The Florida Panthers made history by securing their second consecutive Stanley Cup championship, but the iconic trophy appears to have paid a small price for the team’s jubilant celebrations. Following their Game 6 victory over the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday night, the rigorous revelry has left the cherished chalice with a notable crack and a dent.
While the Panthers partied into the late hours and continued celebrating throughout Wednesday in Fort Lauderdale, the wear and tear on the 131-year-old trophy became apparent. Photos and reports indicate a crack formed in the bowl of the Cup, while a significant dent was also visible near its base. Some reports suggest the dent became particularly noticeable during the team’s visit to popular spots like the Elbo Room beach bar.
Damage to the Stanley Cup is far from a new phenomenon. Made primarily of silver and a nickel alloy, the trophy weighs around 37 pounds and is described as relatively malleable, especially considering its age. The intensity of modern championship celebrations, involving players hoisting, passing, and sometimes dropping the Cup, puts immense stress on the historic artifact.
Phil Pritchard, known as one of the “Keepers of the Cup” from the Hockey Hall of Fame, has previously noted that the bowl becoming “out of round” happens “every year” because the trophy wasn’t designed for the way players celebrate today. He characterizes such incidents as an inevitability that has “become part of the lore” of the trophy.
Over its long history, the Stanley Cup has endured numerous mishaps during championship festivities. It has been submerged in swimming pools and even the Atlantic Ocean. Recent examples include the Tampa Bay Lightning dropping the Cup during their 2021 boat parade and the Colorado Avalanche denting it on the ice immediately after their win in 2022. More famously, incidents like the 1905 Ottawa Silver Sevens drop-kicking it into a canal or the 1999 Dallas Stars throwing it off a balcony into a pool highlight the often-rough journey the Cup takes after being awarded. The 1987 Edmonton Oilers reportedly even took the Cup to an auto body shop for repairs.
Despite the recent damage, the Hockey Hall of Fame is aware and the Keepers of the Cup are already taking the necessary steps for repair. The goal is to have the Cup restored and ready for the Panthers’ official championship parade scheduled for Sunday in downtown Fort Lauderdale, allowing fans to celebrate with the mended, yet still storied, trophy. This latest crack and dent simply add another chapter to the legendary history of the Stanley Cup and the wild celebrations that accompany claiming hockey’s ultimate prize.
