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Analysis: Panthers’ team-first mentality led to another Stanley Cup

SUNRISE, Fla. — Aleksander Barkov hoisted the Stanley Cup, skated with it for a few moments and then handed it to a grinning Nate Schmidt, in his first year with the Florida Panthers and raising hockey’s hallowed trophy for the first time. Before any repeat winner touched it, every Panther who never had before […]

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SUNRISE, Fla. — Aleksander Barkov hoisted the Stanley Cup, skated with it for a few moments and then handed it to a grinning Nate Schmidt, in his first year with the Florida Panthers and raising hockey’s hallowed trophy for the first time. Before any repeat winner touched it, every Panther who never had before got the chance.

“There’s a lot of guys they play a ton of minutes that are huge contributors to this group, and they bypassed them and said: ‘We had it last year. We’ll never not cherish this moment,’” Schmidt said. “It was amazing.”

It also personified the Panthers, who did not have the best player in the final, not facing Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers again. They may not have even had the second-best with Leon Draisaitl there, too, but Florida repeating as champions showed exactly why hockey is the ultimate team sport.

“We just have so much heart, so much talent: Heart meets talent,” said winger Matthew Tkachuk, who played through a sports hernia and torn adductor muscle. “Our team was a team. When things were getting hard for them, they looked to one guy. But our team, we do it collectively.”

The Panthers had 19 non-goalies on the ice over six games against the Oilers; 15 registered a point and 11 scored at least once. Coach Paul Maurice said the team is “just really deep — unusually so,” making the point that he essentially had three first lines to roll out at any given time.

“A very talented group of guys, so when you bring somebody in, we’re going to play you with a really good player,” Maurice said.

General manager Bill Zito, who inherited Barkov, defenseman Aaron Ekblad and goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky, built the rest of the roster to win in the playoffs. With Maurice and his staff in charge, players who were adrift or simply mediocre elsewhere thrived in Florida.

“For the most part, every guy who’s come here has had the best season of their careers,” Zito said. “From that perspective, it’s gratifying to think that we can create an environment where the guys can do that, but it’s the team. It’s that room. It truly is.”

Fourth-liner A.J. Greer is one of those players after nearly giving up on his NHL dream a few years ago. He, Zito, Conn Smythe Trophy winner Sam Bennett and so many others use the word “culture” to explain the Panthers’ greatness, and it translates into results on the ice. The forecheck is never-ending, the harassment in the neutral zone relentless — and the offense burgeoning with talent.

“Everyone levels their game up here — every one of us,” Greer said. “There’s a sentiment of greatness but of just like wanting to be as good as you were yesterday.”

Tkachuk, acquired by Zito in a trade from Calgary in the same summer of 2022 when Maurice was hired as coach, shook his head when asked about scoring the Cup-clinching goal in Game 6. He wanted to make a point that it doesn’t matter who scores.

“I don’t care about personal stats,” Tkachuk said. “I don’t care. Our team doesn’t (care) about that. That’s what makes us a team, and that’s why we’re lifting the Stanley Cup right now because we’re a team and not a bunch of individuals.”

McDavid, who had seven points in six games in the final, had nothing but praise after a second straight loss to the Panthers on the NHL’s biggest stage.

“They’re a really good team,” McDavid said. “Very deserving. They were really good.”

Florida was in the final for a third consecutive year, and the only loss during this stretch came to Vegas in 2023 when injuries ravaged Tkachuk, Ekblad and others. That was the start of the winning blueprint that has made the Panthers so successful for so long.

“There’s a way that we do things here, and it’s not easy,” said Bennett, who led all players in the playoffs with 15 goals. “We don’t play an easy style of hockey. It demands a lot of you. Every single guy’s bought into it. When some new guys came in, they instantly bought into what we do here and the commitment to being great, to winning. Every single guy just really bought into that.”

Schmidt found that out quickly. He played for Maurice in Winnipeg, got bought out last summer and just wanted to get his game back. That happened quickly, and the Stanley Cup was the reward after going through another long grind as a team.

