Panthers arrive to loanDepot park in style for Winter Classic. Take a look

You just knew the Florida Panthers were going to arrive at the Winter Classic on Friday in style.

And they did not disappoint.

Forget team buses. Try Ferraris.

And the attire? Miami Vice, naturally, in white or off-white suits and pink t-shirts.

Captain and top-line center Aleksander Barkov and star winger Matthew Tkachuk led the procession. Because both stars are still recovering from injury and thus aren’t playing, they puffed on cigars on their way into loanDepot park, home of the Miami Marlins and for the night home to the Sunshine State’s first-ever outdoor NHL game.

Some players had fake brick phones — purchased on Amazon, according to defenseman Seth Jones.

As for who came up with the idea to go with Miami Vice?

“I can’t say one person,” forward Anton Lundell said, “because I didn’t really know. I think our outfits were a group decision, and some guys threw it out, and we liked the idea. I think the cars were more from the organization. So that’s everything I know. But what a way to come to a Winter Classic. We were just talking about how unique and how cool that experience been so far, and it can’t wait for it to begin.”

So the car idea didn’t come from Barkov, a know fan of extravagant vehicles?

“It was probably Barky,” Lundell ultimately relented. “He has some time to think, so I’m sure he came up with it.”

The coaches, meanwhile, did not partake in the Miami Vice attire or the Ferraris.

“Appropriately, I was on a bus,” Panthers coach Paul Maurice said. “That was mentioned to me by Sasha Barkov. I was the bus. Bus or cab is more in my speed limit. I did like the [police escort] motorcycles. Jokes aside, there’s a section here that’s not for anybody else but for the players. That’s a good thing, right? It’s just that I thought it was great because they kind of came up with it on their own. ... They’re not afraid to show some personality and be relaxed, understanding the context when that puck drop, it’s on and we’ve got to win this game. But they’ve shown that they could do that. So I enjoy that part.”

Photos from the Panthers’ entrance are below.

The Winter Classic game between the Panthers and Rangers is set for an 8 p.m. puck drop, with the game broadcast on TNT.

This story was originally published January 2, 2026 at 6:29 PM.