Weaving the tapestry of a champion lineup contacts the alchemy of seeing skill, really feeling chemistry and recognizing exactly how close you actually are or aren’t. Panthers’ monitoring constructed a group with the NHL’s ideal document, after that did a little lineup deconstruction and rebuilt a group to win the NHL’s most significant reward.
Below’s exactly how the Panthers’ 2023-24 Stanley Mug lineup was constructed.
2: Tobias Bjornfot, D. The Panthers declared Bjornfot off waivers from Las Las vega on March 8, 2 months after Las vega declared him from Los Angeles. He played one normal period video game.
5: Aaron Ekblad, D Composed No. 1 general in the 2014 NHL Draft and the NHL’s Calder Prize (Newbie of the Year) the occurring period, Ekblad’s the Panthers profession leader in defenseman racking up and couple with Gustav Forsling to match versus challengers’ leading lines.
7: Dmitri Kulikov, D. Kulikov’s profession came cycle when the Panthers authorized him as a freelance on July 1. After being the Panthers 2009 first-round draft choice, Kulikov invested his very first 7 periods right here prior to being traded to Buffalo in 2016.
8: Kyle Okposo, RW. Okposo was Buffalo’s captain when the Panthers traded for him on March 8, sending out Calle Sjalin and a conditional 2024 draft choice to the Sabres. The 36-year-old does fourth-line responsibility with the Panthers.
9: Sam Bennett, C The Panthers obtained Bennett, a huge, physical facility with the hands to make a glossy feed or roof covering such a pass, on April 12, 2021 from Calgary in addition to a sixth-round 2022 draft choice for possibility Emil Heineman and a 2022 draft choice.
READ MORE: The Panthers win the franchise’s first Stanley Cup
10: Vladimir Tarasenko, RW. The Panthers obtained Tarasenko’s Stanley Cup-winning experience and periodically still-lethal shot from Ottawa on March 6 for a 2025 third-round draft choice and a conditional 2024 draft choice.
12: Jonah Gadjovich, LW. After authorizing with the Panthers as a freelance on Oct. 16, Gadjovich clothed for 39 video games this period.
13: Sam Reinhart, RW. The Panthers obtained Reinhart from Buffalo on July 24, 2021 for goalkeeper possibility Devon Levi and a 1st-round 2022 draft choice. With the Panthers, Reinhart’s adhered to 2 30-goal periods with a 57-goal, 94-point period.
15: Anton Lundell, C. The Panthers took Lundell in the preliminary, 12th on the whole, of the 2020 NHL Draft. The resemblance in Lundell’s ability and two-way video game periodically obtains him called “Infant Barkov,” a recommendation to his compatriot.
16: Aleksander Barkov, C. The Panthers took Barkov No. 2 general in the 2013 NHL Draft. The Panthers have actually been shown right– 2 Selke Trophies, franchise business’s leading marker, group captain, among the video game’s ideal well-rounded gamers– after taking some straight-out objection for overlooking huge, mobile experienced defenseman Seth Jones.
17: Evan Rodrigues, RW. Authorized as a freelance on July 2, Rodrigues can use the 2nd or 3rd line and services the 2nd power play system.
18: Steven Lorentz, LW. The Panthers obtained fourth-liner Lorentz and a fifth-round 2025 draft choice for Anthony Duclair on July 1.
19: Matthew Tkachuk, LW. After having the NHL’s ideal document in 2021-22, yet shedding in the 2nd round, the Panthers intended to include physicality and truculence for the playoffs without giving up infraction. So, on July 22, 2022, they sent out the franchise business’s all-time leading marker at the time, Jonathan Huberdeau; MacKenzie Weegar; Cole Schwindt; and a conditional 2025 first-round draft choice to Calgary for Tkachuk. Tkachuk brings perspective, smack to produce a turn over and the ability to transform the turn over right into an objective.
21: Nick Cousins, C. Relatives authorized with the Panthers as a freelance on July 13, 2022 and racked up the series-ending overtime objective in the 2023 playoffs second-round collection versus Toronto.
