Florida Panthers
If you want a team with everything in the Atlantic, look no further than the defending Eastern Conference Champions. The Florida Panthers are one of the biggest threats to win the Stanley Cup in the NHL. They have everything you want for a team to have ambitions of a title, and they were only three games from the cup last year when they steamrolled through the East. Florida will be looking to take that next step further in capturing the Stanley Cup.
The Florida Panthers have a forward core that is the envy of many teams. Led by Sam Reinhart's career year and supported by the likes of Matthew Tkachuk, Aleksander Barkov, and Carter Verhaeghe, their offensive prowess is undeniable. The addition of former Ranger Vladimir Tarasenko only strengthens their top six, a group that can score at will. With Kyle Okposo joining the bottom six, the Panthers' forward core is a force to be reckoned with, leaving no room for weaknesses. It's a formidable unit that can turn the tide of any game.
The Florida Panthers' defensive lineup is a testament to their strength. Brandon Montour, Gustav Forsling, and Aaron Ekblad form a solid blue line, with Dmitry Kulikov, Oliver Ekman-Larsson, and former Ranger Niko Mikkola providing strong support. The depth of their defensive roster, including players like Tobias Bjornfoot and Josh Mahura, is a clear indication of their defensive capabilities. While it may not match up to Carolina's, it's still strong enough to make a significant impact in the Stanley Cup playoffs.
Sergei Bobrovsky has shown he will have one of his good seasons this year between the pipes. When the Russian netminder is terrible, he is borderline unusable, but when he plays well, he can still win the Vezina Trophy as the league's best goaltender. He's a great netminder, but if the team playing against him can get to him, he could be vulnerable to defeats.
If the Rangers were to get a matchup with the Panthers, it'll likely be the round three matchup. They need to find a way to get the puck in the net in a potential matchup. Florida will allow you to dominate the play for the most part, so if you are clinical enough to take the chances, they will enable you to create, and you can beat the Panthers. While it won't be easy, playoff series never are.