Charles Barkley makes playoff predictions and he likes the Oilers and Leafs
Charles Barkley is the newest member of Oil Country for this year’s playoff run.
The NBA legend revealed his 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs bracket on TNT on Saturday night, breaking down each first-round matchup and making his choices leading up to an eventual champion. Barkley chose the Edmonton Oilers to return to the Stanley Cup Final and had them defeat the Toronto Maple Leafs to win it all.
This was not on a whim, as Barkley described why he chose the Oilers to win their first Stanley Cup since 1990.
“I’m gonna tell you why I’m taking the Oilers,” Barkley said. “Two years ago, the Florida Panthers lost, came back and won it. Oilers lost last year, they’re gonna come back and win it this year.”
Charles Barkley has revealed his GUAR-AN-TEED #StanleyCupPlayoffs bracket and he's got some Canadian teams going on a deep run š pic.twitter.com/FTCgDHlzG4
— NHLonTNT (@NHL_On_TNT) April 20, 2025
Barkley’s path to the Stanley Cup saw the Oilers defeating the LA Kings in the first round, the Vegas Golden Knights in the second, and the Colorado Avalanche in the Western Conference Final. His Stanley Cup Final matchup with the Toronto Maple Leafs is a dramatic one that would send shockwaves through Canada if it happened.
The Oilers became a favourite of the TNT panel during last year’s run to the Stanley Cup Final. A lot of that was focused on Shaq Hyman stuff between Shaquille O’Neal and Zach Hyman, but Chuck was also part of it.
Barkley received a signed jersey from Oilers superstar Leon Draisaitl last year and even called Edmonton one of his “favourite cities in the world.”Ā
Chuck is one of the few people in sports who still believes the Oilers can even get out of the first round. Analysts seem to be very low on Edmonton’s chances, with all but three of NHL.com’s 16 writers picking them to beat the Kings.