Oilers forward Corey Perry will be playing in the Stanley Cup Final for the fifth time in six seasons. He has been on the losing end of the past four he's been in; 2020 with the Stars, 2021 with the Canadiens, 2022 with the Lightning and last year with the Oilers.

The Edmonton Oilers got so close last season to breaking the long curse that has plagued Canada-based NHL teams. Edmonton fell to the Florida Panthers in seven games in the Stanley Cup Final, adding another year to the long title drought.

On defense, getting Mattias Ekholm back is a huge boost. He played just short of 16 minutes in his return from a lower-body injury in Game 5 — his 2025 postseason debut and his first appearance since April 11 — while recording an assist and two blocked shots and taking a penalty.