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

[PettersonHughes]

Really depends on who they make the right choice to keep, as it could leave a sizeable hole in their top-9 or back end, but they'll still be tough.

Rodrigues - Barkov - Reinhart is still intact, Lundell could probably step in and take Bennett's place and Tkachuk is still there (Luostarinen might not be enough for a top-6 forward full-time but they still have money). Fill in depth, perhaps sign Bennett (since he's still youngish) and add a cheaper RD and I could see them run it back again, no problems. Also, Bob is still holding down the fort, and they just need an adequate backup.

 

[T REX]

No. Not in the salary cap era. Not without serious LTIR help.

It happens to every team. They are not exempt

 

[leafsfan5]

tbh yeah I genuinely think they do

They can run basically the entire team back except for Marchand. Zito has done such an incredible job with the cap that they can keep this run going for a long time

 

[Ratsreign]

You Panther fans sure are a superstitious lot...

We’re just a little stitious

 

[Ratsreign]

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.

If, if, if.
I’m sure I could pull certain moments out of each game which you cite and also play the if game.....

 

[Son of Nogatco]

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

The better question is, will the Oil three peat as cup losers?

I think we could be looking at a Buffalo Bills-esque run for McDraii. Truly generational

 

[jitterbug]

No. Not in the salary cap era. Not without serious LTIR help.

It happens to every team. They are not exempt

well you know the Florida teams have that on lock

 

[mighty Stanley Duck]

I voted Conference finals exit.
3 in a row - decent chance, they are in better shape than TB to do it.

 

[Rorschach]

They have the parts but they played extremely long seasons back to back. I think they run out of gas next season unless they deliberately rest guys.

 

[BB88]

I think 2026-27 is their best chance to win another one

 

[GlitchMarner]

If, if, if.
I’m sure I could pull certain moments out of each game which you cite and also play the if game.....

I'm not saying they won because of luck or didn't deserve to win. The point is that the line between winning and losing games and series can be fine and you need a lot to go your way to win. That's why it's rare for teams to win two or more Cups in a row.

They've won two in a row and that's impressive, but no team has won three or more Cups in a row since the early 80s. Fatigue is going to become a major factor.

That said, they're clearly the best playoff team in the NHL right now. I think they probably didn't try close to their hardest in the season, and it looks like that paid off. Teams like MTL and OTT seem to be improving, though, so they may need to expend more energy in the RS next year.

 

[dirtydanglez]

hard to imagine they wont make it to at least the conference finals. there really isn't much competition in the east.

 

[rypper]

Yes. They're likely not losing anyone and even if they do Zito and Co. Will replace them with someone unexpected who ends up panning out incredibly. Also they'll target someone in FA who was bought out by another team who fits in seamlessly.

 

[wetcoast]

Yes. They're likely not losing anyone and even if they do Zito and Co. Will replace them with someone unexpected who ends up panning out incredibly. Also they'll target someone in FA who was bought out by another team who fits in seamlessly.

They can't afford to resign all of Bennet, Ekblad and Marchand...unless one of them takes a deep discount and they really don't have the assets to trade for one of these types of players at the deadline.

Maybe a guy like Schmidt they can get at the deadline.

I've said it other places around here I think a 3 peat is really hard and it's not really doable.

 

[rypper]

They'll keep Bennett at a discount and Seth Jones will replace Ekblad, even before they dip into FA or trades. Or if other players take less to stay.

Their core is locked up and young enough another run isn't out of the question.

 

[KirkAlbuquerque]

Idk, that’s a lot of miles on that group . But I wouldn’t bet against them

 

[nbwingsfan]

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.

They’ve got as good of a case as any team I’ve ever seen, but

1. Draft/UFA/trade period still to go

2. It’s so hard to repeat, never mind threepeat

3. Unexpected injuries can ruin even the best of teams (Boston 2023)

4. Random team has random young player breakout and become elite, vaulting them into contention

Wayyyy too many variables

 

[sr edler]

Lundell is key on that team, and he's still so young. You could see right away when he came into the league he had such a mature game, playing regularly on the PK from day one.

3 finals and 2 Cups in your first 4 seasons is pretty crazy.