Latest news with #post-Cup
Miami Herald
28-06-2025
- Business
- Miami Herald
Florida Panthers ‘Thrilled' To Re-Sign Sam Bennett To Big Eight-Year Deal
The Florida Panthers kept Sam Bennett away from NHL free agency. They re-signed the Conn Smythe Trophy winner to an eight-year extension at an $8 million average annual value. Bennett, 29, was projected to be one of the top centers available in free agency if he was unsigned by July 1. Instead, he's not leaving the back-to-back Stanley Cup champions. His new deal includes a no-move clause for the first five years of the contract, followed by a limited no-trade clause for the final three years, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman. His contract will expire after the 2032-33 season, when he will be 37 years old. Bennett made his intentions clear that he wanted to remain a Panther during the team's post-Cup celebrations. 'I ain't f-----g leaving,' Bennett said into the microphone, referencing Leonardo DiCaprio's famous line from the movie Wolf of Wall Street. Now, Bennett's statement has become a reality, and the Panthers' GM couldn't be happier about keeping on the two-time Stanley Cup champion. 'Sam is a special player who has mastered a unique blend of skill and physicality in his game, becoming one of the most impactful postseason performers of his generation,' Panthers GM Bill Zito said in a news release. 'He played an integral role in our two Stanley Cup championships, earning the franchise's first Conn Smythe Trophy and is a dedicated contributor to our South Florida community off the ice. We are thrilled that he will continue his career with the Panthers.' Out of his 11 years in the NHL, the 29-year-old arguably played his best this past season. He recorded a career-high 51 points in the regular season with 25 goals and 26 assists. However, his playoff performance likely played a big part in his new cap hit. Bennett led the NHL in post-season goals with 15, ending the Cup run with 22 points in 23 appearances. With Bennett being the latest center to sign an extension with his team, the UFA market for a middleman becomes even thinner. John Tavares, Matt Duchene and Brock Nelson were also all pending UFA centers who re-signed with their respective teams. Some pending UFA pivots who remain unsigned include Mikael Granlund and Pius Suter. The Panthers kept Bennett from being possibly the top UFA center by giving him the priciest and longest contract in his career. But Zito can't relax just yet. Left winger Brad Marchand and defenseman Aaron Ekblad also require new contracts before Tuesday's free agency opener, or else they can sign with another squad. Get thelatest news and trending stories by following The Hockey News on Google News and bysubscribing to The Hockey News newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting belowthe article on Copyright 2025 The Hockey News, Roustan Media Ltd.
Time of India
25-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Brad Marchand's wild $500K party tab shocks NHL fans as Matthew Tkachuk channels McGregor at Panthers' parade
Brad Marchand's $500K party tab and Tkachuk's McGregor moment make Panthers' celebration unforgettable (Image via: Getty Images) Brad Marchand's off-ice antics just took the internet by storm. From Eetu Luostarinen struggling to keep up with the 37-year-old to a jaw-dropping $500K party tab at Miami's E11even, the Stanley Cup celebrations were anything but ordinary. And just when fans thought it couldn't get wilder, Matthew Tkachuk channeled Conor McGregor on stage with zero apologies. Brad Marchand's 5 a.m. club moment and the eye-popping $500K comp The Panthers' championship parade in Fort Lauderdale may have ended Sunday, but the celebrations are still raging. During a video call with the Spittin' Chiclets podcast crew—Ryan Whitney, Paul Bissonnette, and Mike Grinnell—Matthew Tkachuk and Sam Reinhart were relaxing poolside when Brad Marchand unexpectedly joined the call. Then came the moment that broke the internet. Grinnell asked, 'Marchy, what were you going back into E11even to do when Barky grabbed you by the shoulder and said, 'It's over, Marchy. The night's done?'' Parade Recap w/ Brad Marchand, Matthew Tkachuk, Sam Reinhart + James Hagens & his Dad - 570 Marchand's response: 'I had to go back and f—–g bring it, boys. It was 5 a.m.' But the biggest bombshell came from Tkachuk. 'He was going to pay, and then realized, 'Oh! That's a 500k comp,'' he revealed. The Miami hotspot reportedly waived the jaw-dropping $500,000 bill, prompting stunned reactions from the podcast hosts. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Buy Brass Laxmi Ji Idol For Wealth, Peace & Happiness Luxeartisanship Shop Now Undo 'That's f—— unbelievable,' said Bissonnette. 'You gotta run pretty fast': Luostarinen struggled to keep pace with 37-year-old Brad Marchand From late-night partying to early-morning club runs, Brad Marchand's post-Cup celebration left Luostarinen in awe. 'You gotta run pretty fast if you wanna keep up with him,' he said, praising Marchand's relentless energy and charisma, even at 37. On June 22, over 400,000 fans flooded Fort Lauderdale's A1A boulevard for the Panthers' second consecutive Stanley Cup parade. As the players took the stage, Matthew Tkachuk delivered a moment fans won't forget. Quoting Conor McGregor, Tkachuk shouted: 'I would like to apologize to absolutely f—–g nobody, because the double champs does what the f— he wants!' The bold declaration came as a direct clapback to critics who've branded the Panthers' physical playstyle as 'dirty' or 'bullying.' Also Read: Veteran forward Garrett Roe announces retirement after 15-year international hockey career The Florida Panthers are celebrating their Stanley Cup win with intensity. From Brad Marchand's $500K club moment to Matthew Tkachuk's viral McGregor quote, the team's bold personality is grabbing headlines. With back-to-back championships, the Panthers have cemented their status as the NHL's most entertaining and unapologetic powerhouse. Game On Season 1 continues with Mirabai Chanu's inspiring story. Watch Episode 2 here.
