FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The Florida Panthers spent Wednesday morning celebrating back-to-back Stanley Cup victories with some of their diehard fans at the Elbo Room — marking the second straight year the team brought the Cup to the iconic Fort Lauderdale Beach bar.
The celebration followed the Panthers’ 5-1 win over the Edmonton Oilers in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise on Tuesday night.
3 p.m. report:
Panthers captain Aleksander “Sasha” Barkov made a surprise early-morning stop at Elbo Room before the rest of the team arrived, stunning fans who had gathered before sunrise in hopes of reliving last year’s post-championship celebration.
“Oh my God, I couldn’t believe it,” another fan said. “Barkov pulls up and he’s like, ‘Mumbles,’ and I’m like, ‘Of course I do!’ Then he rolls down the window, and he’s got the Stanley Cup with him. I’m like, bro, what are you doing here with that?”
Barkov and several teammates were seen pouring beer for fans — at their request — straight from Lord Stanley’s Cup. Forward Matthew Tkachuk and defenceman Gustav Forsling also joined in, spraying Barkov and fans who packed the upper and lower deck of the bar with champagne.
Noon report:
Tkachuk also gave fans a chance to hoist the 133-year-old prestigious trophy.
Many fans told Local 10 News they were grateful to celebrate another championship, especially after the team went three decades without a title after joining the NHL in the 1993-94 season.
Fans of all ages shared their excitement with Local 10’s Trent Kelly, calling it “an amazing feeling” to hoist the Cup. One fan even built his own replica of the storied trophy. Another said he traveled from Daytona Beach to celebrate with the team at Elbo Room.
We saw everybody. (Nate) Schmidt was walking around actually, (Brad) Marchand came in late, Tkachuck was up. They were signing autographs. It was incredible," said Florida Panthers fan Jeff Dysart.
After reaching the Final for the third consecutive season and winning their second straight title, the Panthers are already being called a dynasty by many.
“It’s just being able to celebrate this,” one fan told Local 10 News. “Anybody that’s a longtime Panthers fan knows it’s been a rough last 25, 30 years. Man, to be able to see them do this — we’re a dynasty now.”
Another fan said he was ready for the team to go for a three-peat — a feat not accomplished since the New York Islanders won four straight Stanley Cups from 1979 to 1983.
“Absolutely, we can do this,” he said. “We’ve got the depth. We’ve got everybody locked up on contracts. Bennett is going to sign here. We’re gonna keep everyone locked up and do this once again!”
Panthers fans were also heard chanting “eight more years” at Sam Bennett, as the 2025 Conn Smythe Trophy winner seeks a new contract with the team.
Fort Lauderdale Mayor Dean Trantalis confirmed that the team’s championship parade is set to begin at noon on Sunday and will travel down A1A in Fort Lauderdale Beach.
Live championship coverage:
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