The Athletic recently released one of its most anticipated rankings: its NHL Player Tiers for the 2026-27 season. Despite a down year without a deep playoff run, the Florida Panthers were still well represented, with seven players spread across the publication's five tiers. Today, we'll look at which Panthers made the list and whether their placements were justified.
Tier 1 - MVP: Panthers captain Barkov
Only 11 players were ranked in the top tier, MVP, which features skaters worthy of building a roster around. It was no surprise to see that Aleksander Barkov was the lone Florida name in this section, since the Panthers built two Stanley Cup championships around the franchise's captain and best player.
Tier 2 - Franchise: Former 40-goal scorer Tkachuk
In The Athletic’s next section, Franchise, the Panthers again have only one name on the list: Matthew Tkachuk. According to their definition of a franchise player, Tkachuk fits the description. Since his arrival, the team has reached the Stanley Cup Final three of the past four years, and he has become the second player ever to score 100 points in a season.
Tier 3 - All-Star: A trio of Panthers fits the bill
As most fans know, the Panthers are loaded with star players, many of whom have been an All-Star at some point in their careers. The Athletic believes that three Florida players fit their description of what it means to be an All-Star, including Sam Reinhart, Gustav Forsling, and Brady Tkachuk.
Since his arrival, Reinhart has nearly broken the franchise record for goals in a single season and has become one of the few players to score four goals in a Stanley Cup Final game. Moreover, with another 30-goal season, he’ll become the first player in franchise history to have five 30-goal seasons.
On the back end, Forsling has become a reliable defender who once led the NHL in plus/minus while helping the Panthers go to three straight Finals. Without a doubt, Florida would be in deep trouble if the Swedish defender were ever to be out long-term with an injury.
The wildcard in this tier is Brady Tkachuk, who joined the Panthers this offseason after serving as Ottawa's captain for five seasons and becoming a multi-time 30-goal scorer. Now he'll have the opportunity to show what he can do on a legitimate Stanley Cup contender alongside his brother Matthew.
Tier 4 - Star: Panthers defender claims lone spot
Despite a plethora of stars in their lineup, The Athletic opted to select defenseman Seth Jones as the only Star on the Panthers' lineup. By their definition, Jones fit the description perfectly: he's not Florida's top defenseman, but a reliable one. He may never live up to the expectations attached to his contract, but he has become an important complementary piece on Florida's blue line since arriving in 2025.
Tier 5 - Support: Former Conn Smythe winner downgraded
Oddly, a handful of big names like Brad Marchand, Anton Lundell, and Aaron Ekblad didn't crack the list, but Sam Bennett did, and his placement seems like an insult. As the only player in the Support tier, the former Conn Smythe Trophy winner and multi-time 20-goal scorer got bumped to the lowest tier of The Athletic's rankings. Yes, Bennett is not at the same level as Barkov or even Reinhart, but he's a key player in the team's core and deserved to be grouped with Jones in the Star tier at worst. Last season, he was one of the few Panthers who remained healthy, and Florida's lack of organizational depth became obvious as injuries piled up.
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