2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs: Nikita Kucherov, Auston Matthews among players to watch in first round

The Playoffs of the Stanley Cup are launched on Saturday, as 16 teams will seek to make a race in the most prestigious trophy of all sports.

The Playoff of the Stanley Cup 2025 The field is officially establishedAnd several elite teams will seek to win this season. It Nhl It offers some of the most exciting theater when it comes to his post -season, and this time it should be this time. The league is full of elite skill, which will be displayed for the next two months. Given this, here is a player to monitor each of the 16 playoff teams of the Stanley Cup.

Playoffs of the Stanley Cup 2025: Maple Leafs, Jets remains the best hope of Canada to end the drought of the long championship

Chris bengel

Nikita Kayerov | RW | Tampa Bay Lightning

Nikita Kucherov is one of the best offensive players Nhl It must offer, and this was on the screen throughout the regular season. For the second year running, Kucherov will bring home Ross Art Trophy as NHL points leader. The third time is marked in the last seven seasons that Kucherov has led the league in points. Kucherov finished the campaign with 121 points (37 goals, 84 assists) in 77 games. The numbers speak for themselves, but they do not even begin to illustrate what lethal Kucherov is like at the open ice. He has an overwhelming shot, as well as an incredible view that helps him set up his teammates. In a nutshell, Kucherov will be the straw that shakes the drink for lightning while chasing another Stanley’s glass this spring.

Auston Matthews | C | Toronto maple leaves

It is difficult to find a more endowed scorer than Auston Matthews. The Maple Leaf star recently reached the 400 goals in just nine professional seasons. Matthews recorded only 32 goals during the regular season, but also lost a good handful of games due to injury. However, it is a power of power that is able to put the shit on the net from almost anywhere in the ice. The Maple Leafs have lost in the opening round in six of the last seven seasons and have not lifted the Lord Stanley Cup since the 1966-67 campaign. If Toronto really wants to alter his fortunes this time, Matthews will have to lead, for example.

Brad Marchand | RW | Florida Panthers

The panthers aim to win the Stanley Stanley Cups, but to achieve this task will certainly not be easy. The end of the star Matthew Tkachuk suffered a lower body injury during the 4 nations face in February and has not played since. As a result, the Panthers left and acquired the veteran Winger Brad Marchand from the Boston Bruins in the trading period. Marchand’s presence could further decrease if Tkachuk loses time during the Playoffs of the Stanley Cup. While Tkachuk’s presence as an offensive threat is definitely lost, his ability to be physical and put under the skin of the opposing team may be what the panthers lose even more. Marchand certainly has this aspect of his game above being a scorer above average. The experience of the following season in Marchand could be a massive addition to the Florida locker room at this time of year.

Alex Ovechkin | LW | Washington Capitals

It has been a very important season for Ovechkin. The capital star became the leader of the NHL goals when Wayne Gretzky passed with his 895th goal earlier this month. Even at the age of 39, Ovechkin is still an incredibly dynamic player at the offensive end. He still has one of the most abrasing timers in the league, and he has the ability to lead Washington in a Stanley Cup race. The capitals were in the presidential trophy candidacy and had the best record of the Eastern Conference during the regular season. If Ovechkin can bottled part of your regular season magic in the Playoffs, it will be worth the ticket price this spring.

Sebastian Aho | C | Carolina Hurricanes

Hurricanes have a stable striker, but it was a defeat to see that the franchise was forced to trade in Mikko Rantanen in the deadline. As a result, hurricanes will need their most important advantages to go up to the occasion if they want to succeed in the post -season, and it all starts with Sebastian Aho. Aho has a sensational shot and can make a lot of damage to the slot area. He is also undoubtedly Carolina’s highest player, as evidenced by his best 45 assists this season. If aho can impose their will on the offensive zone, hurricanes have the potential to make noise at the Eastern Conference.

Jacob MarksTrom | G | New Jersey Devils

The Devils received a brutal blow earlier this season when the Star Former Jack Hughes lost during the year. Hughes is the most endowed threat to the list of New Jersey, so the devils are successful from a prominent offensive. In order for the devils to have a glory of the later season, goalkeeper Jacob Markstrom will have to steal the show on several occasions. New Jersey had been in search of a franchise network for several seasons, but eventually found one in Markstrom. The veteran goalkeeper caused a solid campaign for a percentage of 2.50 goals in the average and a percentage of.

Brady Tkiuk LW | Ottawa Senators

Although Matthew Tkachuk cannot adapt to the panthers, there will still be a Tkachuk taking the ice this post -season. Senators striker Brady Tkachuk had been fighting a higher body injury at the end of the year, but adapted to the Ottawa regular season final. Like his brother Matthew, Tkachuk touches the line of being agitator, while also providing spectacular talent, which the world saw at the great stage of the 4 nations face. Tkachuk can enter these graphic areas and put the shit on the net at a moment. A group in front of six first places will pass and will be successful in their first taste of playoff hockey.

