Florida Panthers Season Will Be Determined By Bennett and Reinhart

The Florida Panthers face a championship-defining moment as they prepare to defend their Stanley Cup title without two cornerstone players. With captain Aleksander Barkov sidelined for 7-9 months following knee surgery and Matthew Tkachuk expected to miss at least three months due to adductor muscle repair, the burden falls squarely on Sam Reinhart and Sam Bennett to carry this franchise forward.

Reinhart and Bennett Must Answer the Call

Both forwards arrived in South Florida as reclamation projects—talented players whose careers had stalled with their original teams. Now, they’re the veteran leaders tasked with keeping the Florida Panthers’ championship window open while their biggest stars recover.

Bennett, the reigning Conn Smythe Trophy winner, has transformed from a struggling fourth-line center in Calgary to a legitimate top-six force. His playoff performance last season—22 points, including 15 goals in 23 games—proved he could elevate his game when everything was on the line. That clutch gene will be tested again as he anchors the top line without Barkov’s steady presence.

Reinhart’s evolution has been equally remarkable. The former Buffalo disappointment has become Florida’s most consistent offensive threat, leading the team in scoring the past two seasons. His 94 points last campaign and knack for playoff heroics—including the Cup-clinching goal in 2024—make him indispensable to any championship run.

The Chemistry Challenge

Training camp has shown Reinhart and Bennett skating together, trying to forge the chemistry that typically takes months to develop. Maurice is betting that their individual hockey IQ and championship experience can fast-track this process.

“Both of them, remember how high they were picked in the draft?” Florida Panthers GM Bill Zito noted, referencing their top-four selections in 2014. The talent was always there—it just needed the right environment to flourish.

Florida Panthers Depth Will Define Success

Beyond the star duo, Florida’s championship hopes rest on role players stepping up. Carter Verhaeghe needs to rediscover his playoff magic. Anton Lundell must prove he can handle increased responsibility as a top-six center. Even newcomers like Brad Marchand need to mesh quickly with the championship culture.

The Florida Panthers have proven they can win with elite goaltending and suffocating team defense. But offense wins championships, and that responsibility now falls primarily on Reinhart and Bennett’s shoulders.

Their transformation from draft disappointments to championship cornerstones represents everything the Panthers organization has built over the past four years. Whether they can carry that burden for an entire season—and potentially another playoff run—will determine if Florida can achieve the rare three-peat.