Nate Schmidt and Vitek Vanecek celebrated victory as Stanley Cup champions, with Schmidt finally lifting the Cup after his previous teams had won without him. Captured by the Florida Panthers, their repeat championship victory showcased the team's unique camaraderie as captain Aleksander Barkov ensured the trophy was handed to first-time winners. With a 5-1 win against the Edmonton Oilers, the Panthers solidified their place in history as the 19th team to repeat as champions, marking a significant moment for Schmidt, who previously experienced heartbreak during his finals appearances.
"It just shows you how unique this hockey club is, that they've handed the trophy to every first-time player," Wayne Gretzky said. "I thought (Brad) Marchand would be the first guy to get it, but they went completely opposite direction..."
"The first guys to touch the Stanley Cup were the guys who hadn't won it before... That's the Barkov effect in our room. He loves everybody. Everybody is part of it," head coach Paul Maurice said.
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