The Florida Panthers are unlikely to defend their Stanley Cup title this season, and the organization knows it. But general manager Bill Zito made clear on Friday that the team is not giving up and remains confident in what lies ahead.
“I don’t think we’re quitting on anything,” Zito said, “but we’re also realistic.”
The Panthers have been decimated by injuries throughout the season. Forward Matthew Tkachuk missed 47 games after offseason surgery, captain Aleksander Barkov is still recovering from knee surgery, and a string of other key players have missed significant time. Brad Marchand is now facing a potential surgery of his own, and defenseman Seth Jones has been sidelined for over three weeks.
Florida held a wild card spot as recently as Dec. 30 but has not been in a playoff position since. They entered the trade deadline 10 points behind the Boston Bruins for the second wild card spot in the Eastern Conference.
The modest deadline activity reflected the situation. The Panthers traded defenseman Jeff Petry to the Minnesota Wild for a conditional seventh-round pick, while adding forward Vinnie Hinostroza in a separate deal with Minnesota and claiming Cole Reinhardt off waivers from Vegas. None of the moves represented a significant push for the postseason.
The toll of the past few seasons has been significant. Florida appeared in three straight Stanley Cup Finals and had several key players compete in both the 4 Nations Face-Off and the 2026 Winter Olympics.
“We know we have pieces that make us better and stronger that’ll eventually come back into the fold,” coach Paul Maurice said.
Zito is also keen to retain goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky, who has struggled this season but remains part of the club’s core plans. Bobrovsky will turn 38 in September.
“Maybe his stats are lower, but I’m not sure that ‘decline’ is the word I’d use,” Zito said. “He’s had a hell of a workload. He’s a consummate professional and I want Sergei to stay.”
With the stretch run approaching, the Panthers plan to evaluate each player carefully and may rest some regulars to avoid worsening lingering injuries.
“Some of these guys are probably going to have to get some rest,” Maurice said. “We don’t want an injury that’s been nagging for two months to get worse in the last week and set a guy back two months in his rehab.”
Missing the playoffs may ultimately benefit a roster that needs time to heal and reset. The Panthers remain deep and talented, and Zito sounded energized about what a healthy group could look like next season.
“I think the future’s bright,” he said. “And I’m excited and hungry.”
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