A team from Florida will be competing in the Stanley Cup final for the 6th year in a row

[Bombshell11]

League is totally not rigged.

 

[Whoshattenkirkshoes]

Tampa's covid cups don't really count, but still impressive stretch

That is such a BS poor loser take.

If there was no Covid Tampa would have done the same thing.

 

[Sky04]

why wouldn't they count?

Because his team sucked and lost.

 

[Laus723]

Yeah, wasn't too awfully long ago the Panther stands were very empty and the club was basically giving away tickets in super cheap packages. Matter of fact, there were plenty of people clamoring for the team to relocate since the team was so bad and attendance was crap.

Had a horrible owner who put an internal cap on his team cause he wasn’t getting what he wanted. Chased the fans away, new owners busted their asses to bring em back and grow the sport.

Zito has been massive, but Tallon, while he made some bad moves, helped. Took Ekblad, though all 3 of the top guys have been terrific in the careers, took Barkov over Jones and Drouin (maguire said it was a mistake), traded Trocheck in a package that included Luostarinen and signed Bob. 4 big pieces for us.

 

[EpochLink]

From 1983 to 1990, a team from Alberta reached the Finals.

Florida needs 2 more years to match

 

[WaitingForThatCab]

From 1983 to 1990, a team from Alberta reached the Finals.

Florida needs 2 more years to match

 

[jackjohnson]

Incredible run.

I bet it was Bettmans wet dream to have Florida teams winning cups and be in finals for 6 straight years

But both Tampa and Florida have had such dominant teams and deserve the cups

 

[jackjohnson]

The cup will be staying in Florida for another year.

I don't mind it at all honestly. I only care about my team winning it and Canucks rivals not winning it. Since Florida teams are the furthest away from Canucks, I don't mind them winning it.

 

[RedWhiteBlackGold]

The 2020 playoffs were definitely different but I don’t think people realize how difficult that was. Imagine being sent to a hockey camp. You can’t leave or see your family or really anyone for 2 months. Just mostly play a game and practice for 2 months. I don’t doubt that some teams gave up and quit but that shouldn’t discredit Tampa Bay winning that year.

It's a hard knock life.

 

[Hank Plank]

good for the state , lots of hard times down there for a while

What hard times, when?

 

[MattMartin]

I take the non covid champs all day every day.

 

[Davo Ikinzom]

In a few years we'll all be asking again where are the fans in Florida.

 

[Felidae]

Tampa's covid run was legit. Everyone was playing under the same conditions.

Can't say the same about anyone that has the misfortune of going up against this Panthers team.

 

[RevengeOfTheDrai]

So many passionate fans in hockey markets won’t get to experience a cup win because of cap tax evasion and NHL favoritism. People in Florida will celebrate, forget the next day, and get back to being the worst drivers in the States. This cup win would mean a million times more to the city of Edmonton than Miami/Sunrise.

It’s special when the cup goes to a city where is cherished and celebrated for years instead of looked as an afterthought.

 

[BlueDream]

Who would have thought the Panthers would ever go to 3 straight Cups. Pretty remarkable.

 

[me2]

Florida the home of hockey

 

[The Gr8 Dane]

So many passionate fans in hockey markets won’t get to experience a cup win because of cap tax evasion and NHL favoritism. People in Florida will celebrate, forget the next day, and get back to being the worst drivers in the States. This cup win would mean a million times more to the city of Edmonton than Miami/Sunrise.

It’s special when the cup goes to a city where is cherished and celebrated for years instead of looked as an afterthought.

you guy's aren't saints either , tanking for 10 straight first overalls to get McDavid. Nothing franchise without him honestly

 

[Mogo]

 

[Ratsreign]

In before someone starts bitching about how being a tax free state trumps good drafting and GMing.

Idk if you can say “trumps”

 

[TageGod]

Incredible run.

Tax advantage on full display.

 

[Ratsreign]

Tax advantage on full display.

Get out and vote.

meanwhile, stock up on Kleenex

 

[v00d00daddy]

7th straight cup final with an Atlantic team representing the eastern conf

 

[Howboutthempanthers]

Tax advantage on full display.

Where was the tax advantage from 1993 to 2023? And any team could have built this team, with the way Florida acquired the players they did to make this run. Plus it takes a lot more than just putting rosters together to succeed at this sport.

 

[LeafalCrusader]

7th straight cup final with an Atlantic team representing the eastern conf

8 Atlantic division teams in the last 7 Cup finals lol.

 

[pb1300]

So many passionate fans in hockey markets won’t get to experience a cup win because of cap tax evasion and NHL favoritism. People in Florida will celebrate, forget the next day, and get back to being the worst drivers in the States. This cup win would mean a million times more to the city of Edmonton than Miami/Sunrise.

It’s special when the cup goes to a city where is cherished and celebrated for years instead of looked as an afterthought.

Spare me the nonsense. I’m 46 and was 15 when the Panthers came into existence. I’ve spent over two decades supporting this team through disappointment after disappointment, investing thousands each year on season tickets just to watch them struggle, while others scooped up game-day tickets for a 10th of the price. My 87yr old mother has been right there with me since ’93. When we finally won, she cried her eyes out, and so did I, along with thousands of other Panthers fans who’ve stuck with this franchise through years of heartbreak.

Don’t come at us with this shit about “passionate fans” being denied a Cup because of some imagined favoritism. That’s not just wrong, it’s pathetic. What makes you think you deserve a championship more than me? More than my mother? More than die-hard fans like @Laus723 and @Ratsreign who’ve been here through it all? If your team hasn’t won, maybe look inward. Start with building a competent front office, stop overpaying for team-controlled RFAs, and actually make use of the high draft picks you’ve had.

We’ve earned this. And just because we’re not in your cold-weather “hockey market” doesn’t make our passion any less real or deserved.