Repeat Stanley Cup champions are uncommon within the NHL. Within the final 30 years, solely three groups have achieved the feat: the 1997-98 Pink Wings, the 2016-17 Penguins and the 2020-21 Lightning. Now, the Florida Panthers will look to do exactly that after hoisting Lord Stanley’s Cup final June.
Will they have the ability to repeat? They actually look poised to have an excellent probability. After 30 video games, the Panthers sit seventh within the league with 38 factors, 18 wins and a .633 win proportion.
Let’s look at why Florida could or could not repeat as Stanley Cup champions.
Retaining the core
After the Panthers’ season ended, a number of key gamers entered free company, the most important being 50-goal scorer Sam Reinhart.
Many speculated that Reinhart could be seeking to land an enormous deal; Florida ended up re-signing him to a team-friendly eight-year, $69 million deal ($8,625,000 AAV). Reinhart at present leads the Panthers with 19 objectives and 39 factors in 30 video games.
Along with Reinhart, the Panthers signed restricted free agent and two-way heart Anton Lundell to a six-year, $30 million deal ($5,000,000 AAV). After seeing some elevated ice time, the 23-year-old had 17 factors in 24 postseason video games and 19 factors in 29 video games this season.
Lastly, Florida secured top-six winger Carter Verhaeghe, who was set to turn out to be an unrestricted free agent in 2025, signing him to an eight-year, $56 million deal ($7,000,000) AAV).
The 29-year-old Verhaeghe has 23 factors in 30 video games and is second on the group with 11 power-play factors.
Particular groups’ prowess
Each of the Panthers’ special teams have been wonderful this season. Their energy play ranks seventh general at 26.8 %, whereas their penalty kill is twelfth at 80.9 %. Their mixed particular groups proportion, 107.7, is fifth general within the league.
Moreover, Florida’s anticipated objectives for 5v4 are second in the league at 21.15 for the season. The Panthers are wonderful at scoring short-handed, leading the league with six short-handed objectives.
Particular groups may be key come playoff time; the 2 Stanley Cup finalists have been ranked first and second in penalty kill for the playoffs (Edmonton at 94.3% and Florida at 88.0%). If the Panthers can sustain their numbers, they need to be a favourite come playoff time.
Goaltending struggles
Though Panthers skaters have performed effectively, the group’s goaltending has been a difficulty this season.
Beginning goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky, who was an enormous purpose Florida received the Stanley Cup final June, has struggled. His .892 save proportion is 36th among qualified goaltenders and effectively beneath his career common of .914.
The 36-year-old’s goals saved above average can be poor, at seventieth general for goaltenders with a -4.9 quantity.
His accomplice in internet, the 23-year-old Spencer Knight, hasn’t fared significantly better, with only a .890 save proportion in 11 video games. If Florida desires to repeat as champions, they will want significantly better leads to internet.
Florida is at present tied for the second-highest odds to win the Stanley Cup at +1000, in accordance with FanDuel. If Bobrovsky can discover his groove once more, they will have an excellent probability to repeat as Stanley Cup champions in 2025.
