After back-to-back Stanley Cup titles and three consecutive trips to the finals, the Florida Panthers won't be participating in playoff hockey this spring.
The Panthers were officially eliminated from postseason contention following Saturday's 9-4 blowout loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Florida hadn't missed the playoffs since 2018-19.
The Panthers were hit hard with injuries this season, perhaps as a result of the 68 grueling playoff games they've taken part in over the last three years. Captain Aleksander Barkov has missed the entire campaign, while other key players, such as Brad Marchand, Matthew Tkachuk, and Seth Jones, have missed extended time.
Meanwhile, others who have stayed healthy are simply having down years, including goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky, who was pulled during Saturday's loss after allowing six goals on 19 shots. The 37-year-old is having the worst season of his storied 16-year career. He owns an .878 save percentage in 51 games, which ranks 51st out of 58 qualified netminders.
The Chicago Blackhawks own Florida's 2026 first-round pick. However, if it falls in the top 10, the Panthers will have the option of keeping the selection and transferring an unprotected 2027 first-rounder to Chicago instead.
