Stanley Cup Final history: Panthers-Oilers rematch joins exclusive list of back-to-back NHL showdowns

In a league built on grit and glory, repeat champions are rare—repeat matchups, even rarer. The 2025 Stanley Cup Final brings back the Florida Panthers and Edmonton Oilers for a second straight year, reigniting a rivalry and reviving a tradition that few teams ever achieve.

It's not just a rematch, it's a moment etched in NHL history.

Panthers and Oilers make NHL history with rare Stanley Cup Final rematch

The NHL is no stranger to fierce rivalries, but only a handful of franchises have ever met in back-to-back Stanley Cup Finals. With the Panthers and Oilers renewing hostilities in 2025, they’ve become just the fifth pair to do so since the league's expansion era began in 1967-68.Before this showdown, the last back-to-back Final came over a decade ago, when Sidney Crosby’s Penguins and the Red Wings traded Stanley Cups in 2008 and 2009.

Prior to that, it was the dynastic battles of the Canadiens vs. Blues (1968-69) and Canadiens vs. Bruins (1977-78), as well as the iconic Islanders-Oilers duels in the early 1980s—each helping shape the league’s legacy.

Now, Florida is fighting to become the NHL’s first repeat champion since Tampa Bay in 2020-21, while Edmonton is chasing its first title since 1990 and a shot at redemption after last year’s Game 7 heartbreak.

What makes this repeat so unique isn’t just the stats, it’s the stakes. The Panthers have evolved into a powerhouse with a relentless defensive core and playoff-tested depth. Meanwhile, the Oilers boast generational firepower in Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, yet still battle questions about closing out when it matters most.While many fans are excited for the Panthers-Oilers rematch, others see it as a sign of deeper issues in the NHL.

With small-market teams often left out and the same stars dominating the spotlight, this back-to-back Stanley Cup Final is viewed by some as a repeat performance rather than fresh history in the making.Also Read: Edmonton Oilers bring Canada together in quest for Stanley Cup victoryIt raises concerns about whether true NHL parity still exists in the league. As the same top teams dominate the Stanley Cup Playoffs year after year, the path to the Stanley Cup Final seems increasingly difficult for rising contenders and small-market franchises.