Travis Hancock

I think it's for the Canes to continue, maybe not the level of dominance per se they've had so far.

This series will extend further.

But this has kind of felt like the Canes' year from the start of the postseason.

And it's not just starting this year.

It's something they've been building, really, for the last eight seasons.

And when some of the paths cleared out of teams that have normally been in their way, whether it's Rangers' years,

for the Panther years, Lightning years.

Feels like there was always a speed bump in the way that messed with the Hurricanes' route to the end.

But right now, it really does feel like it's all things Kane, that they have been absolutely, utterly dominant through the first three series of the postseason.

And that, outside of about 10 minutes against Montreal, it has been all Hurricanes in their game so far.

I mean, the NFC South, it's always hard to say in May and June.

We know the division will be rather tight because it normally is.

I don't expect the Panthers to take a step backwards.

They're either going to maintain who they are or move forward.

I think the biggest threat, although New Orleans is certainly better at this point than we thought they would be, I still think Tampa Bay is the biggest threat there.

They've got talent, but they've got their own questions, and that is Baker Mayfield stayed healthy.

How did they replace Mike Evans?

The pressure on Todd Bowles, did that become a problem?

So I do still think that the Panthers will win the division, albeit the schedule, because it is a first-place schedule, much harder than it was a year ago.

So that could play a factor here as well here during the 2026 season.