EA Sports releases 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs simulation

For the first time since 1967, the Toronto Maple Leafs are Stanley Cup champions! Virtually, at least.

On Saturday, before the players take the ice in real life for the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs, EA Sports released its annual postseason simulation, picking the Maple Leafs to earn the coveted championship this season.

In the simulation, Toronto beats the Colorado Avalanche in the Final in Game 7 to become the first Canadian team to win the Cup since 1993.

On the way to the Final, the Maple Leafs won the Battle of Ontario against the Ottawa Senators in the First Round, then took down the Florida Panthers in the Second Round and the Montreal Canadiens in the Eastern Conference Final.

On the other side of the bracket, the Avalanche took down the Dallas Stars in the First Round, Winnipeg Jets in the Second Round, then the Vegas Golden Knights in the Western Conference Final before losing to the Maple Leafs in the Stanley Cup Final.

It may be just a simulation, but EA Sports did correctly pick the winner of the 4 Nations Face-Off, down to predicting Connor McDavid to score the overtime game-winner in the final.

The real Stanley Cup Playoffs begin Saturday with Game 1 between the Winnipeg Jets and the St. Louis Blues (6 p.m. ET; CBC, TVAS, SN, TNT, truTV, MAX, FDSNMW).