Caped Cats: The Florida Panthers have another goofy locker room thing now

Last season, a blue hooded sweatshirt with the image of actor Kevin Spacey’s head on it became a prized possession in the Florida Panthers’ locker room and took hockey by storm.

With the ‘Spacey in Space’ hoodie retired, the Panthers – and veteran forward Shawn Thornton – have come up with something new.

Welcome to ‘Vinnie’s Barbershop.’

A freshly shaven Roberto Luongo was the first recipient of the new Florida Panthers’ locker room prize after Monday’s 3-1 victory over the visiting Tampa Bay Lightning: A black barber’s cape with the words ‘Vinnie’s Barber Shop’ spelled out in block letters.

Luongo said the cape had nothing to do with him getting rid of the thick beard he had been sporting since early summer.

That, he said, was just a happy coincidence.

“I wanted to look like a 25-year-old so I could play like one,” Luongo said. “It was time.”

As far as the barber’s cape goes, neither Luongo nor Thornton is saying anything about the significance nor origin.

Like the Spacey sweatshirt, Thornton is keeping his mouth shut.

“You’re not getting anything out of me,” Thornton said when cornered by the Miami Herald in a very exclusive interview in a hallway outside the locker room.

“Nope. Not saying anything.”

READ MORE: Actor Kevin Spacey gets his own ‘Spacey in Space’ sweatshirt on national TV

READ MORE: The Florida Panthers retire ‘Spacey in Space’ after postseason loss

This story was originally published November 7, 2016 at 11:12 PM with the headline "Caped Cats: The Florida Panthers have another goofy locker room thing now."