FL Panthers Repeat Stanley Cup Win But Not Favored to Threepeat
Matt Dominique | June 18, 2025
The Panthers were able to secure their back-to-back Stanley Cup last night when they handled the Edmonton Oilers pretty easily. They won the series 4 games to 2 and never really sweated the outcome. But they are not favored to win it all in 2026. How can that be?
Well, it’s a repeat of exactly what happened last year. The Panthers pulled off the championship win in game 7 against these same Oilers and were not the overall favorites to win it this year. Way back at the start of the season, it was the Oilers who were favored to win it all at +800. The Panthers were in second place at +1000.
It’s DeJa’Vu all over again as the Oilers are sportsbook odds on favorites to win it all next year. Can you guess who is #2? That’s right, the Panthers. However, they are just ever-so-slightly behind the Oilers. See below:
| 2025-2026 NHL Stanley Cup | Moneyline |
|---|---|
| Edmonton Oilers | +700 |
| Florida Panthers | +750 |
| Carolina Panthers | +850 |
| Dallas Stars | +900 |
| Colorado Avalanche | +850 |
| Vegas Golden Knights | +1200 |
| Tampa Bay Lightning | +1600 |
| Los Angeles Kings | +2000 |
| Toronto Maple Leafs | +2000 |
| Winnipeg Jets | +2000 |
| New Jersey Devils | +2000 |
| Washington Capitals | +2500 |
| New York Rangers | +2800 |
| Minnesota Wild | +3300 |
| Ottawa Senators | +3300 |
| Utah Mammoth | +4000 |
| St. Louis Blues | +5000 |
| Vancouver Canucks | +5000 |
| New York Islanders | +6000 |
| Detroit Red Wings | +8000 |
| Philadelphia Flyers | +8000 |
| Nashville Predators | +8000 |
| Montreal Canadiens | +8000 |
| Columbus Blue Jackets | +8000 |
| Calgary Flames | +10000 |
| Boston Bruins | +10000 |
| Buffalo Sabres | +10000 |
| Seattle Kraken | +15000 |
| Pittsburgh Penguins | +15000 |
| Anaheim Ducks | +15000 |
| Chicago Blackhawks | +50000 |
| San Jose Sharks | +50000 |
Player Exits
Of course, a lot of factors play into this. Here is a summary of expected player exits which may cause the Panthers to fall short of a three-peat:
Based on available information, several Florida Panthers players are expected to potentially leave after the 2024-25 season due to their status as unrestricted free agents (UFAs). These players include:
- Sam Bennett (F): A key forward with a $4.425M cap hit, Bennett is a significant decision for the Panthers. His role as a top-six forward and playoff contributor makes him a prime candidate for a high-value contract elsewhere if Florida cannot retain him.
- Aaron Ekblad (D): A longtime Panthers defenseman with a $7.5M cap hit, Ekblad is likely to be one of the top defensemen in free agency. His departure is speculated due to potential high offers from other teams and his recent 20-game suspension for violating the NHL’s Performance Enhancing Substances Program.
- Brad Marchand (F): Recently acquired from the Boston Bruins, Marchand is a UFA and could leave if the Panthers prioritize other signings. His veteran presence is valuable, but his age (37) and contract demands may lead to his departure.
- Tomas Nosek (F): A depth forward with a $775K cap hit, Nosek’s role as a bottom-six player makes him replaceable, and he may seek opportunities elsewhere.
- Nate Schmidt (D): A depth defenseman with an $800K cap hit, Schmidt is set to hit free agency and could be outbid by teams looking for a reliable third-pairing option.
- Vitek Vanecek (G): The backup goaltender with limited playing time this season, Vanecek’s $3.4M cap hit and lack of postseason appearances make him a candidate to leave as the Panthers may seek a more reliable backup for Sergei Bobrovsky.
- Nico Sturm (F): Another depth forward, Sturm’s role is minor, and his UFA status makes him a likely candidate to depart.
- Jaycob Megna (D): A bottom-pairing defenseman, Megna’s $775K cap hit and limited role suggest he could be replaced or move to another team.
The Panthers’ salary cap constraints, with a current cap hit of $87,250,999 against an $88M ceiling, will make it challenging to retain all these players, especially high-value ones like Bennett and Ekblad. General Manager Bill Zito will need to prioritize core players like Aleksander Barkov, Matthew Tkachuk, and Sam Reinhart, who are locked in long-term, while navigating potential departures. Posts on X also suggest sentiment around Ekblad possibly leaving due to cap pressures.
