The Panthers ‘apologize to no one’ and have the Stanley Cup rings to show why
Sam Bennett tried to figure out which part of the Florida Panthers’ second Stanley Cup championship ring was his favorite. After all, there are so many intricate and personal details throughout the handcrafted 14-karat white and yellow ring, one filled with more than 450 diamonds and rubies along with the reminders of their latest successful campaign.
Bennett’s hesitation, however, took teammate Aaron Ekblad by surprise.
“It’s not your quote?” Ekblad asked Bennett.
On the interior of the ring, above the crossed-out names of the four teams they beat in the playoffs on the way to their second consecutive championships, is a five-word phrase. It now doubles as the team’s rallying cry after Bennett said on the stage — albeit with a few more flowery words — during the team’s parade on Fort Lauderdale Beach in June.
“We apologize to no one”
“I was shocked,” Bennett said. “That was definitely a quote I said after a little bit too many drinks on the on the parade bus. But yeah. It’s awesome. It’s cool.”
So, too, was Monday night when the Panthers saw the latest addition to their jewelry collection during a private ceremony at the War Memorial Auditorium on the eve of their 2025-26 season opener against the Chicago Blackhawks.
The Viola family — led by owners Vincent and Teresa — handed out boxes one by one to players (with Ekblad, winger Matthew Tkachuk and center Aleksander Barkov the final three) before moving on to the coaching staff, management, executives, training and medical staff, the equipment staff and then to themselves.
“This team has shown me the spirit of togetherness, family, everything that I hoped it would be,” Teresa Viola said in a toast before the boxes were passed out. “It took 13 years. Mr. V said we were going to be champions. I cannot thank all of you any more from the bottom of my heart for all of your hard work, all of your long hours, all of your missing of family birthdays and holidays, but I want to say I know that you do it for all the right reasons, And I believe that we can do it again and I just want them to say, Go Cats.”
And then, once everyone had their box, Teresa Viola started a countdown before they finally opened the boxes and saw their rings.
“It’s a beautiful feeling,” Ekblad said. “That countdown is a culmination of our life’s efforts to do this and do it a second time.”
The details
A closer look at the ring shows just how meticulously thought out the design process was, with so many details commemorating the team.
There are the obvious ones — the words “Panthers” and “Stanley Cup Champions,” the two Stanley Cups made from diamonds in a sea of rubies, the shield logo and leaping panther, the recipient’s name and number or role for the individualized touch.
But then there are the minute details.
The palm trees on the right side that represent the trees that line Amerant Bank Arena.
The rat on the inside.
The date — June 16, 2025 — when they cemented the repeat.
And of course, Bennett’s “We apologize to no one” quote.
“The time and the effort the Violas put into designing it and creating it for all of us, it’s really humbling,” Panthers president of hockey operations and general manager Bill Zito said.
‘A special night’
Reminders of their accomplishments were on hand throughout the ceremony.
There was a four-minute highlight video looking back at the season.
It started with their banner raising and 6-4 win over the Bruins on Opening Night. It continued with the Global Series games in Finland, the 4 Nations Face-Off, and the Seth Jones and Brad Marchand trades.
And, ultimately, it brought them to the playoffs.
The first-round series win in five games over the Lightning.
The second-round series win in seven games over the Maple Leafs.
The Eastern Conference final in five games over the Hurricanes.
And the Stanley Cup Final championship in six games over the Edmonton Oilers.
In addition to the rings and the Stanley Cup, four other trophies were on display: the Prince of Wales Trophy (Eastern Conference champions), the Conn Smythe Trophy for Sam Bennett’s playoff MVP, the Selke Trophy and the King Clancy Trophy — the latter two won by Barkov as the NHL’s best defensive forward and for his efforts in the community, respectively.
“It’s just one of those nights you look back at what you actually achieved as a team and as an organization,” center Anton Lundell said. “It’s a lot of hours, a lot of sweat, a lot of blood and tears put in. When you’re able to achieve something that we did, it’s a special night.”
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