Editing Florida Panthers (section)

====2022–present: Back-to-back Stanley Cup Finals and first Stanley Cup championship====
[[File:MatthewTkachuk.jpg|thumb|Forward [[Matthew Tkachuk]], pictured with the [[Calgary Flames]].]]
After being swept in the second round by the Lightning, general manager Bill Zito decided to move on from interim head coach Andrew Brunette. On June 22, 2022, the Panthers hired [[Paul Maurice]] to be the franchise's 18th head coach.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Panthers hire former Jets head coach Maurice |url=https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/34130596/source-florida-panthers-hiring-ex-jets-coach-paul-maurice |access-date=July 7, 2024 |website=ESPN.com |date=June 22, 2022}}</ref> Later that same off-season, the Panthers traded away [[Hart Memorial Trophy]] nominee forward [[Jonathan Huberdeau]], defenseman [[MacKenzie Weegar]], a first-round pick, and prospect [[Cole Schwindt]] to the [[Calgary Flames]] in exchange for forward [[Matthew Tkachuk]] and a mid-round draft pick.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Tkachuk gets to Florida, says trade left him 'very ecstatic' |url=https://apnews.com/article/nhl-sports-hockey-relationships-florida-15cfbe5f1682d785c585251f8298ad8c |access-date=July 7, 2024 |website=AP News |date=July 24, 2022}}</ref> The Tkachuk–Hubderdeau trade saw two [[List of NHL players with 100-point seasons|100-point NHL scorers]] traded for each other for the first time since 1988, when [[Wayne Gretzky]] was traded for [[Jimmy Carson]].<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Vingan |first1=Adam |title=How Tkachuk, Huberdeau and Weegar have performed since blockbuster trade |url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/how-tkachuk-huberdeau-and-weegar-have-performed-since-blockbuster-trade/ |access-date=July 7, 2024 |website=Sportsnet.ca |date=January 27, 2023}}</ref> This trade was also the first [[Sign-and-trade deal|sign-and-trade]] in NHL history as Tkachuk was a [[restricted free agent]] at the time.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Serafini |first=Joshua |title=Brad Treliving made NHL history with the Matthew Tkachuk trade |url=https://thewincolumn.ca/2022/07/27/brad-treliving-made-nhl-history-with-the-matthew-tkachuk-trade/ |access-date=July 7, 2024 |website=The Win Column |date=July 27, 2022}}</ref> The hiring of head coach Maurice and the Tkachuk trade proved to be successful in the following seasons.

For the [[2022–23 NHL season|2022–23 season]], the Panthers looked to carry on their positive regular season streak. However, the team was hampered by injuries, most notably to star center Aleksander Barkov, who was sidelined for a large portion of the season.<ref>{{cite web |title=NHL Buzz: Barkov has lower-body injury, out for Panthers against Bruins |url=https://www.nhl.com/news/nhl-buzz-news-and-notes-december-19/c-338970884 |website=NHL.com |access-date=May 25, 2023 |archive-date=May 25, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230525161128/https://www.nhl.com/news/nhl-buzz-news-and-notes-december-19/c-338970884 |url-status=live}}</ref> Despite being outside of playoff contention by February 2023, the Panthers slowly gained momentum, aided by Barkov's return, and eventually finished the season with a 42–32–8 record, good enough for 92 points and the second wild card spot and eighth seed in the Eastern Conference overall, one point ahead of the Pittsburgh Penguins and Buffalo Sabres. As such, they were set to battle the record-breaking, 135-point Boston Bruins in the [[2023 Stanley Cup playoffs#(A1) Boston Bruins vs. (WC2) Florida Panthers|first round]]. As the heavy underdogs in the series, the Panthers were down 3–1 after losing game 4 at