I'm here...to remind you...there were five solid Ottawa storylines from Game Seven of the Stanley Cup Final on Monday night, including an amazing moment for the Tkachuk family.
After a 1,312-game regular season and two months of gruelling playoff action. the 2023-24 NHL season is over. The Florida Panthers won it all on Monday night, halting the Edmonton Oilers' furious comeback from an 0-3 deficit to win Game Seven, 2-1.
Just as the name Ottawa is all over the bowl of the Stanley Cup, Game Seven was covered in solid Ottawa storylines.
Much to the NHL's Chagrin, the Senators Announce a Major Trade During Game 7 Warmups
NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman hates it when anyone upstages big NHL events with big breaking news. The Senators did just that by announcing the Linus Ullmark trade while the Panthers and Oilers were taking warmups.
Was this just a rookie GM not being aware of the etiquette? Or was this a playful jab from the Sens, still feeling wronged over this season's loss of a future first-round draft pick in the Evgeni Dadonov case?
It's Like Game Seven, on Your Wedding Day
Ottawa's Alanis Morrisette did a fine job with both anthems. She's fantastic. There was originally some grumbling in Florida about bringing in a Canadian, but they were quieted when they were told Alanis has been a dual citizen for almost twenty years.
You live, you learn.
Former Senator Vladimir Tarasenko Wins a Second Cup
When the Ottawa Senators started this season, they couldn't ice a full roster due to cap issues. That was primarily due to Vladimir Tarasenko being acquired late into free agency. As they skated in their October season opener, a man short, no one could have imagined the Sens had a 2023-24 Cup winner in their midst.
Meanwhile, former Senators Cody Ceci and Connor Brown came, oh, so close to winning a ring for the Oilers and snapping the Canadian NHL team drought.
Senators Win an Upgraded Pick
When Tarasenko was traded, Ottawa got a 2025 third-round pick and a 2024 fourth-round pick. However, the latter selection was upgraded to a 2026 third-round pick when the Panthers won the Cup on Monday. So they've got that going for them, which is nice.
Brady Tkachuk at the Game, Cheering on His Brother Matthew
And we've saved the best for last.
In an iconic moment, the Sens captain found his brother on the ice after Game 7 and told him with pride, "You won the freaking Stanley Cup!" That's the clean version. This is an amazing, must-watch video.