Repeat Stanley Cup champions are uncommon within the NHL. Within the final 30 years, solely three groups have achieved the feat: the 1997-98 Purple 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 be capable to repeat? They definitely look poised to have a great likelihood. After 30 video games, the Panthers sit seventh within the league with 38 factors, 18 wins and a .633 win share.
Let’s study why Florida might or might 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 can 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 develop into 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 workforce with 11 power-play factors.
Particular groups’ prowess
Each of the Panthers’ particular groups have been glorious this season. Their energy play ranks seventh general at 26.8 p.c, whereas their penalty kill is twelfth at 80.9 p.c. Their mixed particular groups share, 107.7, is fifth general within the league.
Moreover, Florida’s anticipated objectives for 5v4 are second within the league at 21.15 for the season. The Panthers are glorious at scoring short-handed, main the league with six short-handed objectives.
Particular groups might 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 nicely, the workforce’s goaltending has been a problem this season.
Beginning goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky, who was an enormous motive Florida gained the Stanley Cup final June, has struggled. His .892 save share is thirty sixth amongst certified goaltenders and nicely beneath his profession common of .914.
The 36-year-old’s objectives saved above common can also 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 share in 11 video games. If Florida desires to repeat as champions, they will want significantly better ends in 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 a great likelihood to repeat as Stanley Cup champions in 2025.
