The Stanley Cup playoffs, beyond success or failure, always leave valuable lessons. Sometimes, these teachings endure; other times, they fade with time. And as the postseason progresses, new lessons emerge.
Eight Key Lessons from the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs
We analyze the lessons learned so far, with an emphasis on the teams and players who have left their mark.
Are the Leafs Cup-worthy?
Yes, we are talking about the Stanley Cup. Why the doubt?
Ah, right, because they are the Toronto Maple Leafs. A team that hasn’t played in the final since 1967, a drought of 56 seasons. They haven’t reached the conference final since 2002. The Stanley Cup is safe in the Hall of Fame for a reason: nobody in Toronto seems capable of lifting it.
Each Maple Leafs team has dragged half a century of disappointments and despair. Their biggest rival has always been their own inability to overcome pressure. However, this team seems different. With five wins in seven games in two rounds, and the decisive performances of their stars, led by Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner, the Leafs could be changing their history.
The arrival of Craig Berube as coach, with his stoic approach, could be the key. Berube, who led the St. Louis Blues to victory in 2019, demonstrated that a winning mentality can be achieved. The Leafs, who previously succumbed to panic, now seem capable of remaining calm and overcoming adversity.
Perhaps this version of the Maple Leafs is built to win. Maybe past failures have taught their key figures to succeed. Or perhaps, they simply have the right coach to stay calm and block out the noise. Time will tell if the Maple Leafs are truly worthy of the Cup.
Playoffs with many goals?
What result do you expect in a Game 7 of the playoffs? A close game, with few opportunities and outstanding goalkeepers? Well, Game 7 between the Dallas Stars and the Colorado Avalanche ended 4-2, and the one between the Jets and the Blues, 4-3. An upward trend in scoring.
In the first 47 games of the first round, 307 goals were scored, with an average of 6.53 per game. If this average holds, the 2025 postseason could be the highest-scoring since the 1992-93 season. The average goals per game has exceeded six in three of the last four postseasons.
Offense in the NHL has been on the rise over the past eight seasons. A key factor has been the success of power plays. The conversion rate this season was 21.6%, the ninth-best all-time and the highest since 1985-86. The first round of the playoffs had a conversion rate of 24.9%, indicating that the regular season trend has carried over into the postseason.
Mikko Rantanen: The Signing That Was Worth It
Future stellar performances against a former team will be measured against what Rantanen did to eliminate the Avalanche in the first round.
With 11 points in the last three games of the series, Rantanen proved his worth. He is the first player in NHL history to record four-point periods in consecutive games and the first with 10 or more points in games 5-7 of a series. The postseason MVP for Dallas.
The Avalanche’s decision to trade Rantanen before free agency could have been a mistake. If Rantanen hadn’t been sent to the Hurricanes, he would be playing alongside Nathan MacKinnon in this series. The Hurricanes, for their part, identified and acquired two key scorers in the playoffs, Rantanen and Jake Guentzel. The hockey gods gave us Rantanen against his former team, will they give us the same show in the final?
The key to coming back in Game 7: losing your best players
The Stars overcame a two-goal deficit in the third period of Game 7 against the Avalanche, without Jason Robertson and Miro Heiskanen. The Jets also overcame a two-goal deficit in the third period of Game 7 against the Blues without Mark Scheifele and Josh Morrissey.
This situation reminds us of Ewing’s theory, which suggests that Patrick Ewing’s teams played better when he was injured or absent due to fouls. Without Heiskanen, the Stars relied on Cody Ceci and Esa Lindell. Without Robertson, Mikko Rantanen shone. Without Scheifele, Adam Lowry and Cole Perfetti stood out. Without Morrissey, Winnipeg leaned on its defense.
Although the absence of key players can be a factor, the performance of those who take their place is crucial. The evolution of the players and their response in critical moments can make the difference.
The Jets secured the victory in Game 7 despite the absence of Mark Scheifele.
The fourth time wasn’t the charm
The Kings couldn’t eliminate the Oilers for the fourth consecutive postseason, despite expectations. Edmonton showed defensive inconsistencies and the absence of Mattias Ekholm. The Kings, with a solid defense, seemed prepared for success.
But history teaches us that these things happen. Since 1968, there has only been one other instance where two teams faced each other in the first round for four consecutive seasons: Montreal and Boston from 1984 to 1987, with Montreal always winning. The Kings were unable to break that trend, despite a promising start.
The Kings’ defeat could be attributed to decisions by their coach, Jim Hiller. The removal of Rob Blake as general manager of the Kings is a sign of pressure.
The “Super Mega” lines dominate
The key to winning the Stanley Cup is to have contributions from the entire roster. However, the impact of lines with highly talented players is undeniable. The Vegas Golden Knights, with Jack Eichel, Mark Stone, and William Karlsson, are an example.
Coach Bruce Cassidy deployed this trio against Kirill Kaprizov’s line, and they managed to slow down and outperform the Wild’s best offensive unit. In limited minutes, the Golden Knights’ trio had an expected goals percentage of 67.7%.
Stone and Eichel began to stand out in the last games against Minnesota, with points in each of the last three games, all Vegas victories. The Oilers also have “Super Mega” lines.
Regular season awards do not guarantee playoff success
NHL individual awards don’t always translate into playoff success. Cale Makar, a Norris Trophy favorite, didn’t have the expected impact in the first round. Connor Hellebuyck, despite being nominated for individual awards, had a disappointing playoff performance.
Makar, who had an outstanding regular season, failed to shine in the series against the Stars. Hellebuyck, for his part, struggled on the road, with a low save percentage and a high goals-against average.
Cale Makar didn’t have his best series against the Stars, despite another tremendous regular season.
The Capitals’ Office: Pure Exhibition
The Capitals have demonstrated their ability to rebuild their team. On the list of the top 10 scorers against the Canadiens, we find Alex Ovechkin, Tom Wilson, and Connor McMichael. The rest are strategic acquisitions: Dylan Strome, Anthony Beauvillier, Brandon Duhaime, Jakob Chychrun, Pierre-Luc Dubois, Andrew Mangiapane, and Trevor van Riemsdyk.
The Capitals’ office has demonstrated its prowess in building and improving talent. The Capitals are considered underdogs against the Hurricanes, but they could spring a surprise.
The Capitals have depth, chemistry, goaltending, and the NHL’s all-time leading goal scorer on the power play. Don’t underestimate the Capitals.
