The Florida Panthers lost Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final to the Edmonton Oilers on Wednesday. They beat Edmonton to win their franchise's first title last year, which signaled the crowning accomplishment of a lengthy rebuild. Before 2022, they had not won a playoff series since 1996. Aaron Ekblad lifted the Cup as the longest-tenured Panthers player and has a chance to win a second before hitting NHL free agency . He told The Athletic's Michael Russo that he has no plans for this to be his final series in Florida.

“I live and breathe for the Florida Panthers. I bleed for the Florida Panthers,” Ekblad said, per Russo. “I’ve given my body and everything to this team, and I want to keep doing it … forever, for as long as they’ll let me come to the rink.”

Before Game 2, he was asked

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