Reflective Florida Panthers raise second Stanley Cup banner - ESPN

SUNRISE, Fla. — There are a couple of minor dings these days in the Stanley Cup, including one right near the spot where the names of the 2024-25 Florida Panthers are etched in commemoration of their latest title.

Such things happen during championship celebrations. No worries, they'll be fixed soon.

And the Panthers are hoping for the chance to put a few more dings in the trophy next year.

A new season for the back-to-back Stanley Cup champions started Tuesday with the Panthers all gazing toward the top of Amerant Bank Arena to watch another championship banner hoisted to the rafters. It's basically the same as last year's — white background, red lettering — with the only change being the year, 2025 instead of 2024.

«This is a new year and it's a new opportunity for us,» Panthers forward Brad Marchand said. «And when it starts, it's time to turn the page and start working toward a chance to hopefully do it again.»

The banner swayed over the end of the ice that the Panthers defended twice for Tuesday. By the next home game Thursday, it'll take its more-permanent place over the team bench alongside the Panthers' other banners for division and conference titles.

«You kind of look back at what you achieved but at the same time you're proud of the achievement,» Panthers forward Anton Lundell said. «But it gives you more hunger to do it again.»

Fans lined up for one more picture with the Cup outside the doors of the arena Tuesday afternoon, many of them arriving long before the unusual 5 p.m. weekday start time — one that was used to accommodate being part of a nationally televised tripleheader. Once they came inside, the new scoreboard over center ice displayed a replay of some moments from the third period of Game 6 of last