Lane Hutson | D | Montreal Canadiens

Before starting the regular season, it was believed that it was a two -horse race between Macklin celebrates the sharks and Matvei Michkov of the Flyers for the Calder Trophy as the first Rookie of the NHL. Instead, Canadiens Ombudsman Lane Hutson has taken the league by storm as a huge facilitator on the back of Mont -Real. Hutson finished the regular season tied for the second attendance (60) among NHL proponents, Rookie’s defender is a fantastic power with a tremendous speed and has an extraordinary view on the ice. Hutson also thrives in the defensive end, as it recorded 123 blocked features, while also disciplined extremely with only 34 minutes of penalty throughout the season. The young Canadian star will be an important part of the type of noise that the team can potentially make as their post -season trip against the capitals begin.

Connor Hellebuyck | G | Winnipeg Jets

I tried not to go with the most obvious option, one that I chose every year, but the hopes of the Stanley of the Jets Cup are on a man’s shoulders. This is Hellebuyck, the best goalkeeper in the world in the hope of redeeming -after a disastrous appearance in the 2024 playoff. In five games against Avalanche last year, Hellebuyck allowed 7.10 goals above the average while publishing a savings percentage of .865, for natural trick. This was one of the worst doors of Hellebuyck’s race and bounced off with one of the best regular seasons he has ever brought. Can you keep it in the post -season? If you can, the jets will be able to demolish any team on their way.

Jack Eichel | C | Vegas Golden Knights

Few players had an individual impact on their team as Eichel. He played at the superstar level all season and this is why the Golden Knights are one of the favorites to win the Stanley Cup. Eichel brought Vegas to a glass in 2023, but there is an argument that has played at an even higher level in 2024-25. Eichel established new races of career (66) and points (94), but this only scratches the surface of its brightness. With Eichel on ice at five-five-five years old, Vegas has 52.9% of shared targets and a differential of goals plus 27, according to Natural Stat Trick. If this domain continues, they can begin to record the name of Eichel in the Cup for the second time.

Thomas Harley | D | Dallas stars

The group of strikers of the stars is very praise, as it should be, but the key to them will be the performance of the defense. Since I see Heiskanen he has undergone a knee surgery in January, Dallas has been a disaster at the end. Heiskanen may later return to the series against the evaluation, but until then the stars will have to support much in the young Thomas Harley. The 23 -year -old published new races of career in all offensive categories, and was the only defender of Heiskanen to have strong impacts in five by five. Harley can affect the role of a number 1 defender in the playoffs?

Cale Makar | D | Avalanche of Colorado

There is no shortage of players to see in this avalanche team, but Makar could be one of the most shocking stars in the entire post -season. Makar reaches an absurd regular season, especially in the offensive end. He became the first defender to score 30 goals from Mike Green in 2008-09, and reached the tab to hit 100 points. Makar has the ability to drive the game from the blue line, which can only make a good handful of elite defender every night, and is the definition of an electrifying player.

Darcy Kuemper | G | Los Angeles Kings

When the kings sent Pierre-Luc Dubois in exchange for Kuemper last summer, it seemed that both parties could lose the agreement. Instead, both teams won great and Los Angeles won an excellent goal from Kuemper. Its 26.9 goals were saved above the third place of the average, according to the natural trick. If the kings will finally defeat the Blueyman Royal Blue and Orange, Kuemper will have to make hard savings at critical moments.

Leon Draisaitl | C | Edmonton Oilers

Connor McDavid is the leading man in Edmonton, but Draisaitl is a dignified co -starred co -protagonist and is one of the favorites to win the Hart 2025 trophy. Draisaitl won the Richard trophy “Rocket” in Maurice with his 52 goals, and the Oilers will need this offense because the depth of brands like Jeff Skinner and Viktor Arvidsson fell. The good news for the oilers is that Draisaitl does not slow down in the post -season. In 74 career games, he has 41 goals and Edmonton will need him to keep this pace to return to the final.

Kirill Kaprizov | LW | Minnesota Wild

Minnesota is overcome against the champion of the Pacific Golden Knights, especially from an offensive perspective. The only member of The Wild with the level of play level can be Kaprizov, which is the most dynamic offensive threat of either team. Injuries limited Kaprizov to the regular season, but it can change the games at its best. In 2023-24, Kaprizov scored 46 goals while he had 96 points. If the savage is to orchestrate, Kaprizov will have to solve for a good handful of goals against a strong blue line of Vegas.

Jake Neighbors | LW | Sant Lluís Blues

Speedster Dylan Holloway encounters an injury, at least to start the series, so another young man will have to take a step for blues. It could be Jake’s neighbors, who beat 22 goals and a 46 -point race. St. Louis will need all the offensive help against Connor Hellebuyck, and neighbors will play a more prominent role at the top of the programming with Holloway Out. Can you set a shotgun with Robert Thomas and Jordan Kyro to give the Blues a few specific goals in what should be a low score series?