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    Nick Barden
    Nick Barden
    Nov 27, 2024, 18:22

    Lorentz, Ekman-Larsson, and Stolarz are all expected to be in the lineup for Toronto on Wednesday evening in Florida.

    Lorentz, Ekman-Larsson, and Stolarz are all expected to be in the lineup for Toronto on Wednesday evening in Florida.

    Toronto Maple Leafs players Steven Lorentz, Oliver Ekman-Larsson, and Anthony Stolarz have received their Stanley Cup Rings after winning hockey's ultimate prize with the Florida Panthers in June.

    The trio of players obtained the rings from the Panthers on Wednesday morning, inside Florida's practice facility in Fort Lauderdale, ahead of the game against their former club.

    Their past teammates were in the dressing room when they entered to pick up the rings.

    "It was a great feeling. A lot of emotions, to be honest with you, coming into that room and seeing all the guys," Ekman-Larsson admitted on Wednesday after receiving his ring. "Kind of going through your head what you went through last year and the battles with that group. So a lot of emotions, but also a lot of fun."

    The 33-year-old defenseman didn't have very much time to soak up the Stanley Cup win with his teammates. Shortly after Florida's parade, Ekman-Larsson signed a four-year, $14 million contract with the Maple Leafs.

    He called Wednesday's reunion with his Panthers teammates special. 

    "I think that means a lot for all of us to get the chance to just hug everybody and say a few words and kind of went by quick," Ekman-Larsson said. "I think to get this chance to see everybody and talk to everybody, I think that made it a lot better in a lot of ways. So, it was good. It was good to see all the guys."

    Lorentz, who joined Toronto on a professional tryout before signing a one-year, $775,000 contract, says there were a lot of emotions when he walked into the Panthers' dressing room.

    "We didn't know how it was going to go, if they were going to get shipped or if we were going to do something like last night when we got into town. But, yeah, it was definitely worth the wait to be able to see everyone, shake everyone's hands and give everyone hugs and stuff like that," the 28-year-old said. 

    "Like I said, it just brought back a lot of good memories. So definitely special. That being said, we got a job to do tonight, so we're not going to come in here and take it easy on you guys."

    Lorentz appeared in 16 of Florida's playoff games last spring, but didn't play in their Stanley Cup-winning game against the Edmonton Oilers.

    Still, when he steps foot onto the ice inside Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, Florida, the forward's going to give himself time to reflect on the day he won hockey's ultimate prize.

    "I'm just trying to enjoy all of this. You only come back for the first time once, and like I said, just seeing all the guys in the room there, seeing