Video tributes to former Florida Panthers welcome back Stanley Cup Champions

The Florida Panthers and Toronto Maple Leafs met for the first time this season on Wednesday night in Sunrise.

During the game, the Panthers welcomed back defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson, forward Steven Lorentz and goaltender Anthony Stolarz with tribute videos commemorating their contributions to the team during its run to the Stanley Cup Championship at the end of last season.

Ekman-Larsson, Lorentz and Stolarz each played one incredible season for the Panthers after signing one-year deals last summer.

All three ended up signing with Toronto via free agency. Accordingly, they were not at the Panthers' ring presentation on Oct. 7 when the rest of their former teammates received their bling-bling.

The three former Cats were presented their rings during an intimate ceremony earlier in the day at the Baptist Health IcePlex in Fort Lauderdale.

Panthers Head Coach Paul Maurice couldn't help but get sentimental after seeing the trio and recalling all they accomplished together last season.

Maurice said he was able to spend a few minutes with his former players after the morning skate and give them a proper greeting when they got their new jewelry.

"I see them in here, or see them on the ice, and you will lock eyes and there will be a flood of memories of what an incredible time that was. You get to keep that," Maurice said. "You don't walk around all day thinking about that stuff, but every once in a while you get a surprise reminder. You get a 30-second warm bath that you slip into and remember how nice that was last year and how amazing that was."

Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov said after the game he was happy to see his former teammates and reminisce about what their time together.

"I saw them in there and gave them their rings. They will always be a part of our lives," Barkov said. "It was nice to see them. They did everything they could to help us win the Cup."

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