Overview
- Florida was knocked out of postseason contention after a 9-4 loss to the Penguins, guaranteeing a new Stanley Cup winner.
- The exit ended a six-year playoff run and, according to OptaSTATS, made them the first major pro team this century to repeat and then miss the next postseason.
- Captain Aleksander Barkov missed the season following MCL and ACL surgery, and coach Paul Maurice said he would not return; Matthew Tkachuk did not debut until Jan. 19 after core surgery.
- Goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky struggled to a .878 save percentage and a 3.05 goals-against average in 51 games, compounding a lineup thinned by injuries to multiple regulars.
- Florida now sits in draft-lottery range at seventh-worst, eyeing a top-10 pick that would shift to the Blackhawks if it falls outside the top 10 under a prior trade, with lottery rules allowing a maximum jump of 10 spots.