Bryan Hayes names 4-time cup winners as the top team from East to challenge Florida Panthers next season

By Abhilasha Aditi

Modified Aug 10, 2024 04:44 GMT

The Florida Panthers clinched the Stanley Cup last season. As the new season approaches, there are teams that are being considered as favorites to take the cup away from the Panthers. Bryan Hayes, host of TSN OverDrive, thinks the New York Rangers are the top team to challenge the Panthers.

Hayes compared Florida to the Kansas City Chiefs and said:

“I think it’s a lot like the Kansas City Chiefs in the NFL, Scully, where, I’d argue it’s themselves. I think it’s the Florida Panthers themselves. Do they run into injuries? Do they get complacent? But pushing Florida aside in talking about who’s going to challenge them. I’ll go with the team they met in the Eastern Final and that would be the New York Rangers."

The Rangers lost to the Panthers in the Eastern Conference Final last season. They have a strong, deep roster. Hayes pointed to experienced players and younger talents like Filip Chytil and said:

"The Rangers have a ton of talent and a ton of depth, and they have a good fusion upfront of veterans like Zibanejad and Panarin and younger players. Filip Chytil who’s a really good player was hurt a lot last year.

"They have a great top-four defense, and on any given night, Igor Shesterkin can be the best goaltender in the world. I’m also a big fan of Peter Laviolette as a head coach. His cup experience. He’s won one. He’s been to multiple cups."

The Panthers are still the favorite in the East. However, Hayes thinks the Rangers could challenge them. He said:

"I think Florida is still the clear-cut favorite. Very difficult to go to three straight cup finals, albeit Tampa just did it a couple of years ago. But if I had to pick one team to chase down the Champs as of today, it would be the New York Rangers in the East.”

Being in a balanced lineup with great defense and goaltending, the Rangers may give the Panthers a run for their money in the playoffs.

Florida Panthers' Evan Rodrigues brings Stanley Cup to Boston University

On Friday, Panthers forward Evan Rodrigues took the Stanley Cup to Boston University. He was joined by his family at Agganis Arena. The BU marching band welcomed them warmly.

Rodrigues' sons wore matching suits and white gloves like the cup guardians. A photo showed his college days compared to now.

At BU from 2011 to 2015, Rodrigues scored 121 points in 146 games with 42 goals and 79 assists.