The Athletic polled its staff on who would win each second-round series, plus the conference champions, Stanley Cup winner and Conn Smythe.

The 2025 NHL playoffs have featured drama to the highest extent and the second round will be no different, as heated division rivals face off. Will Connor McDavid avenge the Oilers' playoff loss against Jack Eichel and the Golden Knights two years ago? Can the Maple Leafs dethrone the defending champion Panthers?

NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs have been absolutely sensational thus far, and now we’re getting to the business end of the postseason. It’s very difficult to know how a team will adapt from an 82 game season of one-off matchups and project how they’ll translate that into a deeply tactical,