Lapsed fan's guide to the 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs - ESPN

As a service to fans who have a general interest in the National Hockey League but have no idea what has happened since the Florida Panthers raised the Stanley Cup by defeating the Edmonton Oilers last June, we're happy to provide this FAQ as a guide to the 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs.

And for you die-hard puckheads: Here is your official refresher before the games begin Saturday. Enjoy!

Read more:
Full schedule
Megapreview
Playoff Central
Contender flaws

History was made in the NHL this season, but not the kind that its most storied U.S. franchises wanted. The 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs mark the first time that the Boston Bruins, Chicago Blackhawks, Detroit Red Wings and New York Rangers have all missed the cut in the same postseason:

Chicago's in a rebuild

Detroit was supposed to finally emerge from one but missed the playoffs for the ninth straight season, despite an in-season coaching change — the sixth season without a postseason berth under GM Steve Yzerman

The Bruins fired their coach 20 games into the season, only to eventually ship out a number of veteran players at the trade deadline while missing the playoffs for the first time in nine seasons

The Rangers went from the league's best record to finishing eight points out of the playoffs, and could see major changes in the offseason

The New York Islanders, Nashville Predators and Vancouver Canucks were all 2024 playoff teams that didn't make it back this season. Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins missed the playoffs for the third straight season.

So the 2025 postseason won't have a number of glamour franchises and superstar players. But that just creates room in the spotlight for others to emerge.

The Stanley Cup champion Panthers finished third in the Atlantic