home. However, they won game 5 in overtime, 4–3 at the [[TD Garden]], and game 6, 7–5, at home to tie the series at 3. In the definitive game 7, the Panthers led 2–0 after the first period, but were down 3–2 with under two minutes left in the third period, facing elimination. However, after goaltender [[Sergei Bobrovsky]] left the net to bring an extra skater to the ice, [[Brandon Montour]] scored with under a minute left to play to send the game to overtime. In overtime, despite a few saves by Bruins goaltender [[Jeremy Swayman]], [[Carter Verhaeghe]] scored to win the game 4–3 and stun the Bruins, setting up a second round matchup against the [[Toronto Maple Leafs]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cbssports.com/nhl/news/bruins-vs-panthers-score-florida-stuns-boston-in-game-7-behind-carter-verhaeghes-game-winning-goal-in-ot/live/|work=CBS Sports|title=Bruins vs. Panthers score: Florida stuns Boston in Game 7 behind Carter Verhaeghe's game-winning goal in OT|last=Nivison|first=Austin|date=April 30, 2023|access-date=May 1, 2023|archive-date=May 1, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230501034258/https://www.cbssports.com/nhl/news/bruins-vs-panthers-score-florida-stuns-boston-in-game-7-behind-carter-verhaeghes-game-winning-goal-in-ot/live/|url-status=live}}</ref> In the second round, the Panthers continued their positive streak, defeating the Maple Leafs in five games.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/miami/news/florida-panthers-defeat-toronto-maple-leafs-3-2-to-advance-to-conference-finals/|website=CBS News|publisher=CBS News|title=Florida Panthers defeat Toronto Maple Leafs 3–2 to advance to Eastern Conference final|date=May 12, 2023|access-date=May 25, 2023|archive-date=May 25, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230525015921/https://www.cbsnews.com/miami/news/florida-panthers-defeat-toronto-maple-leafs-3-2-to-advance-to-conference-finals/|url-status=live}}</ref> The Panthers played their longest game in franchise history on May 18, against the [[Carolina Hurricanes]] in the conference finals, which resulted in a 3–2 Panthers victory with [[Matthew Tkachuk]] scoring the game-winning goal with 12.7 seconds left in quadruple overtime.<ref>{{cite web |title=Tkachuk ends 6th-longest game in NHL history, Panthers outlast Hurricanes 3–2 in 4th OT |url=https://www.espn.com/nhl/recap/_/gameId/401548431 |website=ESPN |access-date=May 20, 2023 |date=May 18, 2023 |archive-date=May 19, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230519171457/https://www.espn.com/nhl/recap/_/gameId/401548431 |url-status=live}}</ref> The Panthers would then sweep the Hurricanes in four games which included a goal by Tkachuk with 4.3 seconds left in game 4. This would be the first time the Panthers had ever swept a playoff series. They advanced to the [[2023 Stanley Cup Finals]],<ref>{{cite web |title=Tkachuk sends Panthers to Stanley Cup Final, after topping Hurricanes 4–3 for sweep |url=https://www.espn.com/nhl/recap/_/gameId/401548434 |website=ESPN |access-date=May 25, 2023 |date=May 24, 2023 |archive-date=May 25, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230525145047/https://www.espn.com/nhl/recap/_/gameId/401548434 |url-status=live}}</ref> where they lost to the [[Vegas Golden Knights]] in five games.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Belson |first1=Ken |title=Vegas Golden Knights Win the Stanley Cup in Just Their Sixth Season |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/06/13/sports/hockey/nhl-stanley-cup-knights-panthers.html |website=The New York Times |access-date=December 24, 2023 |date=June 13, 2023}}</ref>

[[File:Sergei Bobrovsky with the Stanley Cup.jpg|thumb|Goaltender [[Sergei Bobrovsky]] hoisting the [[Stanley Cup]].]]
