FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- Nate Schmidt knew exactly where he wanted to go after having the final season of his six-year contract bought out by the Winnipeg Jets last summer,.

So, on July 3, 2024, just three days after he had been bought out, the 33-year-old defenseman signed a one-year contract with the Florida Panthers.

The reason?

“I want to win a Cup, and I want to do it with a team that’s going to have fun doing it," Schmidt said at the time.

Schmidt is certainly having fun with the Panthers, and now he will get that chance to win the Stanley Cup.

Florida is making its third straight appearance in the Final and will look to defend its championship against the team it defeated in seven games last season: the Edmonton Oilers. Game 1 of the best-of-7 series will be at Rogers Place

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