Aleksander Barkov [C]

• Age: 29
• Ht: 6-3
• Wt: 214

'23-24	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	P/GP
Fla	73	23	57	80	33	24	1.10
Career	804	286	496	782	124	164	0.97
Forecast	75	26	58	84	-	-	1.12

The first Finnish captain of a Cup-winning squad is arguably the NHL's best two-way player. He has averaged more than a point per game over the past nine seasons and won the Selke Trophy as the NHL's best defensive forward twice. Barkov tied for the team lead in playoff points and for the league lead in postseason game-winning goals.

Sam Bennett [C]

• Age: 28
• Ht: 6-1
• Wt: 193

'23-24	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	P/GP
Fla	69	20	21	41	17	100	0.59
Career	719	169	184	353	-23	694	0.49
Forecast	70	18	25	43	-	-	0.61

He is a late bloomer whose offensive game has come alive in Florida. He battles for space on the walls and in front of the net, and he always plays right on the penalty edge (100 PIM in 2023-24). He is physical (173 regular-season hits, plus an NHL-high 87 in the playoffs) and has hit the 20-goal mark twice in the past three seasons.

MacKenzie Entwistle [RW/C]

• Age: 25
• Ht: 6-3
• Wt: 184

'23-24	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	P/GP
Chi	67	5	6	11	-29	47	0.16
Career	193	15	20	35	-55	86	0.18
Forecast	76	8	12	20	-	-	0.26

The 25-year-old forward gives everything he has on every shift. However, he has never been a huge offensive producer, even going back to junior hockey. Entwistle, who can play any forward position, is coming off a career-worst minus-29 rating in 2023-24. He will need major improvements in his game to become more than a depth forward.

Jonah Gadjovich [RW/LW]

• Age: 26
• Ht: 6-3
• Wt: 211

'23-24	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	P/GP
Fla	39	2	2	4	0	104	0.10
Career	170	10	11	21	-18	319	0.12
Forecast	58	3	5	8	-	-	0.14

If penalty minutes were points, Gadjovich would be among the NHL's top scorers. He is a depth forward whose limited role (7:26 TOI/GP in '23-24) includes standing up for his teammates; he took 10 major penalties and registered 104 penalty minutes in 39 games last campaign. Gadjovich's skating has shortcomings, but he provides energy.

Anton Lundell [C]

• Age: 23
• Ht: 6-1
• Wt: 196

'23-24	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	P/GP
Fla	78	13	22	35	19	46	0.45
Career	323	67	112	179	65	157	0.55
Forecast	80	15	25	40	-	-	0.50

Florida's first-round pick in 2020 has settled in as a middle-six forward, although he showed in '23-24 that he may have some more offense in his game than he has demonstrated thus far. Lundell is not a burner, but his skating is getting better as he matures. His shooting percentage has been below 8 percent in back-to-back campaigns.

Eetu Luostarinen [LW]

• Age: 26
• Ht: 6-3
• Wt: 191

'23-24	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	P/GP
Fla	82	12	15	27	1	26	0.33
Career	394	53	87	140	23	114	0.36
Forecast	82	15	16	31	-	-	0.38

He was healthy for the Stanley Cup Final last spring, as opposed to 2023, and showed why he was so missed the previous campaign. The tall (6'3''), rangy forward saw his regular-season offensive numbers and plus/minus rating drop off significantly, after a career year in '22-23. He is relied upon as a solid penalty killer and checker.

Tomas Nosek [C]

• Age: 32
• Ht: 6-3
• Wt: 199

'23-24	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	P/GP
NJ	36	2	4	6	-11	6	0.17
Career	493	45	71	116	-9	162	0.24
Forecast	76	6	12	18	-	-	0.24

Injuries cost the Czech most of the first four months of 2023-24 and reduced his offensive numbers to an afterthought. Not that Nosek has ever been a major offensive threat–he has never notched more than eight goals or 18 points. He has always been a depth forward and an effective penalty killer who wins more face-offs than he loses.

Sam Reinhart [RW]

• Age: 28
• Ht: 6-1
• Wt: 196

'23-24	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	P/GP
Fla	82	57	37	94	29	31	1.15
Career	803	309	337	646	-57	177	0.80
Forecast	82	38	35	73	-	-	0.89

The 28-year-old capped (by far) the best campaign of his career by scoring the Cup-winning goal last spring. He led the league in power-play goals (27) and tied for second in shorthanded tallies (5) in '23-24. Reinhart excels at finding quiet spots on the ice. He has a quick, accurate release, and his 200-foot game has also improved.

Evan Rodrigues [C/W]

• Age: 31
• Ht: 5-11
• Wt: 182

'23-24	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	P/GP
Fla	80	12	27	39	26	34	0.49
Career	575	104	149	253	-2	191	0.44
Forecast	82	13	24	37	-	-	0.45

He led the champion Cats with four goals in the Stanley Cup Final last spring, which was a third of his entire regular-season total! The veteran forward can be used effectively on any forward line and on either side of center. Rodrigues plays with pace, competes over the full 200 feet of ice and complements anyone he plays with well.

Mackie Samoskevich [RW/LW]

• Age: 21
• Ht: 5-11
• Wt: 180

'23-24	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	P/GP
Fla	7	0	0	0	-3	0	0.00
Career	107	18	27	45	-11	18	0.42
Forecast	49	8	9	17	-	-	0.35

The 21-year-old was on Florida's opening-night roster in '23-24 but spent most of his first full pro campaign in the AHL. There, he led the team in scoring. He has the hands, speed and skill to keep defenders on their heels. He plays at a high tempo in the offensive end and has decent strength for a small player (5'11'', 183 pounds).

