The 2025 Stanley Cup Final between the Florida Panthers and Edmonton Oilers has been one of the most dramatic in recent memory. Three of the first five games saw at least one overtime, and the panthers maintain a 3-2 advantage as the series heads back to Sunrise, Fla. Tuesday.

When the post-season began, the ECHL had 41 former players and 22 coaches represented on 15 of the 16 playoff teams’ rosters. This marked the 20th year in a row that there have been at least 30 former ECHL players competing in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Now that the race for the Cup is down to two teams, five players and three coaches who once called the ECHL home remain. Let’s take a look at their time in the league and how they’re contributing to their current teams.

Players

Carter Verhaeghe: Center/Left Winger, Florida panthers

Verhaeghe has been a major contributor in the Panthers’ quest to repeat as Stanley Cup champions.

Through 22 playoff games, the 29-year-old has 20 points (7-13-20) and a +8 plus/minus rating.

Verhaeghe played in 81 of the Panthers’ games during the regular season, recording 53 points (20-33-53).

The Waterdown, Ont. native spent two seasons in the ECHL with the Missouri (now Kansas City) Mavericks from 2015-17, posting 57 points (20-37-57) in 36 games.

Vitek Vanecek: Goaltender, Florida Panthers

The 29-year-old Czechia native has not seen action this post-season backing up Sergei Bobrovsky.

In 18 games with the San Jose Sharks this season, Vanecek posted a 3-10-3 record with a 3.88 goals-against average and .882 save percentage.

After being traded to the Panthers, Vanecek appeared in seven games, going 2-4-1 with a 3.00 GAA and .890 SP.

Vanecek played two seasons in the ECHL with the South Carolina Stingrays (2017-18). He went 19-8-6 in 34 games with a 2.02 GAA and .918 SP.

Stuart Skinner: Goaltender, Edmonton Oilers

Skinner has had his share of highs and lows with the Oilers, having been pulled numerous times over the last two post-season in between sparkling performances.

This post-season, the 26-year-old Edmonton native has a 7-6 record with a 2.99 GAA and .891 SP. During the regular season, he went 26-18-4 with a 2.81 GAA and .896 SP.

In two ECHL seasons with the Wichita Thunder (2018-20), Skinner posted a 17-15-7 mark with a 3.19 GAA and .903 SP.

Brett Kulak: Defenseman, Edmonton Oilers

Like Skinner, the 31-year-old left-shot blueliner is an Edmonton native. Coming into Tuesday’s Game 6, he has totaled five points (1-4-5) in 21 games during the playoffs. He played in all 82 of the Oilers’ games in the regular season and put up 25 points (7-18-25).

Kulak spent one season with the Colorado Eagles (2014-15) when they were a member of the ECHL. Over 39 games, he recorded 30 points (9-21-30).

Josh Brown: Defenseman, Edmonton Oilers

The 31-year-old London, Ont. native has appeared in just one playoff game for the Oilers this post-season with no points. He tallied an assist in 10 regular-season contests.

Brown played one season in the ECHL with the Manchester Monarchs during the 2015-16 season, scoring 12 points in 54 contests.

Coaches

Jamie Kompon: Assistant Coach, Florida Panthers

Kompon joined Paul Maurice’s staff prior to the 2022-23 season. A graduate of McGill University, Kompon spent two ECHL seasons (1989-91) as a player with Cincinnati, Hampton Roads and Winston-Salem. He tallied 17 points (4-13-17) in 59 games as a defenseman.

Robb Tallas: Goaltending Coach, Florida panthers

Tallas has served as goaltending coach of the Panthers since the 2009-10 season, coaching several elite netminders including Bobrovsky, Roberto Luongo, Tomas Vokoun and Jose Theodore.

Tallas played with the Charlotte Checkers during the 1994-95 season when they were in the ECHL. He recorded a 21-9-3 record as a goalie with a 3.40 GAA and .882 SP.

Glen Gulutzan: Assistant Coach, Edmonton Oilers

Gulutzan came aboard the Edmonton coaching staff prior to the 2018-19 season. The former Calgary Flames head coach was in the ECHL from 2003-09, where he served as head coach and general manager for the Las Vegas Wranglers.

Jun 14, 2025; Edmonton, Alberta, CAN; Florida Panthers forward Carter Verhaeghe (23) reaches for the puck in front of Edmonton Oilers goaltender Calvin Pickard (30) during the second period in game five of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final at Rogers Place. Photo Credit: Perry Nelson-Imagn Images