The Panthers seemed to enjoy their celebration of the Stanley Cup.
After securing the championship with a 5-1 victory over the Oilers in Game 6 on Tuesday, it turns out the trophy isn’t in perfect shape. There are some cracks and dents at the bottom, likely a result of their raucous festivities.
Following this win, tradition had the Panthers celebrating extensively, continuing their revelry at the Elbo Room in Fort Lauderdale into the early hours of Wednesday.
Somewhere during that night, the team managed to inflict damage on the 32.5-inch, 34.5-pound cup.
But there’s no need for concern; the keepers of the trophy are already working on repairs in time for the Panthers’ parade on Sunday, as confirmed by a Hockey Hall of Fame spokesperson to ESPN.
This isn’t the first instance of a trophy facing damage.
Last year, the base of the cup was damaged when Avalanche player Nicolas Aube-Kubel lost his footing while posing for a team photo with the trophy.
Back in 1987, Mark Messier had a mishap with the cup during a celebratory trip and even insisted on repairs at the Toronto Hockey Hall of Fame.
And there was the time in 1994 when the Rangers took the trophy to Belmont Park, coinciding with the Kentucky Derby, and faced an incident where oat-eating nearly spoiled the trophy during the celebrations.
Plus, other trophies have endured damage during non-hockey celebrations as well.
For example, Alabama Football accidentally broke a $30,000 trophy after winning the BCS National title in 2012, and in 2020, Wisconsin Football’s basketball-shaped crystal trophy was damaged when quarterback Graham Mertz inadvertently dropped it in the locker room.
