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Florida Panthers send gutsy message to entire NHL and Edmonton Oilers
The Florida Panthers are known to be an outwardly brash team on and off the ice, and now they're sending a message they're out for a 3rd straight Stanley Cup.
The Panthers have repeatedly trolled the Edmonton Oilers throughout the summer after beating them for the second straight cup. Even at Tkachuk's wedding, Panthers players were seen playing the Oilers' playoff win song.
Florida Panthers send another gutsy message to the NHL and Edmonton Oilers
Panthers stars Aaron Ekblad and Carter Verhaege joined Good Morning America still on their victory tour, and the pair wasn't afraid to explicitly state their goal - they're coming for another Stanley Cup this season, and not even stopping there.
»We thought about winning it for a second straight year last year, too, so I am not going to think any differently this time around. We don't think that thinking or talking about winning the Cup again is jinxing anything. I am preparing for the marathon that is an NHL season and the playoffs.
We have won the Stanley Cup twice and we still have a long window to win more. Whether it is or isn't next year, it is just as likely the following year. And the year after that, and the year after that.»
- Aaron Ekblad
We have won the Stanley Cup twice and we still have a long window to win more. Whether it is or isn't next year, it is just as likely the following year. And the year after that, and the year after that.»
- Aaron Ekblad
With the Panthers re-signing all of Sam Bennett, Brad Marchand, and Aaron Ekblad, they'll be in a strong position to contend for another Stanley Cup this season.
Hockey players are often reserved and superstitious, and usually unwilling to make grand statements like going for a three-peat championship, but the Florida Panthers are different. They're putting the entire NHL on notice they're coming for another win.
Matthew Tkachuk said earlier that he knew the Panthers would play the Oilers again in the Final last year. If he still believes that, it'd also be a message that the Panthers will beat the Oilers again for their 3rd Cup.
The Oilers surely will also be looking to get back to the Cup Final, and this time make the Panthers eat their words.
| POLL | ||
AOUT 9 | 334 ANSWERS Florida Panthers send gutsy message to entire NHL and Edmonton Oilers Will the Oilers and Panthers play each other again in the Stanley Cup Final? | ||
| Yes | 143 | 42.8 % |
| No | 191 | 57.2 % |
| List of polls | ||