Last Word On Hockey’s Puck Drop Previews are in full effect for the 2025-26 season! As the regular seasons draws near, us here at Last Word have been and will continue to preview each teams’ current outlook and stories to watch for the upcoming season. We will also do our best to project how things will go for each team throughout the campaign. Today, we’re previewing the battle proven 2025-26 Florida Panthers squad.
A Recap of the 2024-25 Season
What can you say about the back-to-back Stanley Cup Champs. They do it, and they do it well, from all angles, starting from their general manager Bill Zito, right down on through to their depth charts. Moreover, even back to the 2023-24 team (and before that for that matter), they have done well at adding pieces. Acquiring Vladimir Tarasenko and Kyle Okposo at the trade deadline to solidify their lineup was a masterclass. That’s not to mention the $12 million man on their third pair of defence, Oliver Ekman-Larsson. So just what did Zito do for an encore? Oh, only Seth Jones and Brad Marchand at the 2024-25 trade deadline. This was a team, that only a few years ago had rumours brewing of buying-out star goalkeeper Sergei Bobrovsky. Two cup wins later, and that is far in the rearview. So to recap their 2024-25 campaign, the team was a wagon, like the year before, and quite possibly this year to come.
Summarizing this Most Recent 2025 Offseason
The 2024-25 recap was a great Segway to the Cats post-championship summer. Yes, there was lots of partying, but there was also savvy business. They kept the big boys, including the hired guns. They were initially supposed to be only trade deadline acquisitions, but somehow Brad Marchand and Seth Jones, and their combined salary of $12.25 million are sticking around, and it is for the next five seasons all told. Moreover, it was thought that Aaron Ekblad would be the odd man out. But cue the man, Zito, and his amazing ability to get his man, as Ekblad is now signed until 2033.
Well, of course as good as all that sounds, the Panthers will wake up to some sort of championship hangover, eventually. They currently find themselves a projected $4.5 million over the salary cap. Now, they do have Matthew Tkachuk‘s $9.5 million assuredly going to long-term injured reserve, so they luckily will get the cap relief. So for now, that is a later problem. In contrast, that is one problem that will have to be dealt with when the time comes. At this time, it is not known exactly how long Tkachuk will be out. However, the word is that he should be available for the Team USA Olympic contingent, so that puts him at about a February timeline, give-or-take.
Lineup Predictions Starting With the Forward Lines and the Top-Six
The Panthers top-six forwards are absolutely loaded. They have two-way guys and snipers, and most importantly, overall elite talent. Aleksander Barkov is the premier two-way forward in the game, having taken the honourary designation as annual Selke Trophy front-runner from his predecessor, the legendary Patrice Bergeron. Furthermore, the Panthers have a sniper in Sam Reinhart. His abilities in the slot and effectiveness on the power play are elite enough to have earned him one of the first six spots on the prestigious Team Canada Olympic squad.
We haven’t even mentioned Sam Bennett. His talent as a competitor, that despite the mediocre point totals, also makes him a lock for Team Canada. In any sense, the Panthers have the high-end side of things more taken care. To round out their top six, Matthew Tkachuk, Brad Marchand, and Evan Rodrigues make sure defenders are always on their toes.
Bottom Six
The bottom six, is a middle six at worst. Anton Lundell, for example, has really come into his own. Eetu Luostarinen, is big and fast, nobody really wants to match up against him.
The rest are filled out by guys hungry for an NHL job. It is a strong lineup. What else can you say?
Okay, technically Tkachuk is long-term injured reserve designated, and then, boom, Carter Verhaeghe has a career high of 42 goals. Just when you think you’ve found a hole on this team, there’s not a hole. You have to dig deeper, and they’re collectively too physical to allow that to infiltrate their organization. Huh? One guy poised for a big season, is Mackie Samoskevich. You noticed hints of it last year, but this year is when he really develops. In any case, their forward group as a whole, is very skilled and deep.
Defence and their Top-Four/Bottom Pair
The Panthers have maybe the best top four in the league. Like the rest of the roster, over the past couple years, they have had to do shuffling on the backend, too. In contrast, even with the changes, they have emerged as strong as ever. This is led currently by the emergence of Gustav Forsling, who is as complete of a defenceman as there is on the planet. Also the acquisition of Seth Jones. We will touch on him later.
Aaron Ekblad, and Niko Mikkola round out an impressive top four. One with no holes, and the championship pedigree to back it up, in the rafters style.
Bottom pairing Jeff Petry and Dmitry Kulikov, and although Petry, at 38, is aging, this duo is a top third-pairing league-wide. Kulikov’s compete level really sets him apart, in terms of the comparable versus other teams at his depth position. Meanwhile, they are supported by guys pushing for an NHL roster spot, the perfect recipe. Not to say those next guys up will be a guarantee to steal the show, now or even at any time in the future, they’re more than capable of pushing for sixth-or-seventh d-man slots on any NHL roster.
The Florida Panthers 2025-26 Goalkeepers
In terms of the net, there is the possibly of a question, most specifically regarding Sergei Bobrovsky‘s age. Having played so much hockey over the past couple seasons, plus the length of his total career, it’s possible he is entering the twilight zone. Enter Daniil Tarasov, well maybe. If Bobrovsky can’t handle the load, they will be pressured to bring in reinforcements. But Officer Bob has done it for so long, it is very likely it continues for a year or two, at the very least.
Tarasov provides a couple of things. He is eager to show that his time with the Columbus Blue Jackets, and his poor stats (a career .898 save percentage, as an example) can be chaulked up to a poor defensive team in front of him.
Furthermore, he has the energy and motivation to show that he’s capable of the NHL spotlight. He’s 26, and has gained 65 games of NHL experience, look for him to given it his all if he gets a shot in Florida. Again, not a huge amount of pressure on him. We discussed the salary situation in South Florida already, and they would go shopping for another option if need be. They also have a couple guys ready for a shot in Cooper Black and Brandon Bussi.
Players to Watch for the Panthers
We think that Seth Jones becomes a difference-maker, night-in, night-out. He was a star defender early in his career. What’s to say a resurgence isn’t called-for, on a team with lots of depth. Jones will be out of the spotlight somewhat, and he will succeed because of it. Nobody wanted to face him as a top-matchup option. Now, with Ekblad also patrolling the rigth side, they will be in a 1a-1b scenario, don’t be surprised if Jones surprises you in 2025-26.
With Florida’s influx of top household name-type calibre players, it is difficult to realize another player emerging as a top-flight contributor on a winner. We do have a pick, that is a depth player, but could turn into an impact guy. MacKenzie Entwistle has played 193 career NHL games. He has the size and toughness. If he gets the right linemates, there’s no telling what he can achieve, in a low-pressure role. He’s our depth, breakout pick on the Panthers.
Prediction (in the Standings)
To no one’s surprise, first? second? in the Atlantic Division. Florida will be good once again. They have too much high-end depth, and have proven to be winners. They may fade, however, who’s to say when. Don’t bet against Florida going on another deep playoff run. Yes, the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, Ottawa Senators, and Tampa Bay Lightning will be tough foes. In contrast, Florida still matches up well against the opposition.
Main Photo Credit: Rich Storry-Imagn Images
The post Puck Drop Preview: 2025-26 Florida Panthers appeared first on Last Word On Hockey.