Matthew Tkachuk [RW/LW]

• Age: 26
• Ht: 6-2
• Wt: 202

'23-24	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	P/GP
Fla	80	26	62	88	19	88	1.10
Career	642	240	396	636	130	690	0.99
Forecast	81	40	64	104	-	-	1.28

The 26-year-old dropped below the 100-point mark during the 2023-24 regular season but shared the squad lead in playoff points on the way to a championship. He is a rare elite scorer who is also an elite agitator. His best work is below the dots and in front of the net, where he is tough to dislodge. He is Florida's offensive engine.

Carter Verhaeghe [LW]

• Age: 29
• Ht: 6-2
• Wt: 183

'23-24	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	P/GP
Fla	76	34	38	72	17	36	0.95
Career	438	155	168	323	51	221	0.74
Forecast	79	35	34	69	-	-	0.87

The 29-year-old took four minor-league campaigns to reach the NHL but has been making up for lost time ever since. That includes tallying 76 goals and registering 145 points the last two years, as well as a team-leading 11 playoff goals last spring. He is dangerous off the rush and a pure sniper, and has a knack for finding open ice.

Uvis Balinskis

• Age: 28
• Ht: 6-0
• Wt: 196

'23-24	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	P/GP
Fla	26	1	2	3	0	8	0.12
Career	121	6	20	26	-6	41	0.21
Forecast	68	3	6	9	-	-	0.13

After spending time in the KHL and Czech Extraliga, his first campaign in North America included 26 games with the Panthers, where he averaged 14:06 of ice time as a third-pairing defenseman. The Latvian defenseman has good speed and can join the rush, but he does not try to do too much. He is at his best when he keeps things simple.

Aaron Ekblad

• Age: 28
• Ht: 6-4
• Wt: 220

'23-24	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	P/GP
Fla	51	4	14	18	27	50	0.35
Career	759	119	268	387	90	523	0.51
Forecast	77	10	23	33	-	-	0.43

Injuries, a career-long problem, cost Ekblad 31 games and were the biggest reason for his plummeting offensive totals in '23-24–though he posted an impressive plus-27 rating. When healthy, the No. 1 pick in the '14 draft is good for double-digit goals, 35-50 points and 20-25 minutes of ice time per game. He contributes in all facets.

Gustav Forsling

• Age: 28
• Ht: 6-1
• Wt: 199

'23-24	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	P/GP
Fla	79	10	29	39	56	43	0.49
Career	505	58	148	206	161	175	0.41
Forecast	81	11	30	41	-	-	0.51

The NHL's regular-season plus/minus rating leader (+56) went from waiver claim to elite two-way D-man in three years. Forsling plays major minutes in all situations because he is a solid defender, can lead the rush and has a surprisingly effective shot. He blocks shots (102 last campaign) and matches up well against top-six forwards.

Dmitry Kulikov

• Age: 33
• Ht: 6-1
• Wt: 212

'23-24	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	P/GP
Fla	76	1	19	20	15	63	0.26
Career	1020	50	197	247	-25	629	0.24
Forecast	72	1	14	15	-	-	0.21

The Russian is at his best when he keeps his game simple: moving the puck out of his zone adequately, playing physically (145 hits in 2023-24) and finishing his checks without taking chances. The 2009 first-rounder has never been a big point producer. He is at his best when used on the third pairing, though he can slide up if needed.

Niko Mikkola

• Age: 28
• Ht: 6-6
• Wt: 204

'23-24	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	P/GP
Fla	82	3	14	17	11	69	0.21
Career	356	14	52	66	22	289	0.19
Forecast	82	2	8	10	-	-	0.12

He found a home in Florida last campaign, settling into a defensive role and averaging more than 20 minutes of ice time for the first time. Although he is never going to be a huge scorer, he skates well, can match up against top-six forwards, has the kind of long reach that helps him kill penalties and can manage the puck adequately.

Nate Schmidt

• Age: 33
• Ht: 6-0
• Wt: 197

'23-24	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	P/GP
Wpg	63	2	12	14	10	16	0.22
Career	771	53	197	250	118	154	0.32
Forecast	74	5	15	20	-	-	0.27

Schmidt's offense has dropped off sharply since 2021-22, as has his time on ice. He is being used more in a third-pairing role now, rather than as a top-four D-man, and gets a bit less time on special teams. He is not overly physical, does not block a ton of shots and is more of an area defender with an active stick to disrupt plays.

Sergei Bobrovsky

• Age: 36
• Ht: 6-2
• Wt: 180

'23-24	GP	W	L	OT	SO	GAA	Sv%
Fla	58	36	17	4	6	2.37	0.915
Career	774	440	251	58	51	2.59	0.914
Forecast	55	32	-	-	4	2.59	0.908

"Bob" now owns a Stanley Cup to go with his two Vezina trophies. He earned all 16 of the Panthers' playoff wins after posting the best stats of his five regular campaigns in Florida in 2023-24. At 36, Bobrovsky is an athletic butterfly 'keeper with elite quickness and competitiveness. He struggles at times when moving side to side.

Spencer Knight

• Age: 23
• Ht: 6-3
• Wt: 192

'23-24	GP	W	L	OT	SO	GAA	Sv%
	45	25	14	5	5	2.41	0.905
Career	115	58	39	14	6	2.79	0.906
Forecast	28	16	-	-	1	3	0.903

He spent all of last season at AHL Charlotte, continuing his comeback from a mental health issue. Prior to that, Knight started two playoff games in '21 and had settled in as a reliable tandem netminder by appearing in a total of 57 regular-season contests in the NHL. In the AHL, his skills did not diminish–he won 25 games in '23-24.