Panthers Postmortem: What Went Wrong in 2026 Season?
In the movie “Men in Black,” there are various gadgets the titular characters use, including a Neuralyzer to wipe someone’s memory for a limited time. That tool is exactly what the Florida Panthers could have used this season, missing the playoffs for the first time since 2019.
However, there is no Neuralyzer for the Panthers. They can only deal with potential franchise altering decisions moving forward.
When did the season start to slip away and why?
Matt: It started before the season, when the captain, Aleksander Barkov, fell on the ice at practice, tore two ligaments in his knee and was out for the year. A guy who is consistently scoring at a point-per-game and a finalist for the Frank J. Selke Trophy — awarded to the best defensive forward — is hard to replace. Florida resorted to budget signings, but nothing could replace the value Barkov brought to the team.
Hunter: I agree with Matt — losing your captain and best player is no easy obstacle to overcome. However, the Panthers still had an opportunity to sneak into the playoffs following the two-week Olympic break. At that point, though, the toll of playing 314 games over the previous three seasons began to show. The most of any team in NHL history over a three year span. From there, the season slipped away after the Olympics when the Panthers were unable to regain their form down the stretch.
What is the biggest question for the Panthers this offseason?
Matt: What do you do about Sergei Bobrovsky? On the first day of free agency in 2019, the Panthers signed him to a seven year, $10 million deal. This is the last year of that deal and the 37-year-old is starting to regress. He had the lowest save percentage of his career this year at .877 and tied the second lowest GAA of his career at 3.07. Many wondered if the Cats would try to move him before the deadline, but general manager Bill Zito said the goal is to resign Bobrovsky.
Hunter: Last season, the Florida Panthers traded a first-round pick and goaltending prospect Spencer Knight to the Chicago Blackhawks for Seth Jones. Florida went on to win the Stanley Cup, and Chicago was expected to receive the Panthers’ 2026 first-round pick. However, that selection was top-10 protected, meaning it would remain with Florida if it landed among the league’s worst records — and it did. As a result, the biggest question mark this offseason is whether the Panthers should use that pick to draft a top prospect or trade it in a package for an established, high-end player.
Can this team realistically compete for a title next season?
Matt: Yes, but they’ll need to make some choices this offseason. Bobrovsky isn’t the only goalie free agent for the Panthers. Backup Daniil Tarasov will be as well. Not only do they need to figure out the goalie situation, but they’ll have to try to re-sign some forwards. Mackie Samoskevich is a restricted free agent, meaning the Panthers have control of his contract. However, players like Tomas Nosek and A.J. Greer are all unrestricted free agents. They’ll have around $16 million in the offseason, according to CapFriendly, so Zito and the front office will have their hands full.
Hunter: All of the aspects Matt mentioned are valid and highlight how difficult roster construction can be. Building a team is easier said than done. However, Florida has established a track record of identifying fourth-line forwards and defensemen and allowing them to thrive within their high-pressure system. That is why this team can compete for a Cup. They have built a strong locker room culture and a system that fits their personnel, ensuring that whoever is on the roster is put in a position to succeed.
Category: Florida Panthers, Hockey, NHL
