The Florida Panthers will visit the White House on January 15, 2026, to be honored by President Donald J. Trump for winning their second consecutive Stanley Cup. The ceremony continues a tradition dating back to the 19th century, with NHL teams being recognized at the White House since the Pittsburgh Penguins were first honored in 1991.
The Panthers secured their repeat championship with a 5-1 victory over the Edmonton Oilers in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final on June 17, 2025. This marks them as only the tenth franchise in NHL history to achieve back-to-back titles.
Key players during this playoff run included Sam Reinhart, Matthew Tkachuk, and Carter Verhaeghe, each tallying a team-high of 23 points. Reinhart became only the second player to score four goals in a Cup-clinching game. Sam Bennett was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy after scoring 15 goals throughout the playoffs. Aleksander Barkov made history as the first European-born captain to lead his team to consecutive championships and contributed 22 points.
A notable third line featuring Brad Marchad—acquired at the trade deadline—Anton Lundell, and Eetu Luostarinen combined for significant offensive production with a total of 21 goals and 36 assists during postseason play. Goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky recorded a .914 save percentage over a record of 16 wins and seven losses.
The Panthers’ recent success comes under President of Hockey Operations and General Manager Bill Zito and head coach Paul Maurice. The organization has reached three straight Stanley Cup Finals since Zito and Maurice took leadership roles.
During their previous White House visit following their first championship win in February 2025, players presented President Trump with commemorative gifts including a golden hockey stick and framed jersey marked with numbers representing his two non-consecutive terms as president. Team members also received a private tour of the Oval Office.
“I’ve grown up seeing highlights and little bits of teams going [to the White House] after a championship and never really thought that it could be me one day,” forward Matthew Tkachuk said following the team’s first visit to the White House in February of 2025. “To finally be here after winning the Stanley Cup, it’s a culmination of a great year.”
The upcoming ceremony is scheduled to be broadcast live around 4 p.m. Eastern Time.