida team. As mentioned, they have all of the pieces, including depth in all the right spots. During the playoffs, we’ve seen the Panthers win games in a variety of ways. Perhaps the only complaint one could have is they went down 1-0 to Boston in the conference semifinals and 2-1 to the Rangers in the conference finals. Surely, the Panthers don’t want to get off to a slow start like that in the Stanley Cup Finals.
Oilers Strengths
Without question, Edmonton’s offense is the team’s greatest strength. It starts with Connor McDavid, who has led the NHL in points in five of the last eight years and is a three-time MVP, including 2021 and 2023. Leon Draisaitl has been his sidekick all season. Together, the pair has led the Oilers to the Stanley Cup Finals. Yet, it’s Zach Hyman who actually led the Oilers in goals during the regular season and thus far in the playoffs. That speaks to the embarrassment of riches the Oilers possess on the attack. Even Edmonton’s defensemen have proven to be reliable goal-scorers. The bottom line is that the Oilers can score at any time and from an abundance of sources, which makes them dangerous.
Oilers Weaknesses
While Edmonton is surely happy to get into a track meet, the Oilers could be criticized for their ability to grind out low-scoring games. Despite winning plenty of one-goal games during their Stanley Cup run, those types of games are a little out of their comfort zone. Defensively, Edmonton has come on strong during the playoffs, thanks in part to goalie Stuart Skinner. However, it’s impossible to ignore that those were question marks earlier in the season. Against an elite team like the Panthers, it’s possible the Oilers could struggle to match Florida’s defensive and goaltending prowess.
Conclusions?
If there’s one conclusion that we can draw ahead of time it might be that this has the potential to be one of the all-time great Stanley Cup Finals. Both teams are powerful forces, as the Panthers have great balance and depth while Edmonton’s offense is almost too good to believe.
Of course, it’s a little easier to find potential flaws with Edmonton whereas the Panthers are as close to flawless as you’re likely to find. The Florida offense may not be as explosive as Edmonton’s offense, but the Panthers are stronger in almost every other area, including their Stanley Cup experience. After losing in the Finals last year, it’s not hard to envision the Panthers using the lessons learned from last season to overcome the Oilers and take home their first Stanley Cup in franchise history.
