The Florida Panthers made history by claiming their second consecutive Stanley Cup championship, overcoming the Edmonton Oilers in a hard-fought Game 6 victory. However, shortly after NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman presented the iconic trophy to captain Sasha Barkov on the ice, it appears the Cup sustained some damage amidst the team’s jubilant celebrations.
Photos circulating online and reports from various sources indicate that the 133-year-old silver trophy, standing 35 and 1/4 inches tall and weighing 16 kilograms, suffered visible bumps and bruises. Damage was reportedly observed in at least two separate instances: initially on the ice following the 5-1 Game 6 win in Sunrise, Florida, where the rim around the distinctive bowl appeared cracked, dented, or scratched. Further damage, including a significant dent in the base and possibly a bent lower section, was noted later as the team’s celebrations continued into Wednesday, with images emerging from post-game festivities potentially at a local establishment like the Elbo Room in Fort Lauderdale.
While the Stanley Cup is meticulously cared for throughout the year by its handler, Hockey Hall of Fame’s Keeper of the Cup Phil Pritchard, receiving “white glove treatment,” this changes dramatically once it’s awarded to the champions. Players are famously known for treating the Cup without excessive caution, transforming the revered trophy into a vessel for champagne and beer, a prop for baby photos, and even a makeshift food bowl for everything from hot dogs (famously by Phil Kessel in 2017) to poutine, pasta, and borscht.
This tradition of enthusiastic, sometimes chaotic, celebration has left the Cup with a long history of damage. Notable recent incidents include Colorado Avalanche’s Nicolas Aube-Kubel denting the bottom when he fell while carrying it for a team photo in 2022. Looking further back, the Cup has been lost, dropped, and even thrown into the Rideau Canal by the 1905 Ottawa Silver Seven. Other infamous moments include Mark Messier’s 1987 Edmonton Oilers squad taking it clubbing resulting in major repairs, Micheal Ryder of the 2011 Boston Bruins dropping it when a table collapsed, and Eddie Olczyk allowing a Kentucky Derby winner to eat oats from it in 1994, causing damage. The Cup even endured a newborn defecating in it in 2008 before a player reportedly drank from it later.
Keepers of the Cup are reportedly aware of the recent damage and are planning necessary repairs to ensure the trophy is in condition for the Panthers’ scheduled public Championship Celebration on Sunday. The team has announced plans for a parade along A1A in Fort Lauderdale, culminating in a rally near Fort Lauderdale Beach Park.
Amidst the reports of damage and spirited partying, a lighter moment saw Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov return to the Amerant Bank Arena ice around 1:30 a.m. to share the Stanley Cup with the dedicated arena staff, acknowledging their role in the team’s success.
Ultimately, the Stanley Cup’s ability to endure the raucous joy of championship teams is part of its enduring legend. The recent dents and cracks acquired during the Florida Panthers’ celebration simply add another chapter to the trophy’s wild and storied history.
