SUNRISE — Nate Schmidt locked eyes with Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov.
Barkov was carrying the Stanley Cup for the second time in his profession. Schmidt, who joined Florida within the offseason, was eagerly awaiting his flip to hoist essentially the most well-known trophy in American sports activities.
Usually, Barkov would have given the trophy to assistant captain Aaron Ekblad or Matthew Tkachuk subsequent. As an alternative, he skated over and handed it to Schmidt.
“I didn’t know till Chucky checked out me after which (Barkov) gave me his eyes locked proper onto me,” Schmidt stated.
“Happiness,” Schmidt added. “Need to cry tears of pleasure. It’s all the things you’d hope it will be.”
From Schmidt, the trophy went to defenseman Seth Jones, who was traded to the Panthers in March. Then to Tomas Nosek, who had an emotional second with coach Paul Maurice. Then backup goalie Vitek Vanecek, fourth-liners A.J. Greer and Jesper Boqvist — gamers who weren’t on the group final yr.
“So many guys that got here in right here and had such an affect for our group,” three-time Cup champion Carter Verhaeghe stated. “And a few guys haven’t received it earlier than, and so they gave us a lot vitality all through the season. Now we have such a terrific group. Everybody buys in and we love one another.”
Florida’s returning gamers credited the newcomers — particularly those that had not received a title earlier than — for energizing the Panthers all through the championship run.
Schmidt, who had 12 factors and a plus-9 within the postseason, performed nicely in his first yr with the group and turned a significant locker-room presence.
Jones joined the group and rapidly acclimated to Florida’s model of play. He took on a high defensive position whereas long-time defender Aaron Ekblad served suspensions, then settled onto the second defensive pairing with Niko Mikkola when Ekblad returned.
“I’ve been requested the query, ‘How lengthy wouldn’t it take earlier than Seth might get to type right here?’” coach Paul Maurice stated. “And I assumed it will be a yr. And the explanation for that’s I assumed it took Aaron nearly a yr (of) the common season earlier than he got here into type of his true model.
“This man is a Norris Trophy candidate all day lengthy.”
Jones had 4 targets and 5 assists within the playoffs, notching a plus-11. Jones, who joined Florida after spending years with a struggling Blackhawks group, led the Panthers with a median ice time of 25:30 within the postseason.
“Fairly a change, proper? Fairly a change from the place I got here from,” Jones stated. “I can solely talk about this. I’m so comfortable about Invoice Zito taking the prospect and getting me and permitting me to assist this group win. And the items are all right here. The group of men in that locker room are so particular. The love these guys have for one another, I really feel like I’ve been right here for 10 years once I acquired right here. Only a particular, particular group.”
Nosek, a fourth-line ahead, damage Florida’s probabilities early within the Ultimate. His delay of sport penalty in additional time of Recreation 1 arrange the profitable energy play for the Oilers. Now he acquired to hold the Cup for the primary time in his profession.
“It’s a tricky approach to begin your Ultimate, proper?” Maurice stated. “So he and I each shared issues; I missed a line change in one of many video games that price us a objective that price us the sport, in my thoughts. However the gamers rallied round you and took care of us. In order that was type of like the 2 guys that screwed up.
“So grateful that we received.”