Florida Panthers Avoid Prince of Wales Trophy Amid Third Straight Stanley Cup Final

For the third consecutive year, the Florida Panthers have advanced to the Stanley Cup Final, continuing a superstition regarding the Prince of Wales Trophy. In 2023, the Panthers touched the trophy after winning the Eastern Conference but subsequently lost the Stanley Cup Final. Learning from that experience, the team refrained from touching the trophy in 2024 and went on to win their first Stanley Cup. This season, following their Eastern Conference victory, the Panthers again avoided touching the Prince of Wales Trophy, hoping to replicate their recent success. The superstition stems from a belief that touching the trophy might jinx a team’s chances in the Stanley Cup Final, a sentiment echoed by the Panthers and other NHL teams. Their cautious approach highlights how traditions and superstitions continue to influence player behavior in the NHL.