23: Carter Verhaeghe, LW. The Panthers authorized Verhaeghe as a freelance on Oct. 9, 2020 after he invested his very first NHL period as a lower 6 gamer for Tampa florida Bay’s 2020 Stanley Mug champion. Along with 145 factors in his last 157 normal seaosn video games, Verhaeghe’s obtained 10 championship game champions amongst a franchise business document 25 playoff objectives.
24: Justin Sourdif, RW. The Panthers’ 2020 third-round NHL Draft choice entered into 3 video games this period.
25: Mackie Samoskevich, RW. The Panthers’ 2021 first-round NHL Draft choice clothed for 7 video games this period.
26: Uvis Balinskis, D. The freelance authorized April 18, 2023 clothed for 26 normal period for the Panthers this period.
27: Eetu Luostarinen, LW. Luostarinen pertained to the Panthers with Erik Haula, Lucas Wallmark and Chase Priskie on Feb. 24, 2020 as the Panthers sent out Vincent Trocheck to Carolina. He’s discovered a put on the 3rd line and the fine kill.
28: Josh Mahura, D. After the Panthers got hold of Mahura off waivers from Anaheim on Oct. 10, 2022, he played all 103 normal period and championship game in 2022-23. This period, Manura entered into 30 video games after offseason lineup enhancements pressed him down the schedule.
41: Anthony Stolarz, G. The Pantehrs authorized Stolarz as a freelance on July 1. Stolarz went 16-7 with a 2.03 objectives versus typical and.925 save percent as Bobrovsky’s back-up.
42: Gustav Forsling, D. The Panthers declared Forsling off waivers on Jan. 9, 2021 from Carolina, which could not locate area for him. He couple with Aaron Ekblad, typically versus challenger’s leading lines, led Panthers defensemen in scoring this year while putting together an outrageous +56 plus/minus ranking. He’s proceeded both fads in the playoffs.
62: Brandon Montour, D. The Panthers obtained Montour from Buffalo on April 10, 2021 for a third-round 2021 draft choice. He’s discovered a home on the power play, obtaining 50 of his 106 factors there over the last 2 periods.
67: William Lockwood, RW. Authorized as a freelance on July 2 after ending up the 2022-23 period extra by the Rangers, Lockwood clothed for 26 video games with the Panthers this year.
72: Sergei Bobrovsky, G. The Panthers authorized Bobrovsky, a two-time Vezina Prize (Finest Goalkeeper) champion, as a freelance on July 1, 2019. Specifically the last 2 playoff periods, the 35-year-old “Bob” supplies the Panthers with the protection of elite goaltending.
77: Niko Mikkola, D. The Panthers authorized the protective defenseman as a freelance on July 1.
82: Kevin Stenlund, C. The Panthers authorized Stenlund as a freelance on July 1 to boost their fine eliminating system.
91: Oliver Ekman-Larsson, D. The Panthers authorized Ekman-Larsson as a freelance on July 1. He provides the Panthers strong professional deepness on the 3rd protection couple with Dmitri Kulikov.
94: Ryan Lomberg, LW. Lomberg authorized with the Panthers as a freelance Oct. 9, 2020 and has actually been a fourth-line agitator ever since.
Head instructor Paul Maurice. Having the NHL’s ideal document, ideal infraction and winning a playoff round for the very first time in 26 years really did not please Panthers monitoring after a second-round move loss to Tampa florida Bay. Andrew Redhead obtained disposed for Maurice, that changed the Panthers right into a hefty forechecking, battering system that wears down groups instead of bombs them.
General Supervisor Costs Zito. Panthers possession rejected 10-year basic supervisor Dale Tallon on Aug. 10, 2020 and worked with Zito 23 days later on. Just 4 gamers stay on the Panthers lineup from that day: Aleksander Barkov, Aaron Ekblad, Sergei Bobrovesky and left wing Eetu Luostarinen.
Trading for Matthew Tkachuk, authorizing Carter Verhaeghe, declaring Gustav Forsling off waivers and working with Paul Maurice are amongst Zito’s ace relocates that transformed the Panthers from a playoff group to a Stanley Mug champion. Zito’s additionally in charge of the hockey operations and scouting department suggested on gamer procurements and aided with gamer growth.