7 more wins. That’s how the Panthers are counting it. 3 wins will take them to their 3rd straight Stanley Cup final. That feat is no joke. Some of these players have been since the 2022-23 playoffs. Matthew Tkachuk, Aleksander Barkov, Aaron Ekblad, and Sergei Bobrovsky. Add to that Brad Marchand, who joined the Panthers in March 2025 and has settled in quite seamlessly! These people are NHL royalty. And yet, apparently, there’s not an ounce of star culture in the locker room, according to Panthers coach Paul Maurice.
AJ Greer first mentioned on May 20 that the Panthers have no star system in their locker room, and everyone is treated equally – from the top line to the 14th forward. Which is so wholesome and great to see. But who fosters it? Well, the Panthers coach not only shared the name of the man responsible for this, but he also told us how ingrained the no-star culture is in the locker room.
It all happened when the Panthers contingent was doing interviews on May 21, discussing their 2025 playoffs journey and what has happened till now. As to the guy responsible for keeping the team on a level head, Paul Maurice said, “I think that’s all Barkov.” The 29-year-old center, who has been a Panther all his life.
And the Panthers coach further continued telling us how it is. “Truly, if you didn’t know the face and you walked into that locker room or walked onto the airplane or watched him, you couldn’t tell who the star was in that room.” It definitely fosters bonding and keeps the collective vibe so fresh and positive. And not just Barkov. In fact, other ‘big players’ also try to ensure everyone is feeling equal, frank, and comfortable.
Credits: Instagram / @flapanthers
“Matthew’s like that, too. I know, like Matthew and Brad, some of the older kind of the guys … who make the media more, and I understand why they do. They’re one of the guys in the room.” But Paul Maurice reiterated that Barkov leads the way to ensure it’s like that. “I think it’s all Barkov.” The 58-year-old coach then gave a beautiful example of how they are all in it together. “We have a very difficult training camp, and we play like a back-to-back set of games. To start, it’s always been Nashville, and everybody plays. Bobrovsky plays in that game, Barkov plays in that game, they all play.”
The point being? Paul Maurice tried to explain with a parallel: “Everybody has to take a bite out of a sandwich that you don’t like, you know what I’m talking about, right? Everybody takes a bite out of that sandwich; nobody likes it. So, they do that for each other.” Meaning? The Florida Panthers players share everything together – through thick and thin. In a way, it becomes a duty that they know they owe to their teammates. “So, it’s not just that they like each other; it’s the way they treat each other.”
And this collectiveness is uncannily being seen on the ice, be it through stats or through their dynamic, which a former Stanley Cup winner can clearly see.
A stat that makes Paul Maurice’s team stand out, and Pat Maroon credits chemistry
After the Carolina Hurricanes game on May 20, the Panthers have some unique stats. Out of the 22 skaters used, the Panthers have 17 scorers with at least one goal and 13 with at least 2. And after the April 22 game against the Tampa Bay Lightning, the Panthers have played 12 games in which they haven’t had a multi-goal scorer game. But there’s a catch. It’s not like they are not scoring fluently. They are averaging 3.85 goals per game in the playoffs.
And now, the icing on the cake: the defending Stanley Cup Champions have played 8 games in which they have scored at least 4 goals so far this postseason. And in 7 of them, every Panthers goal was slotted home by a different player. You can understand how well they are doing collectively on the ice and how often they are turning up on the ice together. And 3-time Stanley Cup winner Pat Maroon says it’s all about locker-room chemistry.
Credit: Instagram /@flapanthers
Talking on the Pat McAfee Show, the former St. Louis Blues forward went, “I’m a firm believer if you have those relationships inside, uh, it’s going to carry over on the ice … you’re going to, you know, stick up for your teammates, you’re going to play for the guy beside you.” Continuing, he said, “There was a great culture in those Cup runs that we went deep on, and that’s a huge thing for me. And I think we’re seeing it with Florida right now.”
Furthermore, Maroon said, “It just seems like their locker room’s clicking. They’ve got good leadership. You know, when someone gets traded there, they bring them in right away.” Why? To integrate him with the team culture, to ensure the consistency is there and there’s no misunderstanding. And that’s how Paul Maurice’s men are getting the job done.
Surely with such a blueprint, we can’t see anyone being able to stop them. These are brothers in arms going to war for one another.
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