“It’s an unbelievable accomplishment,” the NBA legend LeBron James wasn’t late to the party when Alex Ovechkin surpassed Wayne Gretzky‘s incredible 894 career goal record. And yet, the admiration and mutual respect didn’t stop the fans from comparing the basketball icon with the Washington Capitals captain. And now, with the 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs on the roll, Charles Barkley has entered the conversation, and, this time, it’s the NHL fans who have something to say about it.

The retired 76ers star hung up his professional shoes a long, long time ago. However, the thrill of sports kept Barkley coming back, in roles other than being the basketball power forward that fans knew him as. With the hockey postseason in full swing, Charles again had predictions to drop, and fans aren’t sold on his thought process. However, Chuck’s take on the playoffs comes at a heated moment. Just days ago, the debate between P.K. Subban, Stephen A. Smith, and Shannon Sharpe on the “durability” of James and Ovechkin attracted considerable flak from the NBA folks. Now, with Barkley’s commentary, it’s the NHL clan who is on the offensive.

In an X post by B/R Open Ice from April 19, Barkley could be heard revealing his picks for the first round playoffs and all the way to this year’s possible Stanley Cup Finals. “Chuck’s Stanley Cup Playoff bracket is a GUAR-AN-TEED lock,” reads the caption of the post, as Chuck goes on to make several predictions based on his personal analyses of the performances of the teams that have made it beyond the regular season.

From siding with the Maple Leafs over the Senators in the Battle of Ontario, and deciding to stick with the Jets rather than rooting for St. Louis, to pledging his faith on the Bolts instead of the Panthers for the Battle of Florida, and claiming that the Capitals would subdue the Canadiens in the first round, Charles Barkley had some excellent rationale for every move. Chuck also predicts an all-Canadian final for this year’s Stanley Cup championship game, as he pits the Oilers against the Maple Leafs for the finals, and ultimately claims that Edmonton would go on to win its sixth Cup.

However, despite the predictions coming from a veteran sportsman like Charles Barkley, NHL fans weren’t ready to accept them. Instead, they insisted that the hockey waters should remain uncharted territories for the former basketball star. “You should probably stick to NBA,” one fan stated flatly. From the look of things, it seems like the hockey community still isn’t ready to bury its hatchet with the basketball clan for its targeted potshots at Ovie. Others, too, were genuinely not following the former NBA star’s line of thought.

NHL fans aren’t ready to take Charles Barkley’s word for the Stanley Cup

The Toronto Maple Leafs finished the regular season with a boastful 52-26-4 record and 108 points. The side also clinched the Atlantic Division, while the Oilers qualified for the playoffs after finishing in third place in the Pacific Division (48-29-5, 101 points). Right off the bat, it’s easy to see that the Leafs have better momentum than the Western Conference powerhouse. However, while Edmonton captain Connor McDavid has assured fans that injuries won’t plague the camp in the playoffs, fans aren’t on board with Charles Barkley’s prediction that the Oilers would run away with the match should they face Toronto in the finals. “No way Leafs lose to Oilers in a final,” said one fan, with confidence.

“Chuck don’t know puck,” sneered yet another hockey fan. “This has to be a joke,” piped another, who, like many others, was stunned by the fact that Charles went with an all-Canadian match-up for this year’s championship game, especially considering how the Oilers have barely limped to the playoffs. In the comment section of B/R Open Ice’s X post, many fans also noted their doubts about whether Edmonton will be able to move beyond the first round, where, many posited, they would fall to the LA Kings.

Moreover, Panthers fans have been adamant that their stars will defend the Cup with gusto. With additions like ex-Bruins captain Brad Marchand to the roster, the Miami team could be a formidable opponent. And yet, Chuck went with picking the Cats’ arch-nemesis, the Tampa Bay Lightning, to proceed to the second round. Naturally, Panthers fans were ticked off. “Lightning??? Chuck does NOT know puck,” one Cats loyalist bellowed in disdain. How about you? What do you make of Charles Barkley’s expert take on the 2024-25 Stanley Cup playoffs? Tell us your thoughts in a comment!