“It’s the system. It’s the group. It’s just completely selfless,” Schmidt said. “Guys just play one way, and they say, ‘Hey, this is how we do things’ and you’ve got to jump on board. Guys, once they mold themselves into the game, you just become another cog in the wheel here. That’s just the way it runs. It’s just a well-oiled machine.”



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NHL super prospect Gavin McKenna makes his college decision between Penn State, Michigan State

The greatest prospect of his generation has decided on his college hockey home. Gavin McKenna will be attending Penn State University, according to Elite Prospects insider Cam Robinson. It’s a massive decision in the college hockey world, as McKenna chose the Nittany Lions over his other finalist, Michigan State. Advertisement McKenna had also considered Michigan […]

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The greatest prospect of his generation has decided on his college hockey home.

Gavin McKenna will be attending Penn State University, according to Elite Prospects insider Cam Robinson.

It’s a massive decision in the college hockey world, as McKenna chose the Nittany Lions over his other finalist, Michigan State.

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McKenna had also considered Michigan and Denver before narrowing his list down.

It’s a groundbreaking decision in general, because players of McKenna’s ilk generally haven’t chosen to be NCAA hockey players before. It’s a bit like if Connor McDavid or Sidney Crosby had chosen to play in the Big Ten the year before they were drafted.

MORE: Red Wings forward announces shock NHL retirement at age 28

McKenna is currently the heavy favorite to be the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft.

The superstar forward has been playing with the WHL’s Medicine Hat Tigers.

In 56 games for the Tigers in 2024-25, McKenna had 129 points, including 41 goals. He added 38 points (nine goals) in 16 playoff games.

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The young Canadian could have lots of different reasons for choosing to go to college, including the potential benefits of NIL for earning income before even reaching the NHL ranks.

But regardless of his reasoning, it’s a massive decision.

Penn State will immediately have national championship expectations. McKenna will also be a bit easier to watch in the U.S. as teams potentially tank for the generational prospect.

And on campus in Happy Valley, he’s sure to be an instant sensation, a shooting star for a year before he goes off to bigger and better things.

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Inside the $5.1M College Football NIL Deal

Inside the $5.1M College Football NIL Deal Privacy […]

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Penn State Hockey Is Becoming a Destination for Top CHL Players

Penn State generated one of the great stories in NCAA men’s hockey last season, rising from the bottom of the Big Ten standings to make the first Frozen Four in program history. In his 13th season as the Nittany Lions’ head coach, Guy Gadowsky not only swelled the pride of alumni but also turned Penn […]

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Penn State generated one of the great stories in NCAA men’s hockey last season, rising from the bottom of the Big Ten standings to make the first Frozen Four in program history. In his 13th season as the Nittany Lions’ head coach, Guy Gadowsky not only swelled the pride of alumni but also turned Penn State hockey in a new direction.

Penn State has been active in the offseason player-acquisition market, which now includes CHL players for the first time in NCAA hockey history. With a burst of momentum, and a strong budget, Penn State has become destination for CHL players who want to play college hockey before beginning their NHL careers. One of those young players recently became the first Nittany Lion selected in the first round of the NHL Entry Draft.

Here’s a look into the players Penn State has earned commitments from since the game-altering rule change of November 2024.

RELATED: How Penn State is capitalizing on the new era of college hockey

Defenseman Jackson Smith

After weeks of rumors, 5-star prospect Jackson Smith committed to the Nittany Lions on June 15. Smith is a left-handed defenseman and one of the best athletes the NCAA will have to offer next season. He plays a strong two-way game, shutting down opponents in his own zone and quickly generating offense with his blazing 200-foot speed. 

Smith, 18, was selected 14th overall by the Columbus Blue Jackets in this year’s draft, becoming the Nittany Lions’ first first-round pick. He likely will be a first-pair defenseman for Penn State next season. 

The Calgary native will quarterback the first power-play unit, something Gadowsky has been searching for the past several years. Stu Barnes, Smith’s Tri-City American’s coach, spoke highly of his former player before the draft.

“He’s a big guy who’s a very good skater, good on his edges, very elusive for his size,” Barnes told NHL.com. [He’s] able to skate the puck out of the defensive zone, out of trouble and then transport it down the ice and be very efficient offensively.”

