Redemption: How a bitter loss in 2023 helped the Florida Panthers win the Stanley Cup in 2024
By Ben Huffman
The Cats rule the Atlantic Division
The Panthers engaged in a season-long battle with the Boston Bruins for division supremacy. While the Bruins came out of the gates hot, the Panthers never let them get too far ahead, sitting in the shadows to pounce on their opponent.
There were many more highs than lows for the Panthers this season. Sam Reinhart was a big part of it. In the final year of his contract, Reinhart was a scoring machine, finishing second in the league in goals (57) while leading the way with 27 goals on the power play. He also ended the season with a team-high 94 points.
As they jockeyed with the Bruins for the division crown, the Panthers made sure to add at the trade deadline. They made two moves to sure up their forward group, acquiring veterans Vladimir Tarasenko and Kyle Okposo. While Okposo only played in six games after the deadline, Tarasenko made an impact, scoring 14 points in 19 games. The division title came down to the final week, but the Panthers came out victorious, winning their final four games, while the Bruins lost three of their last four.