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1h ago

Panthers Open Three-Peat Quest Short-Handed as NHL Season Begins With Olympic Pause

Oddsmakers lengthened Florida’s Cup price to 11-1 following Barkov’s 7–9 month knee recovery, with Tkachuk unavailable until about December.

Leon Draisaitl #29 of the Edmonton Oilers celebrates after scoring the game-winning goal to beat the Florida Panthers 4-3 during overtime in Game One of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final at Rogers Place on June 04, 2025 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
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Overview

  • Florida starts the 2025–26 campaign without captain Aleksander Barkov after knee surgery projected to sideline him 7–9 months.
  • Matthew Tkachuk is expected to miss roughly the first two months, targeting a return around December after his own surgery.
  • Despite the injuries, the two-time champions retained playoff MVP Sam Bennett, defenseman Aaron Ekblad and winger Brad Marchand.
  • BetMGM now lists Florida at 11-1 to win the Stanley Cup behind co-favorites Edmonton and Vegas, with Carolina, Colorado and Dallas also ahead.
  • The NHL schedule begins Oct. 7 and pauses for Milan’s Winter Olympics after 909 games, then resumes for 403 more, as Connor McDavid’s Oilers contend following his two-year, $25 million extension.