In a thrilling showdown at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, Florida, the Florida Panthers celebrated their second consecutive Stanley Cup victory on Tuesday evening. Before the final horn sounded on Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final, the arena erupted in excitement as a flurry of gloves, sticks, and even plastic rats filled the air. The Panthers decisively defeated the Edmonton Oilers with a score of 5-1, marking a remarkable achievement in their franchise history.
Forward Sam Bennett played a pivotal role in the Panthers' success, leading the Stanley Cup Playoffs with an impressive 15 goals. His outstanding performance earned him the prestigious Conn Smythe Trophy as the most valuable player of the playoffs. "It’s harder than I ever imagined to win the Stanley Cup once, and twice was even harder," Bennett remarked. "I’m not going to take it for granted. I love being here, and I love this team. It’s a remarkable team to be a part of."
With this victory, the Florida Panthers have solidified their status as one of the elite teams in the salary cap era, which began in the 2005-06 season. They now stand alongside powerhouses like the Tampa Bay Lightning, who won back-to-back championships in 2020 and 2021, and the Los Angeles Kings, who clinched the title twice in three years (2012 and 2014). The big question now is whether the Panthers can establish themselves as a dynasty by winning the Stanley Cup for a third consecutive year—an accomplishment yet to be achieved in the salary cap era.
The Panthers are well-positioned for continued success, despite four key players potentially becoming unrestricted free agents on July 1: Bennett, forward Brad Marchand, and defensemen Aaron Ekblad and Nate Schmidt. Goalie Sergei Bobrovsky is signed through next season, while a solid core of players is locked in for the long term, including forwards Aleksander Barkov (five more seasons), Anton Lundell (five), Sam Reinhart (seven), Matthew Tkachuk (five), and Carter Verhaeghe (eight), along with defensemen Gustav Forsling (seven) and Seth Jones (five).
General Manager Bill Zito, a finalist for the GM of the Year Award, has deftly managed the team's roster, while head coach Paul Maurice and the players have cultivated a welcoming, winning culture. After last season's championship, the Panthers let go of several key players, including forwards Kevin Stenlund and Vladimir Tarasenko and defensemen Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Brandon Montour. However, they bolstered their lineup with acquisitions like Schmidt, forwards A.J. Greer and Tomas Nosek, and key trades before the NHL Trade Deadline.
As they celebrated their victory, the Panthers displayed a strong sense of unity and leadership. Captain Barkov received the Cup from NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, who then passed it to players who had not yet won it, beginning with Schmidt. Owner Vincent Viola highlighted the team's culture, stating, "They’re servant leaders. They always put other people before themselves. You can see it on the ice; it’s really very special."
Looking ahead to the next season, a significant concern for the Panthers will be the wear and tear on players after their third consecutive trip to the Stanley Cup Final. Over the past three seasons, the team has played a combined total of 313 games, excluding the 4 Nations Face-Off. Florida had eight players participate in this best-on-best tournament featuring Canada, Finland, Sweden, and the United States, and already has five players named to the rosters for the upcoming Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026.
The Panthers have shown remarkable resilience throughout the season, overcoming challenges such as injuries. Tkachuk, for example, sustained a lower-body injury during the 4 Nations Face-Off but returned to make a significant impact during the playoffs. He finished the postseason with 23 points (eight goals, 15 assists), tying with Verhaeghe (seven goals, 16 assists) and Reinhart (11 goals, 12 assists) for the team lead.
The Florida Panthers have proven themselves to be a well-balanced and deep team, scoring 94 goals in the playoffs—tying for fourth in NHL history. Their top five scorers were within one point of each other, and they had six players with at least 20 points, matching an NHL record. With a strong defensive unit led by Barkov, who won the Selke Trophy as the NHL’s best defensive forward, the Panthers have showcased their physicality and exceptional team defense.
As Tkachuk reflected on their incredible journey on the ice, he emphasized the uniqueness of their team culture: "You just look to your left and your right here. You look in the mirror. You know that you’ve got to work your rear off, because the guy next to you is doing the exact same thing. Our culture here is special. There’s no other team like it." The Panthers' back-to-back championships are a testament to their dedication and hard work, solidifying their place in NHL history.
