Winners & Losers of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs So Far
The 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs are off to a great start. Who are the winners and losers to this point?
In case you needed any reminder that the Stanley Cup Playoffs offer the best postseason of any sport, just look back at the way the first round played out.
From great storylines to dramatic finishes, the start of this season’s playoffs have left fans on the edge of their seats. Considering who is part of the final eight, it promises to be even more exciting the deeper we get into this postseason.
Now that the entirely of the first round is over and we have a taste of the beginning of the second round, it’s as good a time as any to check in on the early winners and losers of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs so far.
From great individual performances to some shocking team disappointments, there were plenty of candidates to consider both good and bad.
In all, we will share four winners and four losers of these playoffs to date. We’ll start with what makes everything go in the playoffs.
Winner: The Fans
I mean, what more can you say? The fans have been treated to some of the most exciting and heart-stopping moments in recent memory. That’s what happens when there are Game 7’s in consecutive days.
Both Game 7’s will be remembered for a long time for very different reasons. The effect these games had on fans of other teams should be noted. Anytime there’s a Game 7 on, chances are if you’re a hockey fan, you’re tuning in.
Especially when you don’t have a dog in the fight, you want both entertainment and a great game. Both the Avalanche/Stars and Blues/Jets Game 7’s did just that.
The fans also win given that there is continuous hockey on daily as these playoffs go on. Wednesday night offered Game 2 of the Panthers/Maple Leafs and Game 1 of Stars/Jets. Thursday will see Game 2’s in both the Hurricanes/Capitals series and the Oliers/Golden Knights series.
The playoffs so far have delivered. The fans are the beneficiary of how it’s all played out.
Loser: Los Angeles Kings
This was supposed to be the year the Los Angeles Kings finally broke through against the Edmonton Oilers. It started out well. But then crash.
After building a 2-0 series lead, the Kings were ahead in both Games 3 and 4. They won neither game. They didn’t win again. They’re home after being eliminated in the first round for the fourth consecutive season.
The Kings and GM Rob Blake agreed to mutually part ways. We’ll see what happens to coach Jim Hiller once a new general manager is in place.
This was the best Kings team of the last four seasons. But it ended in the same result. Where do they go from here? What do they have to do to get over the hill of the first round? This one will hurt for a long time.
Winner: Canada
