The Florida Panthers are still celebrating their second straight Stanley Cup championship. Florida defeated the Edmonton Oilers in six games to capture this title, defeating their Western Canadian rivals for the second consecutive year. This is part of the reason veteran defenseman Jeff Petry signed with the franchise in NHL Free Agency.
Granted, it’s not the only reason. But the 37-year-old defenseman has spent 15 years in the NHL. And unfortunately, he has yet to hoist the Stanley Cup above his head. With little time remaining in his career, now is the time to chase that ring.
Some may view the decision as somewhat difficult, though. Petry spent the last two seasons with his hometown Detroit Red Wings. The son of former Detroit Tigers pitcher Dan Petry, Jeff is a native of Ann Arbor. Spending your final seasons with your hometown team is the stuff dreams are made of.
However, Petry said earlier this month that the decision was quite easy. And the main reason is the culture the Panthers have carefully crafted over the years.
“When they called, it was a no-brainer. You hear about the group, what they do together on the ice, off the ice. You hear so many good things about it, and like I said, when they had interest, it was a no-brainer for me. They want you to come in and be the player you are, be the person you are, and not try to do something that isn’t within your characteristics,” Petry told Jordan McPherson of The Miami Herald in a Q&A in early July.
How Jeff Petry Fits in Panthers Lineup
Bruce Bennett/Getty ImagesJeff Petry is looking for an elusive Stanley Cup ring with the Florida Panthers.
Petry is certainly not the player he used to be. At one point, he was a legitimate top-pairing defender. However, he is more suited for a depth role at this point in his career. Thankfully, that’s the role he’s most likely to play with the Panthers this season.
Petry is hoping to remain healthy, as well. The Michigan native, unfortunately, missed extended time for the Red Wings in 2024-25. He was limited to 44 games, scoring one goal and eight points.
If Petry can stay healthy, he can slot in as the sixth defenseman on this team. The right side of the defense is well covered with Aaron Ekblad and Seth Jones. Petry can handle the third pairing while providing some leadership on the backend.
Past Experience Fuels Stanley Cup Hunger
As mentioned, Petry has never won the Stanley Cup. However, he has come close in his career. He and the Montreal Canadiens made the Stanley Cup Final in 2021. Unfortunately, they lost to the Tampa Bay Lightning in five games. This shortcoming has driven Petry to chase the elusive ring late in his career.
“That feeling of being really close in Montreal, and then losing in the final, that was a tough feeling. I always said before my career is over, I want to be able to be in that position again and be on a team that can compete for a Stanley Cup. Coming to Florida, I think that gives me a very good opportunity to do that,” the new Panthers defenseman said, via McPherson.
Petry and the Panthers are motivated to establish a new dynasty in the NHL. It will certainly be intriguing to see if they can pull off the first three-peat in over 40 years. Florida begins its 2025-26 regular season on October 7th when they face Connor Bedard and the Chicago Blackhawks.
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