Greg Cote's Poll Dance: Which of South Florida's Big Six sports teams is your favorite? Vote now!
This week's Poll Dance not not ignore the likelihood most sports fans have the bandwidth to love and follow closely more than one local team. But what if you had to choose your one favorite? Could you?
That is today's challenge to you, if you have the gumption to accept it:
What is your favorite major South Florida sports team?
Seemed to us as good a time as any to ask. The Panthers, Marlins and Inter Miami are in their seasons, the Heat just finished, and the Dolphins and Canes football are nearing their seasons.
Those are what I consider Greater Miami's Big Six teams. Our poll lists them alphabetically. There also is an 'other' category if you think I have egregiously neglected you personal fave. So let's go!
Vote as many times as you'd like or until your fingers ache.
GREG COTE POLL DANCE: WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE MAJOR SOUTH FLORIDA SPORTS TEAM?:
Previous Poll Dance verdict: It's Panthers over Oilers (again) in Stanley Cup Final: We asked, 'Who do you predict will win the Stanley Cup Final?' You said: Florida Panthers 56 percent, and Edmonton Oilers 44%.
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Panthers-Oilers Stanley Cup Final is as tight as can be. Game 3 could tilt the series
SUNRISE, Fla. -- After going the distance in the Stanley Cup Final last year with the Florida Panthers beating the Edmonton Oilers by a goal in Game 7 and being one win apart during the regular season, not much is separating these two NHL powerhouses so far in their championship series rematch. This final is just about as close as can be through two games, with each team winning once in overtime and knowing full well one puck off the post or into the net could have dramatically changed the situation. That remains the case going into Game 3 on Monday night at Florida, with the very real chance that a couple of bounces and small adjustments could tilt the series one way or the other. 'It's just the back-and-forth punches of a heavyweight tilt," veteran Oilers forward Adam Henrique said after practice Sunday. 'Every shift matters so much because it might be a 1-0 game and a 2-1 game, and those mistakes that could either cost you or pay dividends for you and keeping that pressure high — that can be the difference.' This has been a different final than many in the recent past, in part because there's no underdog in it who no one expected to get this far, the opponents know each other well and the teams are nearly at full strength. That has made for some quality hockey where the goals have piled up and yet the defense and goaltending have at the same time been stellar. 'Everything is contested all over the ice, so you're having more events and it's more intense, but what a wonderful thing to be able to say that in the final,' Panthers coach Paul Maurice said after his team's optional skate in Fort Lauderdale. 'Both teams are competing defensively. They're blocking shots, they're battling, they're backchecking and it's still a high-event game. That's some high-end skill.' That high-end skill has been on display. Three-time league and reigning playoff MVP Connor McDavid fittingly leads all scorers with five points, and longtime Edmonton running mate Leon Draisaitl has matched Florida's Sam Bennett and Brad Marchand at three goals apiece. Game 1 finished 4-3 in overtime and Game 2 was 5-4 in double OT. The Oilers have more shots, 92 to 74, while the Panthers have led for over 67 minutes compared to trailing for nearly 28 minutes. It has been tied for large swaths of regulation, and for all the offense, players acknowledge there has not been a whole lot of ice with which to operate. 'It's very tight," said Marchand, who scored the Game 2 winner 8:04 into the second overtime. "You can't make any mistakes. Just every time you do, they seem to get something off of it. And we're obviously balanced throughout the lineup, so it's very tight out there. The games speak for themselves. It's been a battle. Very intense and a lot of fun to be a part of.' Like Maurice did after his team lost the opener, Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch is making some changes going on the road where he does not control the matchups. He jumbled his defense pairs, putting Evan Bouchard with Darnell Nurse, Mattias Ekholm with John Klingberg, and Brett Kulak with Jake Walman. 'We're always making adjustments to counter whatever teams are doing, who's playing well,' Knoblauch said. 'Fortunately, our players are comfortable with any changes that we do make just because of how much we've fluctuated our pairs and lines throughout the season. In Games 1 and 2 we had some changes, and games throughout the rest of the series there'll be some more.' The push and pull has been quite something to behold. Tune in to just one period or a handful of shifts and it's easy to get the idea that one team or the other is dominating, and then not long after it alternates. 'Both teams will have times where they look like they've got possession of the game, but it's just not going to last. It doesn't last,' Maurice said. 'This is so close out there, so you can take a look at that video and I can find you 15 goals for the Edmonton Oilers that just didn't go in, and I can find you the exact same for the Florida Panthers.' The emotional ebbs and flows, Maurice insists, are also not as big of swings as it looks from the outside. He didn't feel as devastated after the Game 1 defeat or as euphoric after the Game 2 triumph as it may have appeared. His players are accustomed to these waves from losing in the final to Vegas in 2023 and winning in seven games a year ago after surrendering a 3-0 series lead. 'It's all about staying in the moment,' Panthers winger Sam Reinhart said. 'You can't think too far ahead, and you can't think too far in the past.' Draisaitl, who scored the Game 1 OT goal, acknowledged the what-ifs creep into players' heads in the immediate aftermath of a difficult result. But he and his teammates and their counterparts on the other side understand they can't dwell too much given the razor thin margin of error. 'Two really good teams going at it,' Draisaitl said. "You have to stay detailed and know that all those little bounces matter.'
