To the victors go the spoils—and the Florida Panthers have left no doubt about who the best team in the NHL is. Now, it’s their time to enjoy the perks of hoisting the Stanley Cup in consecutive seasons. Matthew Tkachuk and Sam Bennett are known league-wide for their unapologetic style of play, so it came as no surprise when what was initially meant to be a message of apology turned into a blunt reminder for the Edmonton Oilers—and the rest of the league.
Many teams around the league despise Tkachuk, Bennett, and the Panthers. Some call them dirty and belittle their road to glory as “cheap hockey.” But in the end, most of those comments come from a place of envy. Winning back-to-back Cups isn’t for everyone.
Bennett and Tkachuk know that. They are also well aware of how easily they can get under their opponents’ skins, and their fanbases. That ability is not limited to the on-ice action, though. On that note, the mischievous duo displayed their off-the-ice antics with blunt statements during the Panthers‘ Championship Celebration.
The championship parade on Sunday at Fort Lauderdale Beach was the perfect occasion for the Panthers to present the franchise’s second Stanley Cup to their fans. However, it was also an ideal scenario for the Cats to take one more shot at their counterparts in the league—especially the Oilers.
“I would like to apologize to absolutely f—— nobody because a double champ does whatever the f— he wants,” Tkachuk said about the Panthers’ path to back-to-back Stanley Cups.
Picking up where Tkachuk left off
In case the NHL wasn’t paying attention when Tkachuk spoke, the 2025 Conn Smythe Trophy winner voiced a similar statement for good measure. Bennett, Florida’s first player to ever win the postseason’s MVP award, doubled down on his teammate’s statement.
“This is truly incredible. A lot of people, they don’t like the way we play. They call us dirty. They call us nasty. They call us bullies,” Bennett said, hinting at where his speech was heading. “So I would like to take this time to apologize to absolutely f—— no one. We’re the double champs. We do what the f— we want!”
Champions’ dip
Just like last year, Matthew Tkachuk made his way into the Atlantic Ocean to celebrate the Stanley Cup conquest in style. This time, however, Lord Stanley didn’t join in on the splash zone.
Captain Aleksander Barkov revealed the league has stepped in and ordered them not to take the Cup into the ocean. “We should know the rules by now,” Barkov admitted, per Jameson Olive.