Former Canucks Defenseman Given Highest Honour After Winning Stanley Cup with Florida Panthers

In was a Stanley Cup Final that was not even really close, the Florida Panthers were able to best the Edmonton Oilers for the 2nd consecutive year, beating them 5-1 in game six.

After a team wins the Finals, it is customary for the captain of the team to join commissioner Gary Betman at centre ice to collect the cup and then subsequently hand it off to the leadership group and so on and so fourth.

But this year, Florida Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov decided to change it up a bit.

After collecting their prize, he decided to hand it off to former Vancouver Canucks fan favorite and veteran Defenseman Nate Schmidt.

Although only playing 54 games with the Canucks during the 2020-21 NHL season, he quickly became a fan favorite for his leadership and infectious smile that reminded everyone the hockey really is still just a game at the end of the day.

It was indeed short lived, but he carried that same play and leadership to every team moving forward, especially the Panthers, who signed him this past summer.

In 80 games with the Panthers in the regular season, he picked up four goals and 15 assists for 19 points, and then added 12 points in 23 playoff games, including five in the Final, en route to his first title.