Jackson Smith poses for photos after the Columbus Blue Jackets selected him in the first round of the 2025 NHL Draft.

Jackson Smith is selected as the 14th overall pick to the Columbus Blue Jackets in the first round of the 2025 NHL Draft at Peacock Theater. / Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Forward Lev Katzin

The Nittany Lions landed a commitment from USHL forward Lev Katzin on Oct. 17, 2024. A month later, the left-shot forward signed an OHL Scholarship and Development Agreement with the Guelph Storm, furthering his junior career. 

The move intensified his development, as Katzin joined a competitive CHL league before his eventual tenure at Penn State. Katzin’s 2024-25 season with the Storm was headlined by consistency. Katzin (5-8, 176 pounds) was a point-per-game player despite his size, recording 16 goals and 32 assists in just 44 contests. 

In April, Katzin participated in the U18 World Juniors, where he competed alongside incoming Nittany Lion defenseman Smith for Team Canada. Katzin ranked third on the club in points with 10, just below Braeden Cootes (Vancouver) and Brady Martin (Nashville), who were first-round picks in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft. 

Katzin brings top-notch playmaking and elite hockey IQ to Penn State. 

Defenseman Nolan Collins

Nolan Collins was the first athlete Gadowsky recruited from the CHL. A big-bodied defenseman, Collins (6-4, 216 pounds), was a sixth-round pick in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft by the Pittsburgh Penguins. 

The Whitby, Ontario, native, competed in four seasons in the OHL, tallying 91 points (22 goals and 69 assists) in 229 games. Collins looks to be Penn State’s top right-handed defenseman. 

Goaltender Josh Fleming

After spending four years in the QMJHL, Josh Fleming announced his commitment to Penn State on Jan. 21. Fleming was the lone goaltender Gadowsky acquired via the CHL. He played in 133 games for the Acadie-Bathurst Titans and is coming off his best season. The Montréal, Quebec, native, recorded a .908 save percentage and 3.08 goals-allowed average in 53 contests. 

Fleming will serve as the backup netminder for Penn State behind transfer Kevin Reidler. 

Forward Shea Van Olm

Gadowsky’s second official CHL commitment was Shea Van Olm, who committed on Jan. 13. Van Olm is one of Penn State’s more eye-catching recruits following his 2024-25 season with the Spokane Chiefs of the WHL. The 20-year-old winger nearly eclipsed the 100-point mark last year, leading the WHL in goals with 49 and finishing ninth in points with 92. 

Van Olm helped lead the Chiefs to a championship appearance against McKenna’s Medicine Hat Tigers, eventually falling in five games. He finished sixth in postseason scoring with 31 points. 

The Calgary native makes a living standing netfront and will likely man the left wing alongside last year’s Big Ten leading scorer, Aiden Fink. 

Forward Luke Misa

Just when everyone thought Penn State was done with CHL recruits, Gadowsky earned a commitment from Misa on May 5. Misa (5-10, 176 pounds) is a slightly below average-sized center but compensates with his dynamic speed. The Ontario native is dangerous in transition, particularly with his playmaking vision, creating a multitude of high-danger chances. 

Misa tore up the OHL last year, posting 85 points, 31 goals and 54 assists in 67 games. He immediately slots in as Penn State’s most dynamic center.

Misa’s commitment started a whirlwind of rumors circulating Penn State and some of the most premier prospects, including his brother Michael, who was the No. 2 overall pick in this year’s draft. Michael Misa recently competed in the San Jose Sharks’ development camp.

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Report: Five-Star Forward & 2026 Top NHL Prospect Gavin McKenna To Commit To Penn State Men’s Hockey

In what’s been a transformative offseason for Penn State men’s hockey, head coach Guy Gadowsky is set to reel in his biggest fish yet. In a heated and contested recruiting battle, star WHL forward Gavin McKenna, the consensus No. 1 prospect for the 2026 NHL Draft, will reportedly commit to Penn State, according to Cam […]

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In what’s been a transformative offseason for Penn State men’s hockey, head coach Guy Gadowsky is set to reel in his biggest fish yet.

