The Florida Panthers won their second straight Stanley Cup in 2025 by beating the Edmonton Oilers 4-2. Along with the championship, the team received prize money, while players walked away with a financial bonus.

For the 2024-25 season, the Playoff Player Fund was worth about $23 million. Based on the NHL's payout system, the Stanley Cup champions distributed about $3.75 million among players, while the runners-up received $2.25 million.

As the 2025 Stanley Cup winners, the Panthers received the biggest playoff bonus.

As per the NHL's Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), players did not receive their salaries during the postseason. According to MARCA, NHL salaries were paid only during the 82-game regular season. Instead, players earned playoff bonuses from the NHL's Playoff Player Fund.

The Florida Panthers did not have an easy road to the championship. Their Stanley Cup Final against Edmonton was tied 2-2 after Game 4. With pressure growing, the Panthers responded by winning the next two games and secured the title in six games.

The win was also special as Florida beat Edmonton for the second consecutive final. In 2024, they beat the Oilers 4-3 in a thrilling series.

How NHL Playoff Bonuses Were Distributed

According to the NHL Collective Bargaining Agreement, the Playoff Player Fund was shared among teams based on how far they advanced in the playoffs. The eight teams that exited in the first round shared a total of $2 million, or $250,000 each. Meanwhile, losers from the second round shared another $2 million, or about $500,000 apiece.

The two teams eliminated in the conference finals walked away with $1.25 million apiece. The franchises involved in the Stanley Cup Final get the biggest payouts. The runner-up earns about $2.25 million, while the Stanley Cup champion receives around $3.75 million, as stated above.

The NHL has officially announced that the 2026 Playoff Player Fund has increased to $24 million. However, as of June 2, 2026, the league has not shared the exact amount that this year's Stanley Cup champions will receive.

The NHL and NHLPA will determine the final distribution in accordance with the league's payout rules. Because of that, the champion's exact bonus is still unknown and will not be confirmed until the NHL releases the official figures.

What do you think? Who will win the Stanley Cup this time? The Vegas Golden Knights or the Carolina Hurricanes? Comment your prediction below.

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Written by

Kapil Manghnani

Edited by

Sijo Paul