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South Florida professional sports teams are inspired by the success of the Florida Panthers
Jaylen Waddle considers himself the Florida Panthers' good luck charm. The Miami Dolphins wide receiver has been to several Panthers hockey games over the years. He banged the drum before a postseason matchup against the Tampa Bay Lightning last season. He cheered on coach Paul Maurice's team after a thrilling overtime win over Tampa Bay this year. Miami Dolphins wide receiver Jaylen Waddle (17) runs drills during an NFL football practice, Wednesday, May 28, 2025, in Miami Gardens, Fla. Marta Lavandier / AP By Waddle's estimation, whenever he's in the building, that equals a win for his favorite hockey team. "I'm going to go to the finals," Waddle quipped after a practice last week. "I think they need to invite me sometime soon in an important game, because I think they're pretty undefeated when I'm there. "Panthers – Hey, I'll be waiting." The Panthers are in the Stanley Cup Final for the third straight year. They're three wins away from defending their 2024 title. The Panthers went from winning just 25 playoff games in their first 28 seasons combined to winning more than 40 — and counting — in the past three seasons. And their general manager, Bill Zito, has been in conversations for GM of the Year for several seasons after building title-contending rosters year after year. They're the pinnacle of success in South Florida, and other pro sports teams in the region have taken notice. Many are inspired by what the Panthers have built and use it as a blueprint for success. Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel speaks before an NFL football practice, Tuesday, June 3, 2025, in Miami Gardens, Fla. Marta Lavandier / AP "I think the Florida Panthers as an organization have done an unbelievable job of creating a sense of, 'We've been here before,' or a certain level of expectancy of performance," Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel said. "All of those things, you can never have too many friendly reminders of what you're fighting for. There's nothing more motivating than watching people that really sacrifice hard earned monthly income to support athletic performance. You can feel it." The Dolphins were once that team for South Florida. Nearly 53 years ago, a fiery coach named Don Shula guided Miami to the NFL's only perfect season. Reminders of that dominant Dolphins era are still plastered throughout South Florida. But it's been a while since Miami has been such a powerhouse. The Dolphins went to the playoffs in each of McDaniel's first two seasons in Miami. They missed them last year and have not won a postseason game since 2000 — the longest such streak in the NFL. Waddle and other Dolphins players, including standout defensive tackle Zach Sieler and linebacker Bradley Chubb have been to Panthers games recently. For them, watching a run like the Panthers' is just the motivation they need. "They definitely bring an urge to the city," Waddle said. "Every professional sport in the city, it's just like they're pretty much the standard with all that they've accomplished over the past years. It's definitely like a fire under us to try to match them." Before the Miami Marlins got ready for a midweek game against the San Francisco Giants last month, manager Clayton McCullough donned a bright red Florida Panthers hat. The first-year Marlins manager doesn't necessarily consider himself a huge hockey follower. He's only able to catch scores here and there. Miami Marlins manager Clayton McCullough wears a Florida Panthers cap before a baseball game against the San Francisco Giants, Friday, May 30, 2025, in Miami. Lynne Sladky / AP "But I'm a fan now of our local Panthers team," McCullough said. "I hope they can repeat as Stanley Cup champions." McCullough has been tasked with being a centerpiece of the Marlins' latest rebuild. Miami went 62-100 last season, dropping at least 100 games for the second time in six seasons. He knows what success looks like after winning the World Series with the Los Angeles Dodgers as their first base coach last season. He said it's good for the entire city when one team is winning titles. "We're all part of a fabric here in the community," McCullough said. "When one team is doing well, it's great for the entire area, for South Florida, for them to be doing so well. And we hope too that we're making deep runs in September and October in the years to come. "The fanbase, they get galvanized by that, and we'd love to support all of our pro teams here that are successful." Maurice and the Panthers players feel the support, and they have no problem sharing their triumphs. "There's room for all of us down here. There's certainly enough people," Maurice said. "I think it's a great thing that you have sports that are foundational: football, basketball, baseball. And then the new sport, hockey. And there's room for everybody there. So how about we just share it? Share the spotlight, share all of it. ... There's room for everybody here. We're happy to be a part of it."
