Latest news with #NHLPlayoffs
Yahoo
11 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Yoshinobu Yamamoto strikes out the side
Major Panthers-Sam Bennett Free Agency Update Revealed Sam Bennett has been simply incredible for the Florida Panthers this post-season. In 19 games this post-season thus far, he has recorded 13 goals, 19 points, and a plus-3 rating. He has also set an NHL record by scoring 12 road goals in a single post-season. 1:28 Now Playing Paused Ad Playing
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Sam Bennett Shows Brad Marchand Love After Panthers Cup Win
It is no secret that Florida Panthers forward Sam Bennett had some intense battles with Brad Marchand when No. 63 was a member of the Boston Bruins. However, any bad blood between the two stars disappeared once Marchand was traded by the Boston Bruins to the Panthers at the 2025 NHL trade deadline. Marchand and Bennett developed great chemistry once they became teammates on the Panthers. Following the Panthers' Stanley Cup win, Bennett dove into just how important a player Marchand was for Florida during their run. Advertisement "That guy is the biggest dog I ever played with," Bennett said about Marchand to NHL insider Elliotte Friedman. "He's incredible. This guy is the best leader. He leads by example. He speaks up. He is fearless out there, and I've been telling him this whole playoffs, 'we're following you,' and we followed him this whole playoff run. He was incredible." Marchand certainly played a huge role in the Panthers repeating as Stanley Cup champions, as he had 10 goals and 20 points in 23 playoff games for Florida. Six of his goals came in the Stanley Cup Final against the Edmonton Oilers. Bennett also had more major praise for Marchand, as reported by ESPN's Greg Wyshynski. Advertisement "What he's meant to this team... I don't think we win a Stanley Cup without him," Bennett said. "I truly don't think we win a Stanley Cup without him. "His leadership, his will to win, it's inspiring. He's a better player and person than I ever knew, and I'm grateful that I got to play with him." Clearly, Bennett enjoyed having Marchand as his teammate, and it is easy to understand why. Marchand proved to be a perfect addition to the Panthers' roster, and it will be fascinating to see if Florida will be able to re-sign the pair before July 1 from here. LATEST STORIES FROM THE HOCKEY NEWS - FLORIDA Brad Marchand Opens Up About Panthers Future After Stanley Cup Win Advertisement Matthew Tkachuk Says This About Connor McDavid After Cup Win Amazingly, unbelievably, incredibly, the Florida Panthers are back-to-back Stanley Cup Champions Panthers defeat Oilers in Game 6 to claim second straight Stanley Cup Championship 3 Panthers Who Must Shine In Massive Game 6 vs. Oilers Photo Credit: © Jim Rassol-Imagn Images
New York Times
2 days ago
- Sport
- New York Times
Are the Florida Panthers the best team of the cap era? Ranking the 6 contenders
The numbers from the Florida Panthers' playoff run this year are pretty incredible. The Panthers didn't just repeat as Stanley Cup champions this year, becoming only the 10th franchise to do so in NHL history; they were completely dominant, racking up many of the best statistical marks of any team in the past 30-odd years. Advertisement With Tuesday's decisive 5-1 win in Game 6 over the Edmonton Oilers, for example, Florida finished with 94 total goals scored, the fourth-highest mark in a postseason in league history — and the highest since the Mario Lemieux-led Pittsburgh Penguins in 1991. The Panthers weren't just an offensive powerhouse, either. They allowed only 56 goals over 23 games, giving coach Paul Maurice's team a plus-38 goal differential that is the fourth best in NHL history. The only three teams ahead of them? A few of the greatest playoff teams ever: the 1981 and 1983 New York Islanders and the 1985 Oilers. Even the final itself was ultimately lopsided, with captain Aleksander Barkov and company finding ways to limit Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl to a combined two goals and six points over the final four games. The Panthers spent more time leading during this Stanley Cup Final than any previous team in history: 255:49 — Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) June 18, 2025 This Cup run by the Panthers, in other words, was very likely the most impressive single-season playoff performance of any NHL team in the past 20 years. But if we look at a bigger sample size — including their three consecutive years going to the final — is it enough for the Panthers to rank as the best team of the salary-cap era? Here are our top six, ranked in order of the best three-season playoff runs since 2005-06. Record: 41-22 Goal differential: 1.14 per game Top players: Nicklas Lidstrom, Henrik Zetterberg, Pavel Datsyuk, Johan Franzen, Chris Osgood Conn Smythe winners: Zetterberg (2008) Stanley Cups: 2008 This team included the final Stanley Cup win in a stretch of four in 11 years for those dominant, largely pre-cap Red Wings teams. Detroit went deep three consecutive years here, but