Before the final buzzer went in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final, celebrations were already underway in Florida. The air was filled with flying gloves, sticks and plastic rats as the Florida Panthers stormed to a 5-1 win over the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday, clinching their second straight title.
The crowd inside Amerant Bank Arena erupted as players jumped off the bench to embrace one another. The win marked a huge moment for the franchise, now firmly established among the NHL’s elite.
“It’s harder than I ever imagined to win the Stanley Cup once, and twice was even harder, so yeah, it’s a huge honor to be a part of this group,” said forward Sam Bennett, who scored 15 goals in the playoffs and won the Conn Smythe Trophy for most valuable player. “I’m not going to take it for granted. I love being here, and I love this team. It’s a remarkable team to be a part of.”
The Panthers now find themselves mentioned alongside modern greats like the Tampa Bay Lightning, who won back to back in 2020 and 2021, and the Chicago Blackhawks, who lifted the trophy three times between 2010 and 2015.
“That’s the standard of excellence,” said team owner Vincent Viola. “There’s no other course but seeking and winning the championship. There’s no other course. Everybody knows that, and they’re all committed to it.”
The team’s future looks promising. While key players like Bennett, Brad Marchand, Aaron Ekblad and Nate Schmidt could become free agents on 1 July, the core is strong. Goalkeeper Sergei Bobrovsky is staying on for at least another season, and top players such as Aleksander Barkov, Anton Lundell, Sam Reinhart, Matthew Tkachuk and Carter Verhaeghe are all under long-term contracts.
General manager Bill Zito has made smart moves, and the team culture built by coach Paul Maurice is drawing praise.
“If you came to our room this morning, you wouldn’t be able to tell who the new guys were,” said Zito. “I think that says everything.”
Captain Barkov received the Cup from NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman and passed it to players still chasing their first win, starting with Schmidt.
“It comes natural to them, because they’re servant leaders,” said Viola. “They always put other people before themselves. They really do, and you can see it on the ice. Really very special.”
Despite concerns about fatigue from three consecutive deep playoff runs, the Panthers once again showed their strength. Tkachuk, who returned from injury for the playoffs, had 23 points in 23 games.
“This was a team in the truest sense,” said Tkachuk. “You look to your left and your right here. You look in the mirror. You know that you’ve got to work your [rear] off, because the guy next to you is doing the exact same thing.”
“It’s insane,” he added. “I can’t believe it. It’s the most special trophy in the world… What we’ve done the last three years, not many teams have done. It’s very impressive.”
For the final time this season… goodnight, hockey fans. ❤️ #StanleyCup pic.twitter.com/LUrLSWQ9Zc
— NHL (@NHL) June 18, 2025
Photo: Christian Petersen/Getty Images
