Cup final defeat to the Vegas Golden Knights to lift the trophy last season was nothing short of incredible, if they manage to follow that up with another triumph it will be even more spectacular.
Back-to-back Stanley Cups would definitely be a noteworthy achievement and was last accomplished by the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2020 and 2021. But no team has come off the back of a Stanley Cup final defeat to win twice in a row.
Panthers fans won’t be surprised to find themselves near the top of the betting at around 10/1, with only last season’s beaten finalists the Edmonton Oilers ahead of them.
Following several betting updates for Florida over the last few years, sports fans now have the state-regulated Hard Rock Betting app for online wagering.
Sports betting expert Victor Arum also recommends a variety of offshore betting operators that can provide good competition for consumers.
It will be a long, hard season, but Head Coach Paul Maurice will be hopeful of carrying on the momentum the team has built over the past two seasons.
The Projections
As we approach the start of another season, bookmakers see this as being another tight run contest. As well as last season’s finalists, the Dallas Stars, New Jersey Devils, and Colorado Avalanche are also close rivals.
Early projections predict that the Panthers will get 105 points this season, with a 92% chance of making the playoffs, and a 9% chance of winning the Stanley Cup again.
The Roster
You don’t get to the Stanley Cup final one year and win it the next without good management, and General Manager Bill Zito and his coaching staff have done a great job of transforming players who may have been on the periphery into major contributors.
Brandon Montour, Gustav Forsling, Nikko Mikkola, Dmitry Kulikov, and Oliver Ekman-Larsson are all examples of players who have reached their potential for the Panthers.
The acquisition of 24-year-old Adam Boqvist might not scream signing of the season, but he is a player of undoubted talent and potential whose skillset will complement an elite team.
The Return of Knight
While hockey, and all competitive sports, are results-driven, it is always good to see the return of a player who has faced off-the-field issues. Spencer Knight took time away from the game to get help with his obsessive-compulsive disorder.
Having last played in the NHL in February 2023, Knight has been getting back up to speed with the Charlotte Checkers in the AHL.
The 23-year-old goal-tender is set to feature as backup to Bobrovsky after posting a .935 save percentage over the last 10 regular season games and .925 in the playoffs.
Panthers’ Strengths and Weaknesses
It is always a challenge for a team to remain as competitive as the Florida Panthers have for so long, but they go into the season with a strong defensive core and dynamic offense.
29-year-old Finnish center Aleksander Barkov will be key for the Panthers following a great season last year. Previous criticism about playoff performances was put behind him as he was crowned MVP for his team.
Sam Reinhart is another who had a great season with 57 goals and 37 assists. Even if there is a regression in these numbers, he is still likely to contribute.
The top line will likely see Carter Verhaeghe join Barkow and Reinhart in one of the league’s most competitive.
Tkachuk, Rodrigues, and Bennett are likely to complete the top six, but the team’s strength and depth are some of its key strengths that will be essential to any success.
While experience counts for a lot, at 36 Sergei Bobrovsky could have seen his best days already passed. His .915 save percentage will have been helped by a solid defensive line in front of him, but it did drop to .899 during the final.
His form over the last five seasons hasn’t been the most stable, but if he can replicate last year the team will be in with a good chance.
The loss of Brandon Montour will give Boqvist an opportunity to grow into his potential, but it could still cause issues.
The team is not quite as strong as last season with a more inexperienced second string, but they have proven time and again that they are capable of transforming decent players into top performers, they will be hopeful of achieving that again this year.
Will the Panthers Lift the Stanley Cup This Year?
Bookmakers and hockey pundits are in agreement that the Florida Panthers have a good chance of creating history this season.
Teams inevitably change and maintaining an elite squad is challenging. Knowing when to let players go and who to bring in while working with a salary cap is no easy task, but the Panthers have made a good go of it.
If Boqvist and Schmidt reach their potential, the Panthers will have an excellent opportunity. One thing the team has going for it is their history of being able to transform low-key signings.
If they can find the magic formula again this season and have everyone firing, there is no reason that the Panthers won’t retain their title.
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