Stanley Cup Triumph and Player Movements
In the wake of the Florida Panthers’ triumphant Stanley Cup victory, Brad Marchand took the opportunity to address the New York Rangers in a pointed manner. Sharing a photo featuring several of his Panthers teammates, Marchand expressed his gratitude towards various NHL teams, including the Rangers, for relinquishing certain players who ultimately found a home in Florida.
Niko Mikkola’s Journey
Among those players was Niko Mikkola, formerly with the Rangers, who had a brief stint there after being traded from the St. Louis Blues in February 2023. During his time in New York, Mikkola participated in just 31 games. However, after the season concluded, he secured a three-year contract worth $7.5 million, solidifying his impact by contributing to the Panthers’ remarkable back-to-back Stanley Cup wins.
Rangers’ Reflections
As the celebratory parade unfolded at Amerant Bank Arena, fans of the Rangers may have been left pondering, “What’s holding us back?” Mikkola’s performance during the Panthers’ 2025 playoff journey was noteworthy; he tallied three goals and three assists for a total of six points, averaging more than 20 minutes of ice time per game throughout the series.
Lessons for the Rangers
Such achievements raise questions about the contrasting trajectories of these two teams and what the Rangers might learn from their Florida counterparts.
