Will Florida win in 2026 and make it 3 in a row?

[D1az]

Lots of talk about how they will be the strongest out of the gates already.

Multiple No-options added as well to see how deep people think they will get in that case.

 

[bobholly39]

I don't know it's hard to repeat.

Chicago won 3 cups. Did anyone see them not winning a single round again past their 2015 cup?

Pittsburgh won back to back cups, and werewell positioned going into a 3rd consecutive round 2 meeting vs Caps in 2018, when they lost...did anyone not see them win a single round since then?

Tampa looked even better than Florida for 3 years in some ways...but are struggling massively in playoffs since and not won a single round.

My point is - in recept cap era history, these multi cup winning teams who seemed on top of the world have fallen off unexpectedly. Florida might do the same. I voted round 1 or 2 exit.

 

[Hockeyholic]

No they are still stacked without losing key players. TB lost depth after 2021.

 

[lawrence]

i'm basing my vote on they keep Bennet and Ekblad. but might be better to post poll at the start of the season so we can see their new roster.

 

[centipede2233]

Florida is still the team to beat even if they lose Marchand and ekblad. I don’t see an emerging team taking out Florida. With that said, I think Ottawa (irony as that’s the other tkachuk) might be the best bet. Ottawa was very competitive with Toronto who was very competitive with Florida. It’s not a stretch

 

[Alexandrov]

Currently it's hard to see who could challenge them in the East so finals at minimum. But a lot can happen over the summer and at TDL.

 

[Voight]

A team hasn't won three straight in 40 years so the odds say the field is the better choice.

I can see them having a "down year" but reloading next summer when the cap goes up by a lot and making another cup run in 2027.

 

[pi314]

That's a lotta lotta hockey in the last 3 years. Nothing is impossible but I'd put money on no.

 

[I am not exposed]

I don't know it's hard to repeat.

Chicago won 3 cups. Did anyone see them not winning a single round again past their 2015 cup?

Pittsburgh won back to back cups, and werewell positioned going into a 3rd consecutive round 2 meeting vs Caps in 2018, when they lost...did anyone not see them win a single round since then?

Tampa looked even better than Florida for 3 years in some ways...but are struggling massively in playoffs since and not won a single round.

My point is - in recept cap era history, these multi cup winning teams who seemed on top of the world have fallen off unexpectedly. Florida might do the same. I voted round 1 or 2 exit.

Thank you for ensuring the threepeat. Really appreciate it.

 

[Sasha Orlov]

I’d take the field but honestly I would not be shocked to see them do it again

Incredible team from top to bottom

 

[PCAisBest]

I think they win four in a row

 

[bobholly39]

Thank you for ensuring the threepeat. Really appreciate it.

You Panther fans sure are a superstitious lot...

 

[Took a pill in Sbisa]

A lot has to go right for even the best teams to win the cups.

They look just as good or better than any other team heading into 2026, but that doesn't necessarily mean they'll win another cup

 

[Canovin]

They will find a player to LTIR after the Olympics and squeeze in 2 key players at the deadline

 

[TheBeastCoast]

I think they are back to the finals for sure...At that point I would not bet against them lol going to be one hell of an achievement whatever team ends up knocking them off first.

 

[Plural]

You Panther fans sure are a superstitious lot...

I think that poster is referring to something else..

 

[GlitchMarner]

I don't see them winning again next year. Fatigue has to become a serious factor sooner or later.

Also, as good as they are, hockey can be a game of inches. You kind of need things to fall into place for you in order to win.

Let's say Morgan Rielly scores on that shot he hit the post on late in Game Three. FLA probably falls behind 3-0, and I don't think they recover from that. What if Kotkaniemi doesn't take that idiotic penalty in Game Five against FLA when his team has a 2-0 lead? Maybe CAR hangs on for the win. I don't think they would have won the series, but they could have added to FLA's fatigue by making them play six or seven games in that round. Kapanen had a great chance to end Game Two of the SCF in Double OT. McDavid hit the post in the first period of Game Five (before Marchand's goal). TB had some injuries in round one. It's hard to win the Cup, especially when you've played a lot of hockey recently.

 

[Johnny Tomala]

They won't win it next year. They will lose players due to salary cap crunch.

 

[OgeeOgelthorpe]

If Tkachuk pulls a Kucherov and comes back at playoff time after his surgery and Zito somehow finds the money to sign Bennett, Ekblad and Marchand then I think this team has a better chance at a threepeat than any in recent memory.

 

[SillyRabbit]

That's a lotta lotta hockey in the last 3 years. Nothing is impossible but I'd put money on no.

This.

They'll be too burned out to make a deep run for a third straight year.

Edmonton won't make the Finals either for that same reason.

 

[BoHorvat 53]

Think they're out in the 1st or 2nd round, probably the 2nd round.

All that milage catches up to you eventually. Players being mentally worn out, and more susceptible to injuries is a real thing.

 

[Conspiracy Theorist]

Making the finals would be huge because no team has done it 4th time in a row since the Islanders.

 

[Muffin]

Make the finals then stopped by the Avalanche like the prophecy.

 

[VaporTrail]

I think a key factor will be Bob as he's starting to get up there in age...If he continue to perform well then yes they have a good shot at 3 in a row.

 

[M2Beezy]

Potentially losing Marchand, Dalpe, Lockwood and Schmidt hurts. Thats for sure, but if they keep Bennett and Ekblad, and splurge again at the TDL, i see them as a top competitor again