After back-to-back Stanley Cup victories, one might imagine Matthew Tkachuk, Brad Marchand, and the Florida Panthers feeling some sort of pity for Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers. That is, of course, if one were completely unaware of who Tkachuk and the Cats really are. On that note, Florida’s star dropped a bold statement about his feelings toward the rest of the NHL.
Tkachuk and the Panthers are rolling into their second straight summer as Stanley Cup champions. It’s definitely a feeling they can get used to. Needless to say, the Cats are in prime position to chase even more championships.
With the core secured for the long-haul in South Florida, the Panthers are a menace to every team in the NHL. The reigning back-to-back champions have proven not even McDavid and the Oilers can match up to their level.
The Panthers will gear up to do it all over again next season, as they eye the three-peat. In order to avoid any misunderstanding, Tkachuk made something clear to Marchand and company about Florida’s mindset.
“You don’t feel bad for anybody. At the end of the day, we lost to Vegas a few years ago and nobody gave a s— about us,” Tkachuk admitted during an interview at the American Century Championship in Stateline, Nevada.
Look at us now
The Panthers’ loss to the Vegas Golden Knights in the 2023 Stanley Cup Final might have been the NHL’s best example of a blessing in disguise. Though it ended a magical playoff run on a heartbreaking note, it forged the Panthers’ character and ultimately taught them a far more valuable lesson: the story won’t always follow a perfect, Cinderella-like narrative.
What truly matters is that the Panthers hold the pen—because then, they can twist and turn the story any way they want. And that’s exactly what Florida has done ever since. Who’s going to stop Tkachuk, Marchand, and the Panthers now?
The Oilers have tried two years in a row — to no avail. The once-tame cats who roamed the swampy arena in Sunrise are now unrecognizable. They’ve become bully felines, having their way with almost anyone who dares stand in their path.
This is your house, Mackie
The summer of contract extensions didn’t end at Marchand, Bennett, Ekblad, and Nosek for the Panthers. Now, Florida has come to terms with restricted free agent Mackie Samoskevich on a very team-friendly deal.
As announced by the organization, the 22-year-old forward has put pen to paper on a one-year, $775k extension. The contract is a one-way deal, meaning Samoskevich can’t be sent to the AHL affiliate, the Charlotte Checkers.
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Any moment now
While Samoskevich’s extension is great news for Tkachuk and company, it also means a tough decision looms for Florida. The Panthers are now $3.725M over the salary cap, making a trade imminent. Most signs point to Evan Rodrigues, but that alone won’t be enough—his $3M cap hit won’t fully bring the Cats back into compliance.