Matthew Tkachuk showed real excitement over the Florida Panthers' championship ring. In a video shared by reporter Katie Engleson on X, he said:
"I have never seen a piece of jewelry like this in my entire life."
Tkachuk expressed how special the ring is, even though he can't keep it with him all the time, but it will remind him of the team's great achievement.
"Unfortunately I cannot keep the Stanley Cup in my possession at all times, but this will remind me of that each and every day. It’s incredible," Matthew Tkachuk added.
On Monday, the Panthers showed off their 2024 NHL Championship Rings on social media. Inside, it has the word 'Freedom' and the names of the teams they beat in the playoffs, each crossed off.
The ring comes in a special box that plays highlights and key moments from the series, allowing players and fans to relive their journey.
Aleksander Barkov, who led the Panthers as their captain and Stanley Cup Finals star goalie Sergei Bobrovsky also had surprising reactions to the ring.
The Panthers posted a regular-season record of 52-24-6, finishing with 110 points. They won the Stanley Cup in a tough 4-3 series against the Edmonton Oilers. Sam Reinhart led the team with 94 points, scoring 57 goals as the Panthers won their third conference championship and Stanley Cup.
The Panthers are preparing to start the 2024-2025 season against the Boston Bruins on Tuesday at the Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, Florida.
Explore Matthew Tkachuk's pre-game rituals in Faceoff: Inside the NHL
The new Amazon series Faceoff: Inside the NHL gives fans a look at NHL players’ lives. It started on Friday and has six episodes.
Three of these episodes focus on the Florida Panthers. Episode Three is called Learning to Win. It features Matthew Tkachuk’s pre-game routines and fun moments during the playoffs against the Boston Bruins.
The series also shows strong moments, like Panthers coach Paul Maurice’s outburst during Game 5. Maurice's voice was hoarse as he shouted from the bench:
“You f—kers, pay attention. Nobody’s hit a f—ing thing. You get a 3-1 lead and now you wanna make plays. F—k the plays. Pound their f—ing D so in Game 7 they’ve got nothing left.”
It explores the emotions after the Stanley Cup Final, including Connor McDavid’s feelings after the Oilers lost Game 7. The show highlights the team spirit among Panthers players and includes special locker room moments.