Matthew Tkachuk Says Panthers Would Be Among NHL's Greatest With 2nd Stanley Cup Win

The Florida Panthers are two wins away from their second straight Stanley Cup title, and star winger Matthew Tkachuk feels the team is worthy of being considered among the greatest of all time.

"I have so much confidence in our team, and I believe that when we're playing at our best, we're pretty hard to beat," Tkachuck told ESPN's Emily Kaplan when asked what it would mean to go back-to-back. "I just think we'd be up there with some of the great teams ever. ... I think we've gotta be at least in the discussion with some of those teams."

The last team to win back-to-back Stanley Cup titles was the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2020 and 2021. The Pittsburgh Penguins also recently achieved the feat in 2016 and 2017, while the Chicago Blackhawks won two titles in three years in 2013 and 2015. Florida is hoping to join that pantheon by hoisting the Cup once again this year.

Tkachuk is in his third season with the Panthers after being traded from the Calgary Flames in 2022. The 27-year-old was named alternate captain last season and leads Florida with 13 assists this postseason.

The Panthers looked dominant in a 6-1 win over the Edmonton Oilers in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final, which gave them a 2-1 series lead. Florida is certainly hoping for another strong showing in Thursday night's Game 4, which will begin at 8 p.m. ET on TNT.