When the 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs came to a conclusion, the Florida Panthers were dancing around the ice with their second consecutive championship intact. General manager Bill Zito had put together a team with all the pieces in place and head coach Paul Maurice had directed his players flawlessly.

In the days and weeks after the championship, Zito worked his magic to keep the team intact in order to make a run at a third consecutive title a legitimate possibility. However, bringing back star defenseman Aaron Ekblad as well as Stanley Cup hero and former Boston Bruins captain Brad Marchand could not help the team overcome serious injuries as training camp got underway.

The Panthers knew that Matthew Tkachuk would not be available until December or January as a result of his groin i

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