MIAMI — Aaron Ekblad wants to stay with the Florida Panthers. So does Sam Bennett. And, unsurprisingly, so does Brad Marchand.

That’s three big powerhouses for this franchise, a trio of players who were integral in Florida repeating as Stanley Cup champions.

It’s going to be the first order of business for Panthers president of hockey ...Read more

PHILADELPHIA — Sitting on the dais next to new head coach Rick Tocchet in May, Flyers general manager Danny Brière said the plan hadn’t changed. Well, that could be debatable now.

The Flyers pulled off a big-time deal Monday, acquiring Trevor Zegras from the Anaheim Ducks in exchange for Ryan Poehling, the 45th pick in this year’s draft ...Read more

CHICAGO — The Chicago Blackhawks on Saturday acquired veteran forward André Burakovsky from the Seattle Kraken for Joe Veleno.

On its surface, the move appears to benefit both parties.

The Kraken unload Burakovsky’s contract ($5.5 million salary-cap hit) without a burdensome buyout.

The Hawks upgrade their offense from the 25-year-old ...Read more

SUNRISE, Fla. — For his next act, Bill Zito tries something else no one thought possible, financially practical or any-which-way probable.

Sam Bennett. Brad Marchand. Aaron Ekblad.

All free agents on July 1.

“I think we can bring them all back,’’ the Panthers general manager said Tuesday night on the ice as the Stanley Cup celebration...Read more

MIAMI — Parade details for the Florida Panthers’ Stanley Cup championship parade are out.

And it will look very similar to last year’s celebration — just hopefully without all the rain.

The Panthers’ 2025 Championship Celebration will take place on Sunday, starting at noon ET. The parade route along A1A will start at Riomar Street ...Read more

SUNRISE, Fla. — The most weirdly glorious tradition in all of sports told you all you needed to know late Tuesday night as hundreds of plastic and rubber toy black rats rained down as if heaven sent and peppered the sheet of ice — the perfect visual counterpart to the merry bedlam of sonic noise in the building.

The Stanley Cup trophy was ...Read more

SUNRISE, Fla. — Sam Bennett has been called many things in his career. A rat. A draft bust. A dirty player.

He can add a new title: Conn Smythe Trophy winner.

Bennett helped the Panthers lift their second straight Stanley Cup with a win over Edmonton on Tuesday, and he won the award given to the playoffs’ most valuable player. Bennett is ...Read more

MIAMI — Step inside the Florida Panthers’ dressing room on Tuesday after their morning skate, and things felt ... normal.

“Another day in paradise,” defenseman Nate Schmidt said at his stall with his usual bubbly smile.

It might seem hard to fathom that this team, just a few short hours from that point, would be playing for a chance to...Read more

Back on March 7, a half-hour before the NHL trade deadline, Paul Maurice went down the hall to congratulate the Florida Panthers' front office on a good day. Their work was done, the coach figured.

“What about Brad Marchand?” general manager Bill Zito said.

Maurice saw he wasn’t joking. And he knew of Zito’s ability to pull off big ...Read more

The Florida Panthers have a chance to hoist the Stanley Cup at home for the second consecutive year on Tuesday night at Amerant Bank Arena.

To be in the building to witness potential South Florida sports history in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final against the Edmonton Oilers, it will set you back a pretty penny.

The cheapest tickets to get in ...Read more

EDMONTON, Alberta — The Florida Panthers have a chance, for a second consecutive season, to win the Stanley Cup in front of their home fans.

Saturday night’s 5-2 Game 5 win at the Edmonton Oilers gave the Panthers that close-out opportunity, taking a 3-2 series lead into a Game 6 Tuesday night at Amerant Bank Arena.

But the Oilers are no ...Read more

EDMONTON, Alberta — The Florida Panthers are one win away from repeating as Stanley Cup champions.

After four games filled with high-stakes action and a lot of scoring, Florida took advantage of a game that was tighter on both ends of the ice to beat the Edmonton Oilers, 5-2, in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final on Saturday at Rogers Place.

...Read more

PITTSBURGH — Perhaps Mario Lemieux wants to complete the hat trick when it comes to saving the Penguins.

Whatever the reason, Wednesday's news that Lemieux, Ron Burkle and David Morehouse were potentially interested in buying back the franchise from Fenway Sports Group was certainly an attention-grabber — and could lead to a significant ...Read more

Early goals, historically late goals, once-in-a-century comebacks, overtime games that seemed about to end three, four, 17 times before they did, gorgeous goals and saves ... only four games in, this year’s Panthers-Edmonton Oilers Stanley Cup Final rematch already might be the best sequel since “The Godfather, Part II.” Or, at least, “...Read more