Ft. Lauderdale Mayor Dean Trantalis earlier had estimated "about 200,000 fans were expected" Florida Panthers
Florida Panthers players and execs have “embarked on a magical mystery tour of their favorite hangouts” since winning the Stanley Cup, in the process “creating a buzz across South Florida that still lingers,” according to Ben Crandell of the South Florida SUN-SENTINEL. Team members have made a "series of unannounced stops with the Cup at local spots that had personal meaning to them." However, the goal of the tour seemed “less about celebrity and more about sharing the Cup, letting fans touch it, drink out of it, be part of it, and to simply say thanks” (
South Florida SUN-SENTINEL, 6/29). In Ft. Lauderdale, Dave Hyde wrote the Stanley Cup has been “filled with fresh pasta and dramatically grated parmesan cheese and eaten out of" by Panthers special advisor to the GM Roberto Luongo, drank from in the "iconic Elbo Room, taken for a swim in the Atlantic Ocean [and] danced with in a Miami night club.” A theoretical ranking of South Florida championships celebrations would have the Panthers at No. 1 and "there’s not a close second.” Hyde: "They took the party to the people in a manner no team has” (
South Florida SUN-SENTINEL, 6/29).
RELATED: Downpours don't dampen Panthers' title parade
HEY JEALOUSY: The Panthers held their Stanley Cup celebration yesterday, and a "massive crowd of fans" converged on Ft. Lauderdale for the parade "despite the heavy rain." Though there were "big crowds," officials "didn’t have an attendance tally." Ft. Lauderdale Mayor Dean Trantalis earlier had estimated "about 200,000 fans were expected" (
South Florida SUN-SENTINEL, 7/1). Prior to the parade, SPORTSNET.ca’s Justin Bourne wrote it has been a “tough scene as a Canadian watching the clips of them parading the Cup about Florida.” The scenes are “all the wonderful things you’d expect about being on the ocean -- the Stanley Cup went for a swim in the Atlantic, they are on the dock with it, it’s all shirtless party time.” But in “every scene, the Cup might as well be a labradoodle, just another object that’s with the group as they do their vacation-style things” (
SPORTSNET.ca, 6/28).
SHOWING NO LOVE: SPORTSNET.ca’s Elliotte Friedman wrote to in hopes of tightening the length of the NHL Draft, the league "leans on teams to cut down the pre-selection welcomes -- shouting out the hometown party, congratulating the Stanley Cup champ, etc.” In Friday's first round, “no one mentioned Florida.” Friedman: “I’ve never seen that before. And one Panther reached out to say he thought it was an absolute joke” (
SPORTSNET.ca, 6/30). However, FLORIDA HOCKEY NOW’s Geroge Richards wrote the truth was “less sinister than that.” Most teams had "special guests introduce their first-round selections,” which “led to quicker introductions from team personnel.” The NHL also “eliminated the role call, which was a draft mainstay at the start of each day.” Richards: “Having every team -- or, at least, the majority -- dutifully come up and say ‘we’d like to congratulate the Florida Panthers’ was unnecessary and, from what it sounds like, frowned upon” (
FLORIDA HOCKEY NOW, 6/29).
