NHL News: Kyle Okposo is a Stanley Cup champion
Couldn’t happen to a nicer guy... | Photo by Dave Sandford/NHLI via Getty Images
The Panthers avoid the collapse, securing the Cup in a very Panthers way. Connor and Leon have to wait once again. Kyle Okposo has been through a scary detached retina, scary post-concussion issues and dark mental health complications, ridicule over his contract (though it paled in comparison to Andrew Ladd’s and others signed that day), the dregs of the Snow-Wang era Islanders before Snow let him walk without so much as a contract offer, and then a decision on whether to leave Buffalo for one more shot.
Good choice. Today he is a Stanley Cup champion.
He was back in the lineup for Game 7 of the Stanley Cup final filling his late (end of?) career role as a fourth liner for the Florida Panthers, who held off the Edmonton Oilers in a nail-biting finale.
Robert Luongo is now a Cup champ too...hoisting it on the ice last night as a Panthers executive, finally lifting the chalice he could not reach as a player despite some massive efforts.
Meanwhile, when his broadcast partner noted Panthers GM Bill Zito was in tears, Ray Ferraro said, “He’s been crying for half an hour. I’m not even kidding. He’s an emotional guy and he’s put it all out there.”
And as he has for every Cup final for 40+ years, legendary photographer Bruce Bennett was on the ice to capture it all. Last night was one of the better on-ice Cup celebrations I can remember.
What a sport and what a trophy. Maybe again someday on Long Island...
Sergei Bobrovsky passes the Stanley Cup to Kyle Okposo #Isles #TimeToHunt pic.twitter.com/vEyfHVLGrT— Stefen Rosner (@stefen_rosner) June 25, 2024
Never get tired of watching Clark Gillies run off with the Stanley Cup and Bryan Trottier slapping his ass on the way #Isles pic.twitter.com/YLZn84Igne— (@IslesFix) June 25, 2024
Cup News
Connor McDavid, who broke Wayne Gretzky’s single-postseason assist record, became the sixth player to receive the Conn Smythe in a losing effort. [TSN | NHL]
The Panthers found a way, led by Sasha Barkov who “everyone wants to be” if they know what’s good for them. [Sportsnet]
Canada’s Cup drought continues. [TSN]
Well, that’s enough watching fans outside in Edmonton celebrate. [Sportsnet]
Tool Corey Perry has no plans to retire. [TSN]
NHL News
The Senators’ acquisition of Linus Ullmark (and offloading of Joonas Korpisalo minus a little salary retention) could become a steal. Or: It could become yet another Ottawa move that somehow implodes because they are cursed. [Sportsnet]
Will the Leafs try hard to trade Mitch Marner this week? One guy thinks so. [Sportsnet]
They are close to a three-year conract extension with Joseph Woll. [Sportsnet]
Will he? Won’t he. Will he? Won’t he. Finally, after lots of rumor mongering following his departure from Calgary, Marc Savard rejoins Craig Berube as part of the Leafs’ staff. [TSN]
One-time Isle James Wisniewski joins the staff of the Ohio State women’s hockey team. [THN]
Tennessee State is the first HBCU with a hockey program; their new coach helped unveil their first jerseys. [NHL]
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