Nick Cousins: ‘Only good memories’ with Panthers as he returns to Florida
Nick Cousins got off the ice at the Baptist Health IcePlex in Fort Lauderdale on Friday and took a moment to reflect.
“So many good memories here,” Cousins said. “Lots of good people. Obviously only good memories here. I mean, when you win with [good] people, it’s a different bond.”
Cousins hasn’t been back here since he helped the Florida Panthers win their first of two consecutive Stanley Cups to cap the 2023-24 season. He signed a one-year deal with the Ottawa Senators following that campaign and then re-upped with Ottawa this offseason. He missed the Senators’ trip to South Florida last season after undergoing knee surgery in February.
His delayed welcome back from a team that welcomed him in and helped him revitalize his career comes on Saturday when the Panthers host the Senators (7 p.m., Scripps Sports) at Amerant Bank Arena.
“So nice to be back,” Cousins said.
Cousins did a little bit of everything for the Panthers during his two seasons with the club, both of which ended in the Stanley Cup Final and the second of which ended with Florida winning it all for the first time in franchise history.
He logged 42 points (16 goals, 26 assists) in 148 regular-season games and another eight (two goals, six assists) in the playoffs — none bigger than his overtime series-clincher in the second round of the 2024 Stanley Cup playoffs against the Toronto Maple Leafs. He was able to move up and down the lineup depending on Florida’s needs.
But perhaps some of his biggest contributions came off the ice.
Cousins was one of the vocal guys in the room during his two years. The trio of him, fellow forward Ryan Lomberg and defenseman Brandon Montour knew how to keep things light in the tensest of situations. That has an impact, especially in the thick of playoff runs and trying to make history.
That’s where Cousins feels he made the most of his impact on the Panthers.
“In the dressing room, being a good teammate,” Cousins said. “That doesn’t take any talent. I think just keeping the room light and get in on the pranks and all that kind of stuff. I think just being remembered as good teammate. Even when I wasn’t playing down the stretch, I thought I still showed up with a with a good attitude and made sure the boys were still showing up with smiles on their faces.”
As for what he did as a player?
“I was player that played the game hard and played up and down the lineup,” Cousins said. “I think probably my favorite memory was just playing with with Benny [Sam Bennett] and Chucky [Matthew Tkachuk] down that one stretch there in the playoffs and going into the Finals. Probably the most fun I’ve had playing hockey was playing down here. Lots of good memories. This place will hold a special place in my heart for the rest of my life.”
Now, Cousins is trying to make more good memories in Ottawa. He put up 15 points in 50 games for the Senators in 2024-25 before his season-ending injury and is running on Ottawa’s fourth line this season. Ottawa reached the playoffs last season for the first time since 2017 and is eyeing a shot at consecutive postseason appearances for the first time since 2012 and 2013.
The Senators are coming off a 5-4 season-opening road win over the Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday in a game they trailed 3-1 after one period.
“We’ve got some really good young players that are just coming into the prime of their careers,” Cousins said. “Last year, the second half of the year, we kind of figured out how we need to play to be successful. We’re starting to see that. We had a really good training camp. Guys came in in great shape. We’ve just got some young studs here that know how to play, know how to win now. I think last year we kind of got a better feel for it, just managing the puck, managing the time of the game and all that kind of stuff. We’re getting there. We still have lots of room for improvement, but we’re trending in the right direction where we’re going to be a team that’s not only successful this year but the future is bright for sure.”
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