Amerant Bank Arena, Home to the Florida Panthers – Sunrise, FL – Courtesy: Shutterstock – Image by Felix Mizioznikov
In Raleigh, North Carolina, the Carolina Hurricanes and Florida Panthers begin their Eastern Conference Finals matchup. These two teams are meeting in the conference championships for the second time in three seasons. Each team is ready for the star power because of this familiarity. Everyone is aware of the outstanding starting goalkeeper in each net and the influence that players like Andrei Svechnikov, Sebastian Aho, Sasha Barkov, and Matthew Tkachuk provide.
In this series, who will be the deciding factor for the Hurricanes or Panthers? Let’s look at two underappreciated players that might be very important in the Eastern Conference Finals.
The Florida Panthers’ Nate Schmidt
The majority of the focus and appreciation for the Panthers’ defense is focused on Aaron Ekbland and Seth Jones. Each has performed incredibly well during the first two rounds, so it’s highly deserved.
However, who is the top scorer for Florida’s blue line in the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs? Nate Schmidt is here. The team’s most underappreciated player to date is the veteran who agreed to a one-year, $800,000 contract before to the start of the season.
Schmidt averaged 15:23 minutes of ice time in 12 games, recording three goals and four assists for seven points. As a bottom-pairing defenseman, head coach Paul Maurice has found the ideal job for him, and he has lived up to the trust with steady, excellent play. Schmidt has the chance to keep outscoring the Florida defense as long as elite blueliners like Ekblad and Jones are given constant attention during the conference finals.
Kotkaniemi Jesperi of the Carolina Hurricanes
Jesperi Kotkaniemi, a 24-year-old center, has overcome the pressure of being selected in the top three to become a good center for the Hurricanes. He has reached or surpassed the 12-goal and 25-point milestone each season since joining Carolina. His play on the fourth line and the penalty kill has been a difficult and upsetting experience for his opponents, making him a cog in the well-oiled Hurricanes’ machine.
With just three assists and no goals in ten games, Kotkaniemi’s performance might become even more crucial for Carolina in this series. The resilient Kotkaniemi is among the Panthers’ top players to endure and exact revenge on the Hurricanes for the harm Florida will cause. He might lead the Canes to their first Stanley Cup Finals since their 2006 title season if he can contribute one or two goals while maintaining a dominant defensive presence.
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Born and raised in South Florida, Krystal is a recent graduate from the University of Miami with professional writing experience at the collegiate and national news outlet levels. She’s a foodie who loves all things travel, the beach, & visiting new places throughout Florida.