Aleskander Barkov ranked 4th and Sam Bennett ranked 20th on NHL Network’s countdown of the Top 20 centers right now. Three-time Frank J. Selke Trophy winner, two-time NHL All-Star, two-time Stanley Cup champion, Lady Byng Memorial Trophy recipient and King Clancy Memorial Trophy winner, Barkov, earned the fourth spot following a dominant 2024-2025 season, finishing one spot ahead of the Pittsburgh Penguins’ Sidney Crosby and one spot behind the Edmonton Oilers’ Leon Draisaitl. Two-time Stanley Cup champion and Conn Smythe Trophy recipient Bennett ranked one spot behind Macklin Celebrini of the San Jose Sharks.
- Connor McDavid, Edmonton Oilers
- Nathan MacKinnon, Colorado Avalanche
- Leon Draisaitl, Edmonton Oilers
- Aleksander Barkov, Florida Panthers
- Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh Penguins
- Jack Eichel, Vegas Golden Knights
- Auston Matthews, Toronto Maple Leafs
- Brayden Point, Tampa Bay Lightning
- Mark Scheifele, Winnipeg Jets
- Nick Suzuki, Montreal Canadiens
- Jack Hughes, New Jersey Devils
- Robert Thomas, St. Louis Blues
- Sebastian Aho, Carolina Hurricanes
- Nico Hischier, New Jersey Devils
- Dylan Larkin, Detroit Red Wings
- Tim Stützle, Ottawa Senators
- Roope Hintz, Dallas Stars
- Tage Thompson, Buffalo Sabres
- Macklin Celebrini, San Jose Sharks
- Sam Bennett, Florida Panthers
The Florida Panthers were ranked first in The Athletic’s NHL front-office confidence rankings ($)
What is left to be said about the front office of the back-to-back champions that hasn’t already been said? As good as some other front offices are, no other franchise is close to operating at the level of the Florida Panthers, who are the class of the league. As one commenter aptly put it: “they don’t miss.”
The Matthew Tkachuk trade stands out as the first domino from this era of dominance and it feels like the Panthers really haven’t missed since. Every trade and every signing served a purpose and led them to two straight Stanley Cups. It’s also led to top marks in literally everything but drafting. Given how strong the team is at building its roster out through other avenues, it’s fair to give Florida a pass there.
It’s a shame, though, because the Panthers are otherwise as close to front office perfection as you can get. It’s extremely rare for a team to have a 4.9 average in any single category; the Panthers have it in four of six categories from their own fans.
There are some light qualms with how the Brad Marchand contract might age, but given the window the team is in, it’s a champagne problem more than anything. It feels impossible to doubt literally anything the Panthers are doing as they’ve become a model franchise.
The biggest complaint from the fan base: How the hell has Bill Zito not won a GM of the Year Award by now? Fair point — and maybe next year is the one that’s finally rectified given the masterful way he was able to run it back with a championship core.
The Panthers are back-to-back champs, and thanks to incredible managerial prowess, it feels unlikely they’ll be dethroned anytime soon.
Panthers defenseman Seth Jones has been invited to Team USA’s Olympic orientation camp. The camp is scheduled for August 26 and 27, and is mainly for administrative and team-building purposes and does not feature any formal on-ice activity.
Unrestricted free agent forward Victor Olofsson inked a one-year deal worth $1.58 million with the Colorado Avalanche. Olofsson, 30, spent the 2024-25 season with the Vegas Golden Knights, where he had 15 goals and 14 assists in 56 appearances. He posted the longest road point streak in Golden Knights history when he collected at least a point in ten straight games from December 4 to January 23.
The Nashville Predators signed forward Brady Martin to a three-year, entry-level contract. Martin, taken fifth overall in 2025, recorded a career-high 72 points (33G/39A), 72 penalty minutes and a +25 rating in 57 games this season while serving as an alternate captain for the Soo Greyhounds of the Ontario Hockey League.