After a 5-1 Recreation 6 win within the Stanley Cup Closing over the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday, the Florida Panthers captured back-to-back championships. Gaining the lead simply 4 minutes into the sport, middle Sam Reinhart netted the opening purpose together with three others, and goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 28 out of 29 pictures.
Now, the main target turns to the 2025-26 season. The NHL Draft and free company are on the horizon, and groups will look to improve to compete with the Panthers. Who can problem them for the 2026 Stanley Cup? Let’s check out 4 groups.
Tampa Bay Lightning
Tampa Bay confronted Florida within the first spherical in a matchup many thought would go seven video games. Sadly for the Lightning, the Panthers made fast work of their in-state rival, successful in 5 video games.
Regardless of the loss, Tampa Bay will return virtually everybody from its 2024-25 squad that completed seventh total within the league. That features 2025 Ted Lindsay and Artwork Ross winner Nikita Kucherov, 2025 Vezina finalist and former winner Andrei Vasilevskiy, 80-point forwards Brayden Level, Jake Guentzel and Brandon Hagel, and former Norris winner Victor Hedman.
With that roster, they need to as soon as once more be a high crew within the East and will go toe-to-toe with Florida within the Atlantic Division.
Dallas Stars
Dallas made an enormous splash on the commerce deadline, touchdown celebrity winger Mikko Rantanen and signing him to an eight-year contract. Sadly for the Stars, they misplaced to the Oilers within the Western Convention Closing, and, following the loss, head coach Peter DeBoer was let go.
That does not imply that Dallas cannot enhance from this previous season’s outcomes. Along with Rantanen, in addition they return beginning goaltender Jake Oettinger, high forwards Roope Hintz and Wyatt Johnston and defenseman Miro Heiskanen.
With slightly below $5 million in cap area, they will must do some maneuvering to resign high scorer Matt Duchene and captain Jamie Benn, but when the Stars can get it carried out, they will come into 2025-26 with top-of-the-line rosters within the NHL.
Vegas Golden Knights
Vegas was a favourite within the West heading into the playoffs, however fizzled out in 5 video games towards the Edmonton Oilers in spherical two. The Pacific division champions ought to as soon as once more be within the working as a Cup favourite, now two years faraway from their 2023 championship.
They need to return an identical roster to this previous season, which incorporates high 10 level finisher Jack Eichel, captain Mark Stone and defenseman Shea Theodore. Moreover, they’re rumored to be a front-runner to signal high free agent ahead Mitch Marner, who would increase an offense that already noticed top-five numbers.
One snag? The health of high defenseman Alex Pietrangelo. If he’s unable to play subsequent season, Vegas’ Stanley Cup hopes will take an enormous hit.
Colorado Avalanche
The Avalanche are one of many favorites heading into 2026 and for good purpose. Regardless of buying and selling Rantanen, their roster nonetheless contains former Hart Trophy winner Nathan MacKinnon, 2025 Norris Trophy winner Cale Makar and captain Gabriel Landeskog, who returned to hockey this postseason after lacking three seasons because of harm.
They shored up their middle depth, signing commerce deadline acquisition Brock Nelson to a three-year deal in June.
Though they do play within the ultra-competitive Central division, with one of many league’s finest forwards in MacKinnon and a defenseman in Makar, the 2022 Stanley Cup Champions ought to as soon as once more be a risk to win all of it.
