The Panthers are back in the Stanley Cup Final after losing in the title round last year
It's not exactly uncommon for a team that gets a championship shot and falls short one year to say that it'll be back the next
By Tim Reynolds
Published - Jun 02, 2024, 11:26 AM ET
Last Updated - Jun 02, 2024, 11:26 AM EDT
SUNRISE, Fla. (AP) — The 2023 Stanley Cup Final had just ended, the Vegas Golden Knights were celebrating their championship and a heartbroken bunch of Florida Panthers were taking off their skates for the final time that season.
In that moment, standing in the locker room, Aaron Ekblad made a vow.
“We'll find a way to come back next year,” the veteran defenseman said.
Look, it's not exactly uncommon for some semblance of that to be said by the team that gets a championship shot and falls short. But these Panthers actually delivered on that promise — a rarity in hockey. Florida is back in the Stanley Cup Final, becoming just the second team in the last 40 years to lose in hockey's title round one season and return the following season.
