TORONTO — The initial return to Florida for the three players who transitioned from the Panthers to the Maple Leafs was a dramatically different experience compared to their second visit.
In late November, Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Anthony Stolarz, and Steven Lorentz flew back to Fort Lauderdale sporting blue Leafs jerseys and were met with jewels of a similar hue, among others.
Specifically, there were 37 yellow sapphires and 16 red princess-cut rubies – one for each victory leading up to their 2024 Stanley Cup victory. These colourful gems, arranged to form the Florida Panthers logo, were surrounded by 554 diamonds and set on a 14-karat yellow gold band.
That day, inside the Panthers’ new training facility in Fort Lauderdale, the ex-team members were greeted warmly and applauded by their former teammates. Each received a spectacular ring as recognition for their contribution to achieving a franchise first.
Following this, the current Maple Leafs players effectively brought more championship rings into the building.
This brief, moving ceremony occurred just a 10-minute drive from the famous two-story beachfront bar, the Elbo Room, where Matthew Tkachuk famously poured beer from the Stanley Cup to fans on the street. It was also close to the Atlantic Ocean, the site of Lord Stanley`s “southernmost baptism,” and a short $9 Uber ride from the A1A highway, where Ekman-Larsson, Stolarz, and Lorentz celebrated like rock stars before departing as free agents before the celebration truly subsided.
“Whether I see them today or on the ice, our eyes will meet, we’ll share a small smile, and a flood of memories will surface,” their former coach, Paul Maurice, remarked on that memorable November morning.
“It was an amazing time. You get to hold onto that. You don`t constantly dwell on those things, but every so often, you get a sudden, pleasant reminder. You get that 30-second moment of warmth reflecting on how wonderful last year was.”
Just a few hours after receiving the rings – the ultimate parting gift – the current Panthers team defeated their former comrades and the Maple Leafs with a score of 5-1.
The second time the trio of former Panthers returned to the city where they peaked professionally was significantly less amicable.
It was the first week of April, and the divisional rivals were preparing for their seemingly inevitable playoff confrontation using different strategies.
Maurice`s Panthers had shifted into a mode of preserving their key players and preventing injuries, prioritizing overall health over securing a top seed or home-ice advantage.
The Maple Leafs, conversely, were determined to finish the regular season strongly (accomplished!), secure a theoretically less challenging wild-card opponent (accomplished!), and postpone facing those “dark demons” from the Sunshine State until the second round (accomplished!).
Toronto`s serious, business-oriented approach – which was evident in the relatively subdued celebration by the Leafs after their first-round win against the Senators in Ottawa on Thursday night – was already firmly established.
Steven Lorentz, known for his cheerful disposition, has numerous friends who still play for the Panthers. He consciously decided not to meet or talk to any of them before that final regular-season game against Florida.
“I mean, I wouldn’t hold it against anyone for seeing someone on the opposing team. But at this stage of the year, I believe in keeping everything focused internally,” Lorentz explained on April 8. “You want your team to be as unified as possible.
“It’s a competition now. It’s a new season. So, our objective is to win.”
Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube mentioned having conversations with the former Panthers players on his roster.
Tristan Blackwood