SUNRISE —The Florida Panthers have spent their time since successful the Stanley Cup on Tuesday night time celebrating round South Florida.
The workforce visited the Elbo Room — twice — and Miami nightclub E11even. Sam Reinhart and Brad Marchand met followers at native quick meals eating places: Dairy Queen for Marchand and Elevating Cane’s for Reinhart. After a number of days of partying the Panthers have proven no indicators of slowing down as they put together for their parade on Sunday.
“We’re not firming it down,” defenseman Aaron Ekblad stated Saturday. “We simply received two Stanley Cups in a row. We should have an excellent time. We’ve good folks in that room. … If folks assume we’re crossing the road, there’s no probability. We’re simply having an excellent time. It’s pure pleasure. There’s clearly a respect issue, and, personally, I attempt to toe that line, however no, it’s all enjoyable, and we deserve it, for positive.”
Star winger Matthew Tkachuk stated the champions are going to maintain rolling by the weekend.
“We’re the perfect workforce on the ice,” Tkachuk stated. “I assure you we’re the perfect workforce off the ice, too. It’s been a number of enjoyable, and get together’s not stopping anytime quickly.”
Tkachuk stated workforce captain Aleksander Barkov could be the workforce’s partying MVP thus far.
“I don’t see how Barky doesn’t get his jersey retired at E11even,” Tkachuk stated. “He was unbelievable.”
Barkov stated that the workforce has been extra relaxed of their celebrations this yr, permitting themselves to let unfastened.
“We get to get pleasure from it just a little extra as a result of we all know the sensation already just a little bit,” Barkov stated. “Don’t get me fallacious, it’s nonetheless superb, however now everybody simply is aware of tips on how to sit again just a little bit and luxuriate in it as a result of final yr was so hectic. It occurred to you for the primary time ever, and also you’ve been dreaming about it for such a very long time, and I really feel like this yr, everybody gave permission to themselves to get pleasure from it.”
Someplace alongside the best way, the Stanley Cup itself took a few hits and suffered minor injury, which a spokesperson for the Hockey Corridor of Fame stated could be repaired in time for the parade.
“I believe they’ve seen worse,” Barkov stated. “I believe each week, they should go and repair some a part of it. However yeah, don’t be silly. Don’t take it to (the) ocean, stuff like that. So we should always know the principles by now.”
A number of the celebrations have included some trash discuss their defeated opponents like Tkachuk saying “Connor McDavid who?” throughout the workforce’s celebration at E11even, and Marchand posted an Instagram story with a sticker that had an altered Oilers emblem that learn “Losers.”
Some hockey pundits had stated the trash discuss throughout this sequence had gotten significantly nasty, which might clarify why the Panthers have been gloating after their victory.
“There was a number of hatred,” Tkachuk stated. “I wouldn’t say it was extra verbal or extra cutthroat or extra or worse than (a) regular recreation between us two groups, however there’s a number of hatred between us and the Oilers constructing. Who is aware of? We’d meet once more subsequent yr.”
Celebrations have been extra subdued for Paul Maurice and the Florida teaching workers. He stated the coaches had dinner collectively on Friday and went out on a ship with a few of the gamers. However in any other case, Maurice stated his celebration this time round has been extra relaxed.
“It appears fairly a bit extra mellow from our perspective than final yr,” Maurice stated. “It’s not as euphoric. It’s no much less joyful. It’s great. I’ve really had just a little higher time.”
Maurice, whose speech on the championship parade final yr featured quite a lot of profanities, stated he deliberate to maintain issues “PG” this yr.
“Most likely received’t rejoice fairly as a lot on the bus on the best way over to the speech,” Maurice stated.
The gamers made no such guarantees.
“Actually excited for the parade,” Ekblad stated. “Is it going to rain tomorrow once more? … If’s, if it’s scorching, that could be robust. If it rains, I’m form of OK with that. However we will maintain off on the lightning hopefully as a result of that was just a little bit scary. However no, I’m actually excited for the parade. It’s going to be nice. We’ll be making an attempt to carry it. It’s gonna could be onerous with the previous few days, but when there’s ever a time to carry it, it’s then.”
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