The 2025 Stanley Cup final isn’t merely significant because of what’s on the line. The matchup also serves as the crown jewel of various network’s hockey coverage, a mystifying two-week odyssey in which players become supernovas, coaches become scapegoats, and a city places all its hopes on the shoulders of a few toothless men.
This year’s matchup sees the Oilers take on the Panthers. If it seems familiar, that’s because it is: Edmonton and Florida faced off this time last year, too.
The joust, which will see luminaries Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, Evan Bouchard, Matthew Tkachuk, Aleksander Barkov, and Sam Reinhart clash beneath the gleaming star-shine, will air on a number of channels across the US and Canada. Few have the might of Sportsnet, a Canadian broadcaster with an interesting taste in hijinks.
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Sportsnet came into sharp focus on Wednesday as a slew of social media users rebuked the network for its curious use of AI during a brief skit.
Here’s what you need to know.
MORE: List of back-to-back Stanley Cup champions | List of Stanley Cup Final rematches
Sportsnet Stanley Cup baby video, explained
The Rogers-owned channel employed a unique approach to its Game 1 coverage, using AI to modify its panelists’ appearances. Ron MacLean, Kelly Hrudey, Elliotte Friedman, and Kevin Bieksa were morphed into babies — a seemingly harmless bit, right?
Oh Baby, the #StanleyCup Final sequel is here! 👶🏆
The Sportsnet panel gives us their tiny keys ahead of Game 1.
📺 Panthers vs. Oilers TONIGHT at 7:30pm ET / 5:30pm MT on Sportsnet | Visual by @JunkBoxAi pic.twitter.com/aQ2MWVx2wt
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) June 4, 2025
Well, not exactly. AI remains a contentious topic, with its recent proliferation bringing forth a number of ecological and labor-related consequences. AI consumes copious amounts of water, opening the door for further environmental damage to come forth. It also was at the heart of the SAG-AFTRA strikes that took place in 2023 and continues to roll on in the video game industry.
Suffice to say, AI remains a deeply unpopular entity among masses of the world for a variety of reasons, with some simply finding it unoriginal and boring. Sportsnet’s use of the tool seemed an endorsement of all the things wrong with it to many watching along from their living rooms. They weren’t very pleased with that decision.
MORE: How Panthers built championship roster
Hockey fans, media pundits, and more took to social media to express their dissatisfaction with Sportsnet’s move. Here are the most stirring remarks:
Just stop with this crap
— Keith Olbermann (@KeithOlbermann) June 4, 2025
Oh my.
— Kukla’s Korner (@kuklaskorner) June 4, 2025
This stuff is just so stupid. I’m so sick and tired of everybody thinking let’s take all the trends and use them. Just because it’s a trend doesn’t mean that you need to use it. Create your own trend instead. And stop using AI for this kind of stuff. Post real content. 🙄🤦♀️
— The Diary Of A Social Gal (Stephanie Dolce) (@AxTheEx) June 4, 2025
Jesus Christ
— Duke Coxwell (@JohnFloyd1967) June 4, 2025
this is extremely weird
— Zach (@mcsaucey__) June 4, 2025
AI SLOP 🍅🍅🍅🍅🍅
— kristi (@kristi_lala) June 4, 2025
Ewww not the ai
— x-Sage ⁸ ⁷¹ ⁹⁸ | CALE4NORRIS 🦭 (@m4cktism) June 4, 2025
AI slop
— -_- (@Marner2Mars) June 4, 2025
Oh ai gross
— Silver the exposer (@SilverExposer) June 4, 2025
I just unfollowed
— Andrew🌴XIV (@PastaGut) June 4, 2025
Perhaps Sportsnet will think twice before imposing such a frightening sight on its loyal viewers. They didn’t seem to take too kindly to the program’s gesture this time around.