For the [[2023–24 NHL season|2023–24 season]], the Panthers were expected to regress in results, as it was believed their aggressive [[forecheck]]ing and stout defense would be figured out by rival teams. However, the Panthers once again enjoyed a successful season. They went 52–24–6 for 110 points, star center [[Sam Reinhart]] netted 57 goals (behind [[Auston Matthews]] for the league lead), and overtook the Boston Bruins in the last regular season game for the [[Atlantic Division (NHL)|Atlantic Division]] crown, their third in franchise history.<ref name="Maple20240416">{{cite web |last1=Richards |first1=George |title=Panthers clinch 1st in Atlantic Division with win against Maple Leafs |url=https://www.nhl.com/news/toronto-maple-leafs-florida-panthers-game-recap-april-16 |website=NHL.com|access-date=April 23, 2024 |date=April 16, 2024}}</ref> Barkov became the franchise's [[List of Florida Panthers records|all-time points leader]] in a 5–2 win over the Detroit Red Wings on March 20.<ref name=":0" /> The Panthers defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs 5–2 at home, while the Bruins were ousted by the [[Ottawa Senators]], 3–1, to win the division.<ref>{{cite web |title=Jiri Smejkal gets 1st goal, Senators beat Bruins 3–1 in regular-season finale |url=https://www.espn.com/nhl/recap/_/gameId/401560522 |website=ESPN|access-date=April 23, 2024 |date=April 16, 2024}}</ref> In the first round of the [[2024 Stanley Cup playoffs|2024 playoffs]], the Panthers played against their rivals, the Tampa Bay Lightning, and won the series in five games.<ref name="Lightning4292024">{{cite web |last1=Richards |first1=George |title=Panthers pull away in 3rd, eliminate Lightning with win in Game 5 |url=https://www.nhl.com/news/tampa-bay-lightning-florida-panthers-game-5-recap-april-29 |website=NHL.com |access-date=May 6, 2024 |date=April 29, 2024}}</ref> In the next round, the Panthers played the Boston Bruins again, this time winning the series in six games. In the conference finals, they won the six-game series against the [[New York Rangers]], advancing to the Stanley Cup Finals for the second straight year, where they defeated the [[Edmonton Oilers]] in seven games to win their first Stanley Cup in franchise history.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://sports.yahoo.com/live/stanley-cup-final-panthers-win-game-7-thriller-over-oilers-to-secure-first-championship-in-franchise-history-025534039.html|title=Stanley Cup Final: Panthers win Game 7 thriller over Oilers to secure first championship in franchise history|website=Yahoo Sports|last1=Owens|first1=Jason|last2=Leahy|first2=Sean|date=June 24, 2024|access-date=June 24, 2024}}</ref>

In the [[2024–25 NHL season|2024–25 season]], the Panthers placed third in the Atlantic Division and fifth in the Eastern Conference. The team dealt with injuries towards the end of the season, including to star forward [[Matthew Tkachuk]] and defenseman [[Dmitry Kulikov (ice hockey)|Dmitry Kulikov]]. Tkachuk was injured during the [[4 Nations Face-Off]], but he returned for the playoffs.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Panthers Star Matthew Tkachuk Out for Season Due to 4 Nations Face-Off Injury |url=https://www.si.com/nhl/panthers-matthew-tkachuk-out-for-season-due-to-4-nations-face-off-injury |access-date=May 13, 2025 |website=SI |date=March 3, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Tkachuk returns for Panthers in Game 1 of Eastern 1st Round against Lightning |url=https://www.nhl.com/news/matthew-tkachuk-game-time-decision-for-game-1-for-florida-panthers-in-eastern-first-round |access-date=May 13, 2025 |website=NHL.com |date=April 23, 2025}}</ref> Longtime defenseman [[Aaron Ekblad]] was suspended 20 games for violating the NHL/NHLPA Performance Enhancing Substances Program.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ekblad of Panthers suspended 20 games |url=https://www.nhl.com/news/florida-panthers-aaron-ekblad-suspended-20-games |access-date=May 13, 2025 |website=NHL.com |date=March 10, 2025}}</ref> The Panthers met their cross-state rival the [[Tampa Bay Lightning]] in the first round of the playoffs, with Florida winning the series in five games.