In a heated and contested recruiting battle, star WHL forward Gavin McKenna, the consensus No. 1 prospect for the 2026 NHL Draft, will reportedly commit to Penn State, according to Cam Robinson of Elite Prospects.

McKenna, one of the biggest recruits to ever commit to any Penn State athletic program, was sought after by all of college hockey, but Penn State pulled ahead of the pack, with McKenna ultimately choosing them over Big Ten rival Michigan State. McKenna made visits to State College and East Lansing at the end of June, but decided Happy Valley was home.

The Whitehorse, Yukon, native is a 6’0″, 165-pound left-winger who is highly regarded as one of the best Canadians to come through the ranks of junior hockey in recent memory.

Hockey insider Elliotte Friedman was the first to drop the tea leaves of where McKenna was leaning on June 7 on his 32 Thoughts podcast, with the episode appropriately named “It Must Have Been the Ice Cream”. Creamery ice cream really is irresistible.

McKenna doesn’t turn 18 until December and spent the 2024-25 season with the Medicine Hat Tigers of the Western Hockey League, putting up 41 goals and 129 total points. Washington Capitals prospect Andrew Cristall (132) is the only player to put up more.

McKenna’s outstanding season saw him named the David Branch Player of the Year as the best Canadian amateur player, an award previously won by the likes of Mario Lemieux in 1984, Sidney Crosby in 2004 and 2005, Connor McDavid in 2015, and recent No. 1 picks Alexis Lafreniere and Connor Bedard.

McKenna figures to only play one season with the blue and white this winter, but he’ll be joining an extremely talented team in Happy Valley that’s not only coming off of a Frozen Four appearance, but has added recent star commitments Jackson Smith, Pierce Mbuyi, and Luke Misa, while also landing Hobey Baker finalist Mac Gadowsky in the transfer portal.

It’s been reported that the Nittany Lions remain in the hunt for fellow top NHL prospects Porter Martone and Michael Misa, Luke’s brother.

Michael is a freshman from Eastampton, NJ, majoring in international politics. When he’s not watching his favorite New York sports teams (Knicks, Yankees, Rangers, and sadly, the Giants), he likes to bowl and play pickup basketball. You can contact him at @MichaelZeno24 on Twitter or [email protected]





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Women’s Ice Hockey Assistant Coach, Venla Hovi, Joins New Jersey Devils Development Camp

Story Links NEWARK, N.J. – Harvard Women’s Ice Hockey is proud to share that Assistant Coach Venla Hovi recently served as a guest coach at the New Jersey Devils Development Camp, held earlier this month in Newark, N.J. Hovi assisted the Devils coaching staff on the ice by running drills and mentoring […]

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NEWARK, N.J. – Harvard Women’s Ice Hockey is proud to share that Assistant Coach Venla Hovi recently served as a guest coach at the New Jersey Devils Development Camp, held earlier this month in Newark, N.J. Hovi assisted the Devils coaching staff on the ice by running drills and mentoring the players during the three-day training camp.
 
A former Olympian and seasoned international player, brought her wealth of experience with her to the NHL camp, working alongside the Devils’ coaching staff and top prospects. The invitation is the second she has received from the Devils staff after her appearance at the development camp in in 2024.
 
STORY: Guest Coach, Venla Hovi, Gains Insight at Devils Camp (July 19, 2024)
 
Hovi’s involvement with the Devils adds to her already impressive résumé, which includes two Olympic medals with Finland and a successful playing and coaching career across North America and Europe. She joined the Crimson staff in 2023 and has been instrumental in the growth of the program since her arrival in Cambridge.
 



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WVU’s White Preseason All-Big 12

Story Links MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – West Virginia University running back Jahiem White was named to the Preseason All-Big 12 Team announced today by the conference. All-Big 12 offensive and defensive teams, as well offensive, defensive and newcomer of the year were voted on by media members who cover the league. White, a […]

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MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – West Virginia University running back Jahiem White was named to the Preseason All-Big 12 Team announced today by the conference.

All-Big 12 offensive and defensive teams, as well offensive, defensive and newcomer of the year were voted on by media members who cover the league.

