Florida Panthers Celebrate Back-to-Back Stanley Cup Wins Amid Offseason Preparations

The Florida Panthers have transformed their championship victory into a series of exuberant celebrations, from an all-night bash at a beach bar to spontaneous karaoke sessions at a Miami nightclub. The festivities have included crowd surfing, pole climbing, and even a surprise appearance by Brad Marchand at Dairy Queen, alongside team dinners and a memorable boat ride.

And they’re not stopping anytime soon. “We’re not toning it down,” defenseman Aaron Ekblad declared. “We just won two Stanley Cups in a row. We deserve to have a good time.”

Last year’s celebrations followed the franchise's first title, described by players as a surreal whirlwind. This time, however, the atmosphere is different; the weight of their achievement has settled in. “There’s a different feeling to it,” coach Paul Maurice reflected during exit interviews. “Last year was more of a dream... This year, it was an achievement. It was hard. It was hard all year.”

While the players partied hard, Maurice noted that the coaching staff's celebrations have been more restrained. Their first post-championship dinner occurred just recently, and they joined players for a boat ride. “I haven’t had a hangover yet,” he joked, “so way ahead of where I was last year.”

Maurice has kept tabs on the players’ revelry through social media posts shared by his wife. Captain Aleksander Barkov emphasized that this year’s celebrations feel more relaxed. “We’re giving ourselves permission to celebrate more freely,” he said, acknowledging the hectic nature of last year’s win.

The Panthers celebrated so vigorously that the Stanley Cup itself sustained some damage. The iconic trophy was cracked at the bottom during the clinching Game 6 against Edmonton. Barkov reassured fans that the keepers of the Cup have not issued any stern warnings. “I think they’ve seen worse,” he quipped, adding a reminder to avoid reckless behavior with the trophy.

A championship parade is set for Fort Lauderdale Beach on Sunday, marking one of the final opportunities for the team to celebrate together before players head off for summer break and general manager Bill Zito gears up for an important offseason.

With free agency commencing on July 1, the Panthers face critical decisions. While key players like Barkov, Matthew Tkachuk, and Sam Reinhart are secured under long-term contracts, others such as Marchand, Ekblad, and playoff MVP Sam Bennett are approaching free agency.

Bennett, who led all players with 15 postseason goals, made it clear at E11even nightclub that he intends to stay in Florida. Marchand has openly urged Zito to extend his contract. Ekblad confirmed discussions with the Panthers regarding a potential deal but noted that “nothing material yet” has come from those talks.

“I’ve spent 11 years here,” Ekblad stated. “It’s home, and I expect it to be home.” Tkachuk expressed optimism about the team’s future, believing their window for competing for titles remains wide open. “You’re going to have a different roster each and every year,” he said, “but hopefully we can continue building with the core of guys.”

He added that he hopes his teammates up for contracts receive what they deserve: “It’s time to cash in for some of those boys. Hopefully it’s here.”