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The Florida Panthers clinched their second straight Stanley Cup with a 5-1 Game 6 win Tuesday over the Edmonton Oilers, launching the franchise into dynasty territory.
They join a short list of repeat champions in the NHL’s salary-cap era. Powered by balanced scoring, strong leadership and bold trades by GM Bill Zito, the Panthers defied draft-based team-building norms.
Standouts included Sam Reinhart, who recorded the team’s first playoff hat trick, and captain Aleksander Barkov, the first European to captain two Cup-winning teams. Players and executives credit the organization’s relentless culture and “no complacency” mindset as the key to sustained success.
– Jesse Scheckner, Florida Politics