White, a junior from York, Pennsylvania, is the lone Mountaineer player named to the league’s preseason offensive and defensive teams.

Last year, White led the Mountaineers with 844 yards rushing, including a season-high 158 yards in a 38-14 victory over Oklahoma State. He also topped the 100-yard mark in games against Albany and Texas Tech.

White averaged 5.7 yards per carry and scored seven touchdowns.

In two seasons with the Mountaineers, he has rushed for 1,686 yards and scored 11 touchdowns on the ground while catching 24 passes for 247 yards and three touchdowns.

White gained a career-high 204 yards in a home victory over Cincinnati during his freshman season in 2023.

West Virginia fans are excited about the pairing of White and returning coach Rich Rodriguez, who has demonstrated throughout his coaching career a knack for developing productive ball carriers.

Avon Cobourne got the bulk of his school-record 5,164 yards while playing for Rodriguez at West Virginia, while College Football Hall of Famer Steve Slaton produced nearly 4,000 yards on the ground in three seasons playing for Rodriguez at WVU.

Quincy Wilson and Noel Devine were other top-notch ground gainers from the tailback position playing for Rodriguez at West Virginia.

When Rodriguez later coached at Arizona, Ka’Deem Carey led the country in rushing with 1,929 yards in 2013, including an average of 148.4 yards per game.

More recently, Tre Stewart rushed for 1,604 yards and scored 23 touchdowns last year in Rodriguez’s spread offense at Jacksonville State, ranking third nationally in both categories.

Arizona State sophomore quarterback Sam Leavitt was voted Preseason Offensive Player of the Year; Texas Tech senior linebacker Jacob Rodriguez was selected Preseason Defensive Player of the Year while Utah junior quarterback Devon Dampier, a New Mexico transfer, was picked as the Newcomer of the Year.

The league, which is conducting its annual media day activities later this week at the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas, is no longer releasing a preseason media poll.

Arizona State, predicted to finish in last place last year, won the conference championship and represented the Big 12 in the college football playoffs. 

2025 Preseason All-Big 12 Team

Offensive Player of the Year: Sam Leavitt, QB, Arizona State, RS-So.

Defensive Player of the Year: Jacob Rodriguez, LB, Texas Tech, Sr.

Newcomer of the Year: Devon Dampier, QB, Utah, Jr.

Preseason All-Conference Team (Offense)

QB: Sam Leavitt, Arizona State, RS-So.

RB: Bryson Washington, Baylor, RS-So.

RB: Jahiem White, West Virginia, Jr.

FB/H-Back: Will Swanson, Kansas State, Sr.

WR: Eric McAlister, TCU, Sr.

WR: Chase Roberts, BYU, RS-Sr.

WR: Jordyn Tyson, Arizona State, RS-Jr.

TE: Joe Royer, Cincinnati, RS-Sr.

OL: Ben Coleman, Arizona State, Gr.

OL: Spencer Fano, Utah, Jr.

OL: Bryce Foster, Kansas, RS-Jr.

OL: Caleb Lomu, Utah, RS-So.

OL: Jordan Seaton, Colorado, So.

PK: Will Ferrin, BYU, RS-Sr.

PR/KR: Josh Cameron, Baylor, RS-Sr.

Preseason All-Conference Team (Defense)

DL: David Bailey, Texas Tech, Sr.

DL: Dontay Corleone, Cincinnati, RS-Sr.

DL: C.J. Fite, Arizona State, Jr.

DL: Lee Hunter, Texas Tech, Sr.

DL: Domonique Orange, Iowa State, Sr.

LB: Jacob Rodriguez, Texas Tech, Sr.

LB: Austin Romaine, Kansas State, Jr.

LB: Keaton Thomas, Baylor, RS-Jr.

DB: Xavion Alford, Arizona State, RS-Sr.

DB: Bud Clark, TCU, Sr.

DB: Jeremiah Cooper, Iowa State, Sr.

DB: DJ McKinney, Colorado, Jr.

DB: Jontez Williams, Iowa State, RS-Jr.

P: Palmer Williams, Baylor, Jr.

 



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