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This year’s Florida Panthers’ Stanley Cup ring has an interior bold engraving bound to rile the Maple Leafs — and all 31 teams they bested en route to a second straight title.
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‘WE APOLOGIZE TO NO ONE’ is etched beside the result of each 2025 series, including six games over the Leafs in another rough-and-tumble, two-month playoff trek for coach Paul Maurice’s team.
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At the Hockey Hall of Fame, where the Cup sits a slap shot away from Scotiabank Arena and a 58-year Toronto drought, the Cats donated one of their rings to the Hall’s collection Tuesday afternoon.
General manager Bill Zito did the honours, showing off the 14-karat gold bauble, further adorned with more than 100 tiny diamonds and rubies.
Double Cup banners, a prowling panther and palm trees are part of the elaborate design, which also features a black rat depicted underside to salute their fans’ unusual rodent tradition after big victories.
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Leafs forward Steven Lorentz, a member of Florida’s 2024 title team, has no doubts the second ring is stellar and hopes to win one in Toronto. In the meantime, his comparable-sized memento from 2024 “is in a very safe place.”
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“It’s hard for me to wear because it’s so big, the size of a dinner plate,” Lorentz said with a laugh. “I only do it on special occasions or maybe in the summer if I’m having a beer with my dad at the cottage.
“It’s about those little moments. Sometimes, I’ll just put it on myself and think of those good days (of winning and celebrating) because you can’t really wear it that often.”
When he does display it publicly, it’s certainly a conversation starter.
“Tough for people not to notice it when the sunlight hits all the diamonds,” he said. “It’s almost a shame you have to keep it in a box, but when people come over.
“I’m more than happy to let them try it on and take pictures with it.”
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