2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs

[dahrougem2]

They had 11 players with 10 or more points in the playoffs. 6 of them with 20 or more. Cap abuse or not, that's worthy of a lot of praise.

I get that, but what I'm saying is they clearly abused LTIR, so the loophole helped them more than having management that could construct a team under the cap to perform the same way.

The real test IMO is next season when they are the same as everyone else.

 

[Balthazar]

I get that, but what I'm saying is they clearly abused LTIR, so the loophole helped them more than having management that could construct a team under the cap to perform the same way.

The real test IMO is next season when they are the same as everyone else.

The cap went up and Bob’s contract is off the books. The Panthers will be more than fine.

 

[The Merchant]

Never underestimate the Avalanche ability to make any mediocre goaltender look elite.

 

[Bensch88]

Never underestimate the Avalanche ability to make any mediocre goaltender look elite.

We lost to this bozo, thats unforgivable

 

[Balthazar]

Never underestimate the Avalanche ability to make any mediocre goaltender look elite.

That’s an understatement considering the graphic doesn’t show his per game performance, it’s cumulative. There was a HUGE upswing in his stats against the Avs.

 

[dahrougem2]

The cap went up and Bob’s contract is off the books. The Panthers will be more than fine.

Idk about more than fine. It's a level playing field now. Let's see what they do in goal and how they surround their stars without the luxury of LTIR.

Never underestimate the Avalanche ability to make any mediocre goaltender look elite.

This guy was actually ass vs every team except our losers.

 

[Balthazar]

Let's see what they do in goal and how they surround their stars without the luxury of LTIR.

They’ll trade for Larkin, get a cheaper goalie and be all set. All their players are already signed so there’s no need for LTIR shenanigans anymore anyway.

If they don't trade for Larkin they might get a more expensive goalie, like Hellebuyck, Markstrom or even keep Bob at a lower cap hit.

They are in a good spot right now. Look at their team, everyone is signed long term, they have cap space and interesting assets to trade.

Florida Panthers | Salary cap and contracts

Explore the salary cap, contracts, depth-charts and Armchair GM Mode for the Florida Panthers. Get insights into player salaries, contract details, and more.

capwages.com

 

[AvsWraith]

They’ll trade for Larkin, get a cheaper goalie and be all set. All their players are already signed so there’s no need for LTIR shenanigans anymore anyway.

If they don't trade for Larkin they might get a more expensive goalie, like Hellebuyck, Markstrom or even keep Bob at a lower cap hit.

They are in a good spot right now. Look at their team, everyone is signed long term, they have cap space and interesting assets to trade.

Florida Panthers | Salary cap and contracts

Explore the salary cap, contracts, depth-charts and Armchair GM Mode for the Florida Panthers. Get insights into player salaries, contract details, and more.

capwages.com

Plus, they are mean as f*** and play hungry.

 

[dahrougem2]

They’ll trade for Larkin, get a cheaper goalie and be all set. All their players are already signed so there’s no need for LTIR shenanigans anymore anyway.

If they don't trade for Larkin they might get a more expensive goalie, like Hellebuyck, Markstrom or even keep Bob at a lower cap hit.

They are in a good spot right now. Look at their team, everyone is signed long term.

Florida Panthers | Salary cap and contracts

Explore the salary cap, contracts, depth-charts and Armchair GM Mode for the Florida Panthers. Get insights into player salaries, contract details, and more.

capwages.com

We'll see. Bobrovsky was unbelievable for the Panthers in 2025, though he was fairly average in 2024.

Does this team only need a cheap goalie and voila, back in the SCF? I'm not so easily convinced of that.

I think Buffalo and Montreal are on the upswing and present new challenges in the East, Carolina potentially coming off a Stanley Cup championship of their own, and the Panthers are another year older just like we are.

We'll see what happens.

 

[Balthazar]

We'll see. Bobrovsky was unbelievable for the Panthers in 2025, though he was fairly average in 2024.

Does this team only need a cheap goalie and voila, back in the SCF? I'm not so easily convinced of that.

I think Buffalo and Montreal are on the upswing and present new challenges in the East, Carolina potentially coming off a Stanley Cup championship of their own, and the Panthers are another year older just like we are.

We'll see what happens.

The Panthers' biggest obstacle right now is aging, they no longer have to worry about the cap.

That team was built right (with the help of low taxes and palm trees).

 

[The Abusement Park]

Yeah I don't see the Panthers as some unbeatable juggernaut. They were a good team and went b2b which is impressive, but I mean I'd take the Lightning at their peak over the Panthers.

 

[dahrougem2]

I guess I put a lot more stock into teams being built and winning without using LTIR like the 22 Avs and potentially 26 Hurricanes. That's just me, though.

I'm very much a "I'll believe it when I see it" guy, and Florida hasn't won without the use of LTIR. So, to me they have to show they can do it without a loophole, just like Vegas and Tampa Bay. The Lightning clearly haven't been able to, and if Vegas loses tonight they also won't have been able to thus far.

 

[missionAvs]

Never underestimate the Avalanche ability to make any mediocre goaltender look elite.

Lmao. Embarrassing from the Avs. Really.

 

[Bill Peckerskull]

 

[dahrougem2]

Man, there are a TON of Hurricanes fans in attendance.

 

[the_fan]

softie

 

[dahrougem2]

Carter Hart is actually so bad omg HOWWWW did we let this nerd stop basically everything against us

 

[the_fan]

Carter Hart is actually so bad omg HOWWWW did we let this nerd stop basically everything against us

We make a lot of goalies look like Hasek. Nothing new

 

[dahrougem2]

We make a lot of goalies look like Hasek. Nothing new

The refusal to go to the net NEEDS to be addressed this offseason.

 

[Balthazar]

The refusal to go to the net NEEDS to be addressed this offseason.

How? Same coaches, same players.

 

[dahrougem2]

How? Same coaches, same players.

Well f*** me sideways, pal. Hence why I won't watch. Sakic seems just as convinced as Bednar that this kind of play is the way.

 

[MacKaRtin]

Assuming the score holds, Jesperi Kotkaniemi will barely eke out getting his name on the Cup despite playing 0 playoff games by virtue of his 42 regular season games (just one game above the automatic threshold)

 

[Bill Peckerskull]

LOL

What a shit call.

 

[dahrougem2]

Man that is a HORRIBLE f***ing call.

Hart sticks his leg out and into the white ice. Blake is entitled to skate there.

This after they ignored a BLATANT pick in the Hurricanes zone that allowed Eichel a point blank slot shot.

Officiating off to a very pro-Vegas start.

 

[The AntiBob]

Assuming the score holds, Jesperi Kotkaniemi will barely eke out getting his name on the Cup despite playing 0 playoff games by virtue of his 42 regular season games (just one game above the automatic threshold)

They'll put his name on the cup, 72 hours later, treat him to a buyout