Panthers
A preview of the 2025-26 NHL season for the Florida Panthers, including predictions from VSiN NHL Expert Jonathan Davis. For all other NHL team previews, check out our NHL page.
Key Additions: Jeff Petry, Daniil Tarasov
Key Departures: Nate Schmidt, Vitek Vanecek
Overview
Maybe the Panthers didn’t sleep through the 2024-25 regular season, but they were on cruise control, saving their best for the postseason and becoming back-to-back Stanley Cup Champions.
From the start of training camp, it’s all about preparing for the playoffs. There’s a story that goes back to last year’s preseason when Nate Schmidt came back to the bench during a preseason game and was told by a teammate, “we don’t make plays like that with this team.” The message was clear. The players police themselves. GM Bill Zito has put Florida in position to three-peat re-signing free agents Sam Bennett, Brad Marchand and Aaron Ekblad.
Offense
Florida was 15th in goals scored last season, but in typical Florida fashion, they raised the level of their game in the playoffs. The Cats went from an average of three goals a game to just over four goals a game in the postseason. Sam Reinhart led Florida during the regular season in goals (39) and points (81), as well as power play (13) and shorthanded goals (5). Reinhart’s goal totals did take a dip from a season prior when he scored 57 overall, 27 coming with the man advantage. Florida had 30 fewer power play opportunities last season than in 2023-24, which could explain the drop in Reinhart’s numbers.
Matthew Tkachuk, who played through various injuries including a torn adductor, will miss the start of the upcoming season and could miss up to three months. The prevailing thought is that Tkachuk will make sure he is physically ready to represent Team USA at the Olympics in February.
Defense
The Panthers gave up the seventh-fewest goals last season despite giving up 25 more goals than the season prior. Outside of Jeff Petry replacing Nate Schmidt, the Panthers bring back the same group that helped them win their second consecutive Stanley Cup. Ekblad and Gustav Forsling make up the top pair and, while Ekblad’s offense may have dipped a little, he still puts up decent numbers and Forsling has been one of the best shutdown defensemen in the league.
Seth Jones is a great fit on the second pair alongside Nikko Mikkola. Jones led all Florida defensemen in average time on ice during the playoffs and his four post season goals had him tied with Ekblad. Mikkola’s 137 hits led all Panthers defensemen in 2025-26.
Goaltending
Sergei Bobrovsky will turn 37 and is in the final year of his eight-year deal when the 2025-26 season starts. He has started all 47 playoff games over the past two seasons, only getting the hook once over that stretch. Florida acquired Daniil Tarasov from the Blue Jackets to take over the backup role after not re-signing Vitek Vanecek.
Player to Watch
Keep an eye on Anton Lundell. The Panthers third-line center has increased his goal and point totals in each of the past two seasons, going from 12 goals and 33 points in the 2022-23 season to 17 goals and 45 points. No reason why he can’t reach the 20-goal plateau for the first time in his NHL career.
Outlook
The Panthers have brought the band back for the opportunity to “3-peat”. Florida’s Over/Under point total opened at 106.5 and has been bet down to 105.5, which is also in line with their odds of winning the division going from +140 to +165. I will make a small play on their point total to go Under.
Team Futures
Regular Season Points: 105.5
To Make the Playoffs: -1400
To Miss the Playoffs: +750
To Win the Atlantic Division: +165
To Win the Eastern Conference: +310
To Win the Stanley Cup: +600
2024-25 Recap
Record: 47-31-4, 98 points (3rd Atlantic)
Over/Under: 37-44-1
Home Favorite: 25-13 // Home Dog: 1-1
Road Favorite: 15-11 // Road Dog: 5-7
Win Score 4 or more: 33 of 47 // Lose Give Up 4 or more: 21 of 35
Puck Line Wins: 30 of 47 // Puck Line Losses: 25 of 35
Front End Back-to-Back: 7-7 // Back End Back-to-Back: 8-6
Points Leader: Sam Reinhart – 81
Goal Leader: Sam Reinhart – 39
Assist Leader: Aleksander Barkov – 51
Shots on Goal Leaders: Carter Verhaeghe – 242, Sam Bennett – 241
Blocked Shots Leaders: Gustav Forsling – 89, Niko Mikkola – 88
Depth Chart
Forwards
Carter Verhaeghe / Aleksander Barkov / Sam Reinhart
Evan Rodrigues / Sam Bennett / Matthew Tkachuk
Eetu Luostarinen / Anton Lundell / Brad Marchand
Jesper Boqvist / Tomas Nosek / Mackie Samoskevich
Defense
Gustav Forsling / Aaron Ekblad
Niko Mikkola / Seth Jones
Dmitry Kulikov / Jeff Petry
Goalies
Sergei Bobrovsky / Daniil Tarasov
Power Play Unit 1
Sam Reinhart, Aleksander Barkov, Matthew Tkachuk, Seth Jones, Aaron Ekblad
