Florida Panthers went into the 2025/26 National Hockey League (NHL) season as one of the bookmakers’ favourites to win the Stanley Cup.

The Panthers claimed the prestigious prize in each of the previous two seasons, but their quest to complete a three-peat never got off the ground.

Injuries to key players prevented the Panthers from progressing to the play-offs, and they will be desperate to set the record straight this time around.

NHL 2026/27: Stanley Cup betting

Online bookmakers rate the Panthers as the favourites to win the Stanley Cup this season. Colorado Avalanche and Carolina Hurricanes are also prominent in the ante-post market.

Intriguingly, the GG.bet online sportsbook ranks the Edmonton Oilers as a big danger given that the new head coach Mike Babcock previously won the title with the Detroit Red Wings.

The latest betting odds are as follows:

·       Florida Panthers- 13/2

·       Colorado Avalanche - 7/1

·       Carolina Hurricanes - 7/1

·       Edmonton Oilers - 9/1

·       Tampa Bay Lightning - 11/1

·       Vegas Golden Knights - 11/1

·       Minnesota Wild- 14/1

·       Dallas Stars- 16/1

·       Ottawa Senators - 20/1

·       Washington Capitals -20/1

·       Buffalo Sabres - 22/1

·       Montreal Canadiens - 22/1

·       Anaheim Ducks - 25/1

·       New Jersey Devils - 25/1

·       Utah Mammoth - 25/1

·       Columbus Blue Jackets - 28/1

·       Los Angeles Kings - 28/1

·       New York Rangers - 33/1

·       Toronto Maple Leafs - 33/1

·       San Jose Sharks - 40/1

·       Detroit Red Wings - 50/1

·       Nashville Predators - 50/1

·       New York Islanders - 50/1

·       Philadelphia Flyers - 50/1

·       Pittsburgh Penguins - 50/1

·       Winnipeg Jets - 50/1

·       Boston Bruins - 80/1

·       Chicago Blackhawks - 100/1

·       St Louis Blues - 100/1

·       Calgary Flames - 200/1

·       Seattle Kraken - 250/1

·       Vancouver Canucks - 400/1

NHL 2026/27: Panthers first ten fixtures

·       Tuesday, September 29: Carolina Hurricanes (A)

·       Thursday, October 1: San Jose Sharks (A)

·       Sunday, October 4: Anaheim Ducks (A)

·       Tuesday, October 6: Los Angeles Kings (A)

·       Saturday, October 10: Minnesota Wild (H)

·       Monday, October 12: Buffalo Sabres (A)

·       Tuesday, October 13: Columbus Blue Jackets (A)

·       Thursday, October 15: Vancouver Canucks (H)

·       Saturday, October 17: Seattle Kraken (H)

·       Wednesday, October 21: Ottawa Senators (A)

NHL 2026/27: Panthers are eager to set the record straight

General manager Bill Zito has pulled out all the stops this summer to ensure that the Panthers’ squad is capable of winning the Stanley Cup for the third time in four seasons.

The acquisition of Brady Tkachuk from Ottawa Senators was the headline move, further strengthening the team’s attacking options.

He will play alongside his brother Matthew, bringing an intriguing family dynamic to the Panthers’ quest to regain ice hockey’s most prestigious trophy.

The Panthers have the best attacking corps in the league, as evidenced by a potential third line of Eetu Luostarinen, Anton Lundell and Brad Marchand.

Garnet Hathaway, Lars Eller and Sandis Vilmanis comprise a fourth line unit that would be the third line on most other squads in the NHL.

Zito’s biggest call this summer surrounded star netminder Sergei Bobrovsky, whose form dropped off a cliff last season as he posted a 27-23-1 record.

Jacob Markstrom has been acquired in a multi-player trade with the New Jersey Devils, while Akira Schmid has joined the Panthers from the Vegas Golden Knights.

Schmid has the ability to be a genuine rival to Markstrom’s status as the starting netminder, which should boost the Panthers’ chances of winning the title.

With an experienced defensive unit operating ahead of them, the Panthers appear to have everything they need to win the Stanley Cup this season.