2024 Stanley Cup Final: Ranking the top 10 impact players in Panthers vs. Oilers

The 2024 Stanley Cup Final features a pair of NHL most loaded lists. The Edmonton Oilers and Florida Panthers have plenty of star power, and these marquee names will compete for hockey’s ultimate prize.

The top of the Oilers lineup, headlined by Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, is as loaded as they come. Edmonton has no problem lighting up the scoreboard with such high-end on-ice ability, but players like Mattias Ekholm also give the lineup some balance at the back.

The Panthers, on the other hand, are a team that prides itself on playing stifling defense from top to bottom. Captain Aleksander Barkov and defenseman Gustav Forsling will be asked to contain McDavid as much as possible, while Matthew Tkachuk leads a punishing check for the Panthers in the offensive zone.

Over the next four to seven games, key players on both sides of this matchup will make big plays to determine the NHL next champion. Here’s a look at the top 10 impact players in this year’s Stanley Cup Final.

One way or another, Skinner will have a considerable impact in this Stanley Cup Final. Skinner can be somewhat volatile between the pipes, and that has led to questions about which version of him will appear against Florida. In the first two rounds of the playoffs Skinner had a save percentage of .881 and an above-average 5.43 goals allowed, according to Natural Stat Trick. Skinner was benched for two games during Edmonton’s second-round meeting with the Vancouver Canucks. Apparently that time to clear his head worked because Skinner was exceptional in the Western Conference final, boasting a .922 save percentage and 0.45 goals saved above average. The Oilers need more of a conference final effort to lift the Cup.

9. Mattias Ekholm | D | Edmonton Oilers

As good as the Oilers are on offense, they need to play some defense to win the Stanley Cup. Thanks to Ekholm, they have a lot of defense to go all the way. Since joining Edmonton before the 2023 trade deadline, Ekholm has provided much-needed stability on defense and elevated his play in these playoffs. In their 321 minutes of ice time at five-on-five, the Oilers have controlled 57.2% of expected goals and outscored opponents 19-11, according to Natural Stat Trick. These numbers are even more surprising when you consider that Ekholm is tasked with slowing down opposing attackers. It’s probably safe to assume that Sam Reinhart and Carter Verhaeghe will be getting a heavy dose of Ekholm in this series.

Sergei Bobrovsky really thrived during the Panthers’ series win against the Rangers. Bobrosvsky has scored two or fewer goals in five of his six appearances in this series and has accumulated a 2.00 goals against average, even after conceding five goals in Game 3 against New York. According to Money Puck, Bobrovsky posted a .960 save percentage when facing unblocked shots during the postseason. The veteran goaltender also had success during the regular season with a 2.37 goals-against average and a .915 save percentage. However, this is probably the most lethal offense he has faced in the postseason. Considering Bobrovsky’s track record, it’s possible that Bobrovsky is one of the key X-factors that will determine how this series plays out.

7. Sam Reinhart ICI Florida Panthers

Sam Reinhart might be Florida’s most dangerous offensive option for putting the puck in the net. Entering the series, Reinhart leads the team with eight goals, including the game-winning goal in overtime in Game 4 against the New York Rangers when the Panthers desperately needed a win. The Panthers forward also had a career-high 57 goals during the regular season, so he’s a threat to score when he’s within earshot of the puck. Reinhart, who is in line for a big payday this summer, is someone the Edmonton defense will need to watch at every turn in this series.

6.Zach Hyman | LW | Edmonton Oilers

A big reason the Oilers have gotten over the playoff hurdle this season is that the roster around McDavid and Draisaitl is shouldering most of the burden. No player is a better example of this than Hyman. In his ninth NHL season, Hyman scored 54 goals, 18 more than his previous career high. Hyman turned into a threat in front of the net, and that didn’t change in the playoffs, no matter how much other teams tried to neutralize him. Hyman leads all playoff players with 14 goals, and the Panthers better have an answer for him at the low position, especially when Edmonton is on the man advantage.

5. Gustav Forsling IDI Florida Panthers

The Panthers’ defense will certainly have its hands full in the Stanley Cup Final, considering it will have to slow down Connor McDavid and company. Defenseman Gustav Forsling will likely be consistently matched up with the Oilers’ top line throughout the series. Forsling has recorded 31 hits, 23 blocks and 14 takeaways to this point in the Stanley Cup playoffs. The veteran blue liner is not afraid to sacrifice his body, as he is averaging 3.49 blocks during the postseason. In addition to his defensive prowess, Forsling is a talented offensive option on the blue line, as he has recorded 11 points (four goals and seven points) this postseason. It will be up to Forsling to log heavy minutes as the Oilers will undoubtedly be their toughest matchup yet.

4. Aleksander Barkov ICI Florida Panthers

Aleksander Barkov is undoubtedly one of the Panthers’ biggest threats on both ends of the ice. After all, Barkov won the Selke Trophy this season as the best defensive forward in the NHL. As disruptive as Barkov can be on defense, he is equally dangerous when he has the puck on his stick. The Panthers star can maintain himself at an elite level and has scored six goals throughout the 2024 postseason while having no problem setting up his teammates along the way. It won’t be a huge surprise if Barkov makes his presence known at many points throughout the series.

3. Matthew Tkachuk I LW I Florida Panthers

Throughout Florida’s 2023 Stanley Cup run, Matthew Tkachuk has always risen to the occasion, and nothing has changed this time. Tkachuk currently leads the Panthers in points (19) during the Stanley Cup Playoffs with a team-high five goals and 14 assists. The veteran forward has had success on the power play throughout the postseason, with six power play assists thus far. Tkachuk plays with a lot of physicality and will probably do his best to irritate his opponent. He also has no problem making a living in net on the offensive end of the ice. In terms of clutch players, Tkachuk certainly fits the bill, and he could end up being a thorn in the side of the Oilers throughout the series.

2. Leon Draisaitl | C | Edmonton Oilers

Draisaitl could be No. 1 on many NHL teams, but in Edmonton he has Connor McDavid as a teammate. Draisaitl gives the Oilers a truly elite finisher, both at five-on-five and on the power play. After scoring 41 goals in the regular season, he has 10 goals this postseason, which is second in the NHL and would be first on the Panthers. What makes Draisaitl so important in this series is that although he has earned a reputation as a prolific goalscorer, he is no pushover in the physical department. Florida will no doubt try to put the woodwork on the Edmonton stars, but Draisaitl has a unique talent for putting the puck in the net one way or another.

1. Connor McDavid | C | Edmonton Oilers

What a shock to see the best hockey player in the world at the top of this list. McDavid simply plays at a different speed than everyone else, and it showed in these playoffs. Don’t be fooled by your modest goal total. McDavid took his game to another stratosphere. He has 26 assists in just 18 games after recording 100 assists in the regular season, and is feeding teammates in high-danger areas. McDavid can take control of games and has performed well in even the toughest defensive matchups in the first three rounds. The Panthers are going to throw the kitchen sink at him, but McDavid is operating at another level now.