At Stanley Cup Parade, Panthers Have Perfect Clapback to Critics
At Stanley Cup Parade, Panthers Have Perfect Clapback to Critics originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
The Florida Panthers aren't just Stanley Cup champions for the second year in a row, but they're also fed up with the narrative that their franchise has no fans.
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After thousands lined the streets of Fort Lauderdale for the team's championship parade, the Panthers' official X account fired off a direct message to critics who've long dismissed the team as a 'non-hockey market.'
"The Panthers have no fans," the Panthers posted on X, captioning a video showing hundreds of fans celebrating on the streets.
The 'no fans' jab has long been a go-to insult, especially during the franchise's early years after the Panthers joined the NHL as an expansion team before the 1993-94 season.
Those critics looked out of touch on Sunday as an estimated 400,000 fans swarmed the beach to celebrate the Panthers' second title in a row after making the finals in three straight postseasons.
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Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov soaked it all in.
'It's a little better day today than it was last year, but still, this is amazing,' Barkov said.
Florida Panthers left wing Matthew Tkachuk celebrates during the Stanley Cup championship parade.Navarro-Imagn Images
Coach Paul Maurice declared it 'the summer of love' for the team's loyal fan base.
Meanwhile, alternate captain Matthew Tkachuk said that he "could get used to this," while veteran forward Brad Marchand admitted to being "so happy that I don't have to play against these guys anymore."
In capturing back-to-back Stanley Cup titles, the Panthers became the first repeat winners since another Florida-based franchise, the Tampa Bay Lightning, won the championship in 2020 and 2021.
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Related: Don Cherry Disagrees with NHL's Conn Smythe Winner Pick
Related: Panthers' Aaron Ekblad Opens Up on Free Agency Expectations
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 23, 2025, where it first appeared.
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