Florida Panthers Unveil Their Stanley Cup Championship Rings With Glimmering Diamonds, Rubies, and a Rat
On Tuesday night, the Florida Panthers will proudly raise the first Stanley Cup banner in the history of their franchise and will also don their new championship rings.
Due to potential weather disruptions from Hurricane Milton in the Gulf, the Panthers opted for a private ceremony on Monday to unveil their rings, although they shared the designs on social media platforms.
Crafted by Jostens, the stunning rings weigh 15.6 carats and are adorned with a wealth of diamonds, along with representations of the official WWE and NHL Stanley Cup championship belt, the state of Florida, palm trees, and a rat.
The jewelry includes a total of: 554 diamonds, 16 princess-cut rubies, one round ruby, nine blue sapphires, and 37 yellow sapphires.
The inclusion of the championship belt signifies a historic milestone, as the Panthers are the first NHL team to be represented on it.
The rat symbolizes a long-standing Panthers tradition dating back to the 1995-96 season.
That year, Scott Mellanby famously killed a rat in the old Miami Arena and then scored two goals that same night, earning the term “rat trick” from a teammate. This led fans to toss plastic rats onto the ice following goals, a custom that continues after playoff victories.
With 16 playoff victories, the Panthers captured a championship that was 30 years in the making. The four series they triumphed over last postseason—Tampa Bay Lightning (4-1), Boston Bruins (4-2), New York Rangers (4-2), and Edmonton Oilers (4-3)—are etched into their rings, along with the significant date of June 24, 2024, their Game 7 clincher.
The Panthers will face off against the Bruins in the NHL’s opening night in North America, having secured victories against Boston in the previous two postseasons.