On July 6, the Bleacher Report released its latest NHL Power Rankings, one week after free agency started. Despite a lackluster 2025-26 season after three consecutive Stanley Cup Final appearances, the Florida Panthers didn’t have any friends in the power rankings when the lights went out early in April instead of in the middle of June.
However, after some blockbuster moves, like acquiring Brady Tkachuk, reuniting with Jacob Markström, Radko Gudas, and Alex Petrovic, plus adding grit with Garnet Hathaway, the experts are rethinking how good the Panthers could be in 2026-27.
How high did the Florida Panthers rank in the latest Bleacher Report's NHL Power Rankings?
In their latest edition, Florida now occupies the fifth spot, behind the reigning Stanley Cup champion Carolina Hurricanes, Colorado Avalanche, Atlantic Division rival Montreal Canadiens, and the Vegas Golden Knights.
Interestingly, the top four teams were the same clubs in the Eastern and Western Conference Finals, although the Golden Knights, who lost in the Stanley Cup Final, find themselves in fourth place, behind a young Canadiens team that struggled to score throughout their unexpected playoff run.
In another article highlighting four NHL teams expected to be the worst this year, the Golden Knights made that list, too, which makes these latest power rankings a little surprising.
Ahead of the 2026-27 season, the Panthers will be a stronger team with captain Aleksander Barkov back to lead the charge. Despite no longer having Sergei Bobrovsky between the pipes, the club has brought back Markström, who is one year younger than his predecessor and hungry to prove doubters wrong and win important games.
Ultimately, injuries derailed the Panthers’ chances of winning three straight Stanley Cup titles. Still, after their longest offseason in years, everyone should be healthy and eager to push the organization back to the top of the mountain.
Even though other teams in the Atlantic Division and throughout the Eastern Conference are coming for their shot at a championship, there’s no counting out Florida and its core, who just got a whole lot meaner to play against.
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