The Florida Panthers hold the top position in the NHL.com's Super 16 power rankings with 208 points. As two-time defending Stanley Cup champions, the Panthers return a largely unchanged roster from the previous season, losing only defenseman Nate Schmidt, who was replaced by Jeff Petry. The team faces potential challenges related to their recent playoff experiences, yet their performance in the decisive months of May and June remains unparalleled. Additionally, Sam Reinhart's contract is noted as one of the best in the league, offering substantial surplus value based on his performance and the cap hit relative to other players.
The two-time defending Stanley Cup champions return virtually intact from the team that steamrolled through the playoff field last season, capped by defeating the Edmonton Oilers in the Final for the second straight season. Somehow, the Panthers were able to keep all their key contributors aside from defenseman Nate Schmidt, who was replaced by veteran Jeff Petry. Will they be the best team in October? On paper yes, but they will have to navigate the physical and emotional baggage associated with playing deep into June for three straight seasons.
Expect more of the same. There were 10 teams better than Florida during the 2024-25 regular season, but nobody could touch this team in May and June.
Sam Reinhart's contract was ranked fourth-best in The Athletic's NHL's 10 best contracts, 2025 edition. Reinhart's $8.6 million cap hit makes a lot more sense based on what he was after his 2023-24 season, and not based on the seismic leap he took in 2024-25.
For Panthers fans, it's yet another substantial win. Fresh off a year where Reinhart scored 57 goals and finished fourth in Selke voting, the Panthers seemingly got to pretend that season never happened during contract negotiations.
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