Paul Bissonnette has made a prediction that would put Canadian hockey at the centre of the sports world: an Edmonton Oilers–Toronto Maple Leafs Stanley Cup Final.
“I honestly think that we can see an Edmonton Oilers–Toronto Maple Leafs Stanley Cup Final this year,” Bissonnette said in a clip shared by Viva La Stool. It is an irresistible matchup. Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl against Auston Matthews and William Nylander. Two fan bases that live through every playoff shift. And, at the end of it, a Canadian team lifting the Cup.
It would be a massive event for the NHL. The attention would stretch well beyond Toronto and Edmonton, with every game carrying a national audience and a ready-made story. For the Oilers, it would be another chance to finish the job after reaching the Final in 2024 and 2025. For the Leafs, simply getting there would be a breakthrough: Toronto missed the playoffs last season after nine consecutive appearances.
Edmonton Has the Clearer Route
Of the two teams, Edmonton looks more likely to reach the Final. The Atlantic appears tougher to navigate than the Pacific, where the Oilers have a plausible path back into contention. Toronto may have to survive several demanding series just to win the East.
Still, an easier path on paper guarantees nothing. Anaheim eliminated Edmonton in the first round last spring. Once the playoffs begin, a hot goalie, injuries or one bad matchup can overturn a season’s expectations in a week. The Oilers have the experience to make another long run, but they first have to earn their way back.
Goaltending and Depth Will Decide It
Both teams need consistent goaltending. Toronto brought in Sergei Bobrovsky, a two-time Cup winner, while Edmonton added Frederik Andersen. Those moves give each club a potential answer, but what matters is whether its goalie can deliver through four playoff rounds.
Toronto also needs its biggest names to drive the offence when space disappears in the postseason. Matthews and Nylander can change a series, but the Leafs cannot afford long stretches in which their top players are kept off the scoresheet. Edmonton’s challenge is different: McDavid and Draisaitl have already shown they can carry the attack deep into the playoffs. The supporting forwards must produce enough that opponents cannot focus every matchup on those two.
If Bissonnette’s prediction comes true, I would give Edmonton the edge. Its core has lived through two recent Cup Finals, and I prefer its coaching group, led by Mike Babcock with D.J. Smith and Misha Donskov in support. Toronto’s new staff under Jim Hiller has talent, but Edmonton’s players have more experience with the pressure this particular series would bring.
A Leafs–Oilers Final is possible, and it would be unforgettable. Getting both teams there remains the hard part.
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