Instead of building through the draft, the Panthers were primarily constructed via trades and free agency. Eight of their players, including five of their top-seven scorers, were acquired via trade, while 11, including their number-one goaltender, were acquired via free agency.

The Panthers returned most of the players from last year’s Stanley Cup-winning team, but some of the newcomers, who haven’t won a title, have helped to motivate the team this year.

The Panthers' third line has been an X-factor all playoffs, with players like Brad Marchand and Anton Lundell playing a significant role.