Former NCAA DI hockey players in the 2025 Stanley Cup Final

The 2025 Stanley Cup Final is here, and the defending champion Florida Panthers will again face the Edmonton Oilers in a rematch of 2024. This year features some new faces on both sides, including some former NCAA DI ice hockey players. Let’s take a look at the collegiate careers of the former college hockey players appearing in the 2025 Stanley Cup Final:

Florida Panthers

Evan Rodrigues (Boston University: 2011-2015)

Evan Rodrigues played at Boston University for four seasons, tallying 121 points in 146 games as a forward. He was named a Hockey East Second-Team All-Star twice in college, and he finished second in the nation with 61 points his senior year behind teammate and Hobey Baker winner Jack Eichel. Rodrigues and the Terriers lost to Providence in the 2015 Frozen Four championship. Rodrigues later signed with the Buffalo Sabres in 2015 and debuted in 2016. Since then, he has spent time with the Pittsburgh Penguins and Colorado Avalanche before joining the Panthers and winning a Stanley Cup in 2023-24.

Nate Schmidt (Minnesota: 2010-2013)

Nate Schmidt played three seasons with the Minnesota Golden Gophers, recording 74 points in 96 career games as a defenseman. He was named to the All-WCHA Second Team in 2011-12, and the All-WCHA First Team in 2012-13 as a junior. That year, he finished third among all NCAA defensemen with 31 points (8G, 23A) and was a +16 on the season. Schmidt signed with the Washington Capitals in 2013-14 as an undrafted player. The Vegas Golden Knights later selected him in the 2017 NHL Expansion Draft and was part of the first NHL expansion team to advance to the Stanley Cup Final in its first season. Schmidt joined the Panthers for the 2024-25 season after spending the last four seasons with the Vancouver Canucks and the Winnipeg Jets.

Here’s the list of every former NCAA hockey player on the Florida Panthers’ roster for the 2025 Stanley Cup Final:

Edmonton Oilers

Jake Walman (Providence: 2014-2017)

Jake Walman played three seasons at Providence College, tallying 69 points in 107 games as a defenseman. As a sophomore and a junior, Walman was named to the Hockey East First All-Star team and was a Hobey Baker nominee in 2016-17. In 2015, Walman helped Providence win its first NCAA title in program history, beating Evan Rodrigues and Boston University in the 2015 Frozen Four championship game. Walman joined the St. Louis Blues at the end of his junior season, and has spent time with St. Louis, Detroit and San Jose before being traded to the Edmonton Oilers before the 2025 NHL trade deadline.

Trent Frederic (Wisconsin: 2016-2018)

Trent Frederic played two seasons at Wisconsin, scoring 65 points in 66 games as a forward. In 2017, he took home Big Ten Freshman of the Year, All-Big Ten Freshman Team and All-Big Ten Second Team honors. He also won the Spike Carlson — Chris Chelios Award as the Badgers’ MVP that season. As a sophomore, he was an All-Big Ten honorable mention. Frederic joined the Boston Bruins after his sophomore season and spent 10 seasons in the Bruins organization before being traded to the Edmonton Oilers before the 2025 NHL trade deadline.

Here’s the list of every former NCAA hockey player on the Edmonton Oilers’ roster for the 2025 Stanley Cup Final:

*Zach Hyman suffered a season-ending injury in Game 4 of the Western Conference finals and will miss the Stanley Cup Final.