Are the Florida Panthers the Team to Beat This Season?

The Stanley Cup traveled around Florida this weekend as we take a look at that and more in NHL News.

Jun 24, 2024; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Florida Panthers left wing Matthew Tkachuk (19), center Aleksander Barkov (16) and teammates celebrate with the cup after winning game seven of the 2024 Stanley Cup Final against the Edmonton Oilers at Amerant Bank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports

The Florida Panthers Have A Chance to Repeat

The Florida Panthers are the defending Stanley Cup Champions after defeating the Edmonton Oilers in Game 7 of the 2024 Stanley Cup Final.

General manager Bill Zito had to make some roster changes during the off-season as the salary cap forced him to keep certain players over others. Even though Sam Reinhart was re-signed, the Panthers lost Brandon Montour and Oliver Ekman-Larsson, two stud defensemen, during free agency.

Not to mention the depth players they lost when free agency also opened. However, the Panthers’ core remains intact with Matthew Tkachuk, Aleksander Barkov, Sam Bennett, Carter Verhaeghe, Anton Lundell, Gustav Forsling, and Reinhart. In addition, Sergei Bobrovsky is still manning the cage, so the Panthers have a chance in every game they play.

NHL Rumors: Boston Bruins RFA Jeremy Swayman Still Needs a New Contract

And with head coach Paul Maurice still implementing the same system, there is no reason why the Panthers cannot take another run at the Stanley Cup. And as the old saying goes, the champs are the champs until somebody beats them. However, it will not be easy.

NHL Network: Last week on NHL Network, Tony Luftman and Bruce Boudreau discussed the two divisions in the Eastern Conference. They moved to the Atlantic Division, and Boudreau was asked which team has the best offseason and is the best team right now in the division. He said the Florida Panthers.

** NHLRumors.com Transcriptions

Tony Luftman: Last year is behind us. The best team in this division in the off-season right now is?

Bruce Boudreau: ” Well, I mean, you got to go Florida, the champs. You have to have to go with them until they’re dethroned, they are the best team, right? And I mean, not only dethroned, but they’ve been to the Cup final two years in a row, and so, I mean, when you’ve been to the Cup and you can keep most of your core back, then I think you’re pretty well set until you knock me off the perch, I’m the one to beat. And that’s what Florida is. They’re the best team until somebody says they’re not.”

Florida’s in-state rival, the Tampa Bay Lightning, made three straight Stanley Cup Final appearances, so it can be done. Florida has the team to do it, but again, it will be tough. The Florida Panthers will have stiff competition from the Atlantic and Metro Divisions.

Did the Montreal Canadiens Need To More This Offseason?

But there is a new king in town who runs things in Florida. It is the Panthers, and we have seen Florida become the new hockey state.

Exit mobile version