ultimately won only one title after getting upset by a young Sidney Crosby and the Penguins in Game 7 of the 2009 final. Advertisement But this was still an impressive, memorable team to cap a special era for an Original Six franchise, a run highlighted by 38-year-old Nicklas Lidstrom winning his first championship as Red Wings captain. Record: 38-23 Goal differential: 0.76 per game Top players: Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Kris Letang, Phil Kessel, Matt Murray Conn Smythe winners: Crosby twice (2016, 2017) Stanley Cups: 2016, 2017 Crosby and Malkin in their primes were certainly something, weren't they? These Penguins battled through all kinds of adversity, including injuries that at times left them with a makeshift blue line. But they had tour de force performances from their future Hall of Famers, great goaltending from Murray and Marc-Andre Fleury, and remarkable scoring depth thanks to the 2015 offseason addition of Kessel down the lineup. Maybe this wasn't the best team of the cap era, but it was certainly one of the most fun to watch. Losing in Round 2 to the Cup-bound Capitals in 2018 holds them back from the top spots, however. Record: 41-23 Goal differential: 0.75 per game Top players: Anze Kopitar, Jonathan Quick, Drew Doughty, Justin Williams, Jeff Carter Conn Smythe winners: Quick (2012), Williams (2014) Stanley Cups: 2012, 2014 They started by not qualifying for the playoffs until the 81st game of the season and then going on to win the Cup as an eighth seed in 2012, the first NHL team to accomplish that feat. They ended up on one of the most dominant three-season runs we've seen in the last few decades, thanks to a lethal combination of size, defensive acumen, scoring depth and amazing goaltending. These Kings were so well-coached and disciplined that they allowed just 2.09 goals per game over these three postseasons and had a ridiculous 87.2 percent penalty kill, one of the best marks ever. Advertisement A five-game loss in the 2013 Western Conference final to the next team stands as the only blemish. If you can call it that. Record: 43-22 Goal differential: 0.43 per game Top players: Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane, Duncan Keith, Marian Hossa, Corey Crawford Conn Smythe winners: Kane (2013), Keith (2015) Stanley Cups: 2013, 2015 If we were expanding our window here to six seasons instead of three, Chicago would likely come out on top, as their win in 2010 was part of one of the most dominant stretches since those 1980s dynasty teams. In these three seasons, the Blackhawks dispatched of a Boston Bruins team (2013) that was not far removed from its own Cup in 2011 and an up-and-coming young Tampa Bay Lightning team (2015) that ended up being a major contender as their young stars matured. Only the aforementioned 2014 Kings kept Chicago from winning three in a row, which obviously would have shifted them to the top of this list. Record: 45-23 Goal differential: 0.62 per game Top players: Matthew Tkachuk, Aleksander Barkov, Sergei Bobrovsky, Sam Reinhart, Carter Verhaeghe Conn Smythe winners: Sam Bennett (2025) Stanley Cups: 2024, 2025 It started with a plucky eighth-seeded Cinderella team going on a run in 2023 but falling short in Game 5 of the final against the Vegas Golden Knights. It ended on Tuesday night in Sunrise with yet another Stanley Cup celebration. One of the main storylines of this Panthers team has been their incredible depth every year, thanks to consistently brilliant maneuvering by GM Bill Zito that included airlifting in Seth Jones and Brad Marchand at the 2025 trade deadline. They both played starring roles in this year's win. 'The depth of this team is remarkable,' Bennett said after being named MVP. 'It truly could have went to anyone.' I came close to putting the Panthers first, given how they limited McDavid and the Oilers in the past two finals. But that will have to wait on how they fare a year from now, as there's one cap-era team that had a more impressive three-season run. Record: 46-22 Goal differential: 0.65 per game Top players: Nikita Kucherov, Andrei Vasilevskiy, Victor Hedman, Steven Stamkos, Brayden Point Conn Smythe winners: Hedman (2020), Vasilevskiy (2021) Stanley Cups: 2020, 2021 Maybe a controversial choice, but the Lightning are the only other cap-era team — and only other team since the 1980s Oilers — to make three finals in a row. And the Lightning were a powerhouse every year, pushing a game closer to winning three championships in a row than the Panthers did by getting to Game 6 against the Colorado Avalanche in the 2022 final. Advertisement How we judge the fact the Lightning won in strange pandemic-era seasons — locked in a bubble, playing games at strange times of year, and against odd opponents (the Canadiens?!) — is up for debate. But led by one of the best NHL coaches ever in Jon Cooper and a cast of likely future Hall of Famers, in my view this Tampa Bay team won't be dethroned as the cap era's best until the Panthers make another deep run. Which feels entirely possible, given how much of their team is likely to be kept intact next season.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Panthers' Matthew Tkachuk Reveals Postseason Injuries, Timeline For Next Season
Florida Panthers forward Matthew Tkachuk revealed his several injuries suffered during the playoffs. Image Matthew Tkachuk's performance in the 2025 Stanley Cup Final was hard fought as he helped his Florida Panthers finish off the Edmonton Oilers in six games with a dominant 5–1 win at home. Advertisement The win secured Florida their second straight Stanley Cup and inserted the teams name into the conversation of a hockey dynasty as this was their third straight finals appearance. More NHL: Blackhawks Reportedly Open to Trading No. 3 Pick in 2026 NHL Draft In post-series interviews, Tkachuk revealed he had played the entirety of the playoffs with a completely torn adductor that was ripped off the bone as well as a sports hernia, both on the same side. Tkachuk confessed that he had 'wanted to throw in the towel a bunch of times' but was kept in the lineup thanks to intensive medical management. Advertisement Despite missing the end of the regular season, he returned in Game 1 of the opening round, ultimately contributing eight goals and 23 points in as many games, including a clutch goal in Game 6 on Tuesday. The physical toll of such injuries is immense. A torn adductor avulsion off the bone typically requires surgery followed by four to six months of rehabilitation, a timeline mirrored by recovery from a hernia, depending on severity. Panthers insiders, including coach Paul Maurice, have expressed cautious optimism that Tkachuk could be ready for the playoffs next year, but warned that starting the season in late 2025 may be more realistic than expecting him in opening night form. Rushing him back too soon could increase the risk of chronic injury. Advertisement This will be one of the many offseason stories for the Panthers as they are facing serious offseason roster decisions, especially as they chase a historic third straight Stanley Cup. More NHL: 2026 Stanley Cup Odds: Oilers, Panthers Lead Early Contenders But One Unexpected Favourite Emerges Early futures emerged with Florida at +750 odds to win the 2025‑26 Stanley Cup, but their cap situation is tense with roughly $19 million available yet have three massive pending unrestricted free agents in Sam Bennett, Aaron Ekblad and Brad Marchand, who will likely all require big tickets following another successful Stanley Cup win. Advertisement These roster variables, combined with Tkachuk's injury uncertainty, complicate Florida's path to a three-peat. While the +750 odds may look juicy, they don't factor in the potential early-season absence of their star winger and the possibility of losing key contributors. Bettors and fans alike should temper their expectations, as they shouldn't get too greedy and enjoy their second straight Stanley Cup as it's a legendary moment before thinking about a third. More NHL: Frontrunners Forming In Marner Sweepstakes After Recent Insider Reports
Fox News
2 days ago
- Sport
- Fox News
Sam Bennett wins Conn Smythe Trophy as Panthers claim 2nd straight Stanley Cup
Sam Reinhart's four goals led the way to the Florida Panthers winning the Stanley Cup again over the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday night, but it was a different Sam who took home the Conn Smythe Trophy. Sam Bennett was named the most valuable player of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, as NHL commissioner Gary Bettman announced his name following the 5-1 Game 6 win over the Oilers to seal another league title. Though he didn't have a point in Game 6, Bennett was the leading goalscorer of any player in the playoffs this year, finding the back of the net 15 times, while adding seven assists for a total of 22 points. Bennett joined some elite Stanley Cup Playoffs company, as the only other players to have at least 15 goals in the postseason before him were Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemieux, Joe Sakic and Sidney Crosby – all hockey legends. To begin the Stanley Cup Final, a rematch with the Oilers after defeating them in seven games last season, Bennett found the back of the net twice despite the overtime loss. He followed that up with a goal in Game 2's victory as well as the Game 3 win to help Florida take a 2-1 lead in the series. Bennett's final goal of the season came in Game 5's win on Saturday night in Edmonton. The Panthers, a team filled with talent from top to bottom, added players like Brad Marchand and Seth Jones at the NHL trade deadline to fortify their roster. Both of those players made tremendous contributions throughout the playoffs to help Florida reach their goal once more. But the main core, which includes Bennett, Aleksander Barkov, Matthew Tkachuk and more, led the way both in the locker room and by example. Bennett finished the regular season with 51 points (25 goals, 26 assists) over 76 games, but he turned it up a notch when his team needed it most in the playoffs. Follow Fox News Digital's sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