Miami Herald
20-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Miami Herald
‘I feel like I'm home': Brad Marchand serves Panthers fans Dairy Queen after Cup win
Brad Marchand, barely 60 hours after winning the Stanley Cup for the second time in his 16-season NHL career, emerged from the kitchen of the Dairy Queen in Sunrise late Friday morning with a tray full of chocolate chip cookie dough Blizzards. 'Best day of my life,' Marchand said. Marchand credits the dessert chain for a lot of the Florida Panthers' postseason success after he and several teammates made a post-dinner trek there during the Eastern Conference final and began winning. So it was only natural that one of his post-Cup meet-and-greets with fans would be at a DQ, where hundreds of fans lined up on short notice to meet the veteran forward and get free ice cream hand delivered by him. For the day, at that location, the chocolate chip cookie dough Blizzard was called the 'Brad Blizzard' and instead of chocolate chips, it contained 'chocolate chirps.' 'It's been incredible the last couple days, but I think this tops it all off,' said Marchand, his voice hoarse from all the celebrating with his teammates since clinching the championship Tuesday night with a 5-1 win over the Edmonton Oilers in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final. 'It legit brings me back to my childhood, and it's been an incredible few days. So much love down here in Florida. There's always been a lot of talk about it not being a hockey city, but it's pretty evident that there's so much love down here for the game of hockey, and it's pretty incredible to be part of it.' It's something Marchand never expected would happen. Up until the Boston Bruins traded him to the Panthers in March for what became a first-round draft pick, he was a villain of sorts in South Florida. He was on the opposite end of a pair of bitter playoff series in 2023 and 2024, both of which Florida won. But since he got to Florida, he was accepted with open arms and was a major reason the Panthers repeated. He scored 10 goals, including six in the Cup Final series alone, and had 20 points throughout the postseason. 'It's been special,' Marchand said. 'From a fan base that was not very fond of me and I wasn't very fond of them, it's done a full 180. They completely embraced me and allowed me to be part of this team in the city and very appreciative for it.' His time in Florida might be up soon, though. He's slated to become a free agent on July 1. But by the way he talked on Friday and the way he has talked over his brief tenure here, Marchand doesn't sound like a guy who wants to leave any time soon. 'I feel like I'm home,' Marchand said as he was talking with fans. 'I am home, aren't I?' His message to Panthers president of hockey operations and general manager Bill Zito: 'Give me a contract!' If he does stay, there's a request to put a Dairy Queen in Amerant Bank Arena, as well. How the Dairy Queen tradition started It all began when a half dozen Panthers players — Marchand, fellow forwards Carter Verhaeghe and Eetu Luostarinen\ and defensemen Niko Mikkola, Uvis Balinskis and Jaycob Megna — going on a Dairy Queen run between Games 1 and 2 of the Eastern Conference final in Raleigh. A photo of a fan meeting the group went viral. 'We were just going for a walk,' Marchand said. 'We wanted to walk off our dinner. We got up Dairy Queen for dessert, and it became this huge organic moment throughout the playoffs.' The Panthers won that game against Carolina 5-2. They made four more trips throughout the playoffs — ahead of Game 5 against the Hurricanes as well as Games 2, 5 and 6 in the Stanley Cup Final against the Edmonton Oilers, with the size of the group increasing during the Cup Final. Florida went 5-0 in the games following Dairy Queen runs. The Panthers even made a T-shirt commemorating the DQ runs, depicting the original six from the first trip eating ice cream in their home red sweaters around a Stanley C. Panther-themed ice cream truck. Did Marchand also eat a Blizzard during a game? During Game 3 of the conference final against the Hurricanes, a Sportsnet camera caught Marchand eating something off a spoon during the second intermission. When asked postgame about his midgame treat and if it happened to be a Blizzard, Marchand smiled. 'You can't beat it,' Marchand said. 'It's the best dessert in the world.' Except... it's not what he was eating prior to the Panthers finishing off the eventual 6-2 win, one in which Florida scored five goals in the final frame. So what was on the spoon that cameras caught him with? 'Honey,' Marchand said. As for talking about Dairy Queen? 'I was kind of making a joke,' Marchand said. 'I think people took it seriously. The amount of messages I got about people going to Dairy Queen yesterday — I appreciate the support. I love a good Blizzard more than anybody, but it's not something I've had in the middle of a game ... yet.' As for the honey? There's a story behind that, too. 'I've always loved honey,' Marchand said. 'Actually, when I was growing up, I loved Winnie the Pooh. So I used to have a Winnie the Pooh bear and I would feed him honey. It was covered — covered — and rock hard. I've always enjoyed it.' Marchand living up Stanley Cup celebrations Marchand certainly has enjoyed himself the past few days as the Panthers celebrate their second consecutive Stanley Cup championship — and he enjoys the second of his career and first since 2011. He was one of the lives of the part at both the Elbo Room on Wednesday and at E11even on Thursday night. Prior to the trip to the Miami nightclub on Thursday, Marchand and the team dined at Maple & Ash. While there, Marchand uploaded 20 photos to his Instagram story thanking the various former teams of his current teammates, plus the former clubs of coach Paul Maurice and Zito, for allowing the Panthers team in its current form to come together. Teammates followed suit by thanking Boston for sending Marchand to Florida. 'We all have our own story ... but we all got here,' Marchand said. 'It all played a part in this team winning the Cup.'
