Can the Florida Panthers Pull Off a Stanley Cup Three-Peat in 2025?

After lifting the Stanley Cup in both 2024 and 2025, the Florida Panthers have positioned themselves on the brink of NHL history. A third consecutive championship would not only solidify them as a modern dynasty but also place them among the most legendary teams the league has ever seen. With their core largely intact and expectations sky-high heading into the 2025–26 season, the question becomes more pressing with each passing day: are the Panthers truly built to three-peat?

To answer that, we have to consider the makeup of the team, its recent dominance, historical context, and the landscape of the NHL heading into the new season.

Hockey players raising the Stanley Cup trophy in celebration

Paul Daniel Flores
Paul Daniel Flores

⏳ 7 mins read

📖 Published: August 12th, 2025

✍️ Updated: August 12th, 2025

General

The Florida Panthers, champions of the Stanley Cup in 2024 and 2025, stand on the verge of NHL history, aiming for a rare third consecutive title. With a consistent core and impressive playoff performance, they are poised for success. Their coach, Paul Maurice, has fostered a winning culture, yet challenges loom, including injuries and increased competition. Despite these hurdles, oddsmakers favor the Panthers, highlighting their potential to achieve a feat unmatched in over 40 years.

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The Last NHL Repeat

Winning back-to-back Stanley Cups is difficult enough. Only a few teams in the salary cap era have managed to do it, and the Panthers are the latest. Before them, the Tampa Bay Lightning accomplished the feat in 2020 and 2021 during a stretch where they consistently dominated the Eastern Conference.

Before Tampa, the Pittsburgh Penguins repeated in 2016 and 2017 behind the leadership of Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and a deep supporting cast. But when it comes to a three-peat, the conversation takes on a different tone. The last time an NHL team won three consecutive Stanley Cups was the New York Islanders dynasty of the early 1980s.

The last repeat before the Panthers was the Lightning

The Islanders won four straight from 1980 to 1983, a run that remains unmatched in the modern NHL. Since then, no team has been able to win three straight championships, despite several elite teams coming close. The fact that this hasn’t happened in over 40 years is a testament to how difficult it is, especially in today’s era of parity and tight salary caps.

For the Panthers, pulling off a three-peat would not only end that drought but mark one of the greatest accomplishments in NHL history.

Panthers’ Chances at a Three-Peat

When evaluating Florida’s chances to win the Stanley Cup for a third consecutive season, several factors stand out. First is roster continuity. General Manager Bill Zito has done an admirable job of retaining the core that has brought the team recent success. Players like Aleksander Barkov, Matthew Tkachuk, Aaron Ekblad, and Sam Reinhart remain integral to the team’s identity. Conn Smythe Trophy winner Sam Bennett has reportedly re-signed, ensuring Florida’s top lines retain the chemistry that powered them through their 2025 playoff run.

The Panthers have a chance at history

Equally important is the team’s performance on both ends of the ice. The Panthers were not just winning games in the 2025 playoffs — they were dominating. They averaged over four goals per game while holding opponents to fewer than 2.5. That kind of two-way excellence is rare, and even more impressive when it’s sustained over multiple playoff rounds. Their ability to lock down elite offensive teams like Edmonton and Boston is part of what makes them so dangerous.

Paul Maurice's leadership has paid off

Then there’s the matter of coaching. Paul Maurice has revitalized his career in Florida, guiding the team to 11 playoff series wins in just three seasons. His tactical adjustments, emotional leadership, and calm bench presence have proven invaluable during high-pressure moments. The culture he and the front office have built in Florida is one of toughness, accountability, and confidence — all vital ingredients in any championship recipe.

Despite all this, repeating is never easy, let alone three-peating. The Panthers will face many of the same obstacles that make this feat so rare. Injuries can derail even the best-laid plans. Players get older. The salary cap forces tough decisions.

Brad Marchand, who was added as a veteran piece and contributed meaningfully, is now 37 years old. Managing his minutes and role becomes a real concern. Furthermore, teams around the league are already adjusting and loading up to try to dethrone the champs. Even internally, maintaining hunger and focus after two titles is a challenge. The Panthers have shown admirable drive in the past two postseasons, but a third Cup run would test their mental and physical endurance more than ever before.

Odds to Win the Stanley Cup Final 2026

Looking at the current betting markets, oddsmakers respect the Panthers' potential to make more history. Most major sportsbooks have Florida listed as the favorite or among the top two. DraftKings currently gives the Panthers +600 odds to win the 2026 Stanley Cup. Caesars lists them at +700, and FanDuel has them at +750. Bovada also posts them at +600.

To put this in perspective, American odds of +600 imply a 14.3% chance of winning it all, which is incredibly high given that 32 teams compete each year. No other team enters the 2025–26 season with such a strong statistical backing from sportsbooks.

 

Panthers 2026 Winning Chances

Panthers 2026 Winning Chances

Other top contenders include the Edmonton Oilers at +700 and the Carolina Hurricanes around +900, depending on the book. Edmonton, led by Connor McDavid, pushed the Panthers hard in the 2025 Final and will be hungry for revenge. Carolina, long considered a team on the brink, could also break through if they find consistent goaltending and health.

But it’s Florida that stands alone as the team to beat, at least on paper. The odds reflect their depth, star power, coaching, and recent track record.

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Historical Context and Final Thoughts

A third straight Cup would elevate the Panthers into a tier rarely seen in hockey. Only four franchises have ever pulled it off. In addition to the New York Islanders’ four straight in the early 1980s, the Toronto Maple Leafs did it in the 1940s and 1960s, while the Montreal Canadiens completed a five-Cup streak from 1956 to 1960. Since the introduction of the salary cap in 2005, no team has done it — not even the dynastic Chicago Blackhawks or Penguins.

For the Panthers, the path won’t be easy, but it’s undoubtedly clear. They must remain healthy, disciplined, and motivated. Role players will need to continue stepping up in big moments. Star players must carry the load without succumbing to pressure or injury. And perhaps most importantly, the team must find a way to stay mentally sharp and hungry despite having already reached the mountaintop twice.

Can the Panthers beat the odds for a threepeat

There are reasons to believe they can do it. Their roster is deep, their coaching staff is elite, and their organization has embraced a culture of sustained excellence. Yet the weight of history looms large. As they chase a third consecutive title, the Florida Panthers are attempting something that no team has accomplished in the modern era of hockey.

With betting markets backing them and a roster that knows how to win in the spring, the Panthers are not only suited for a three-peat — they may be the best chance we’ve seen in decades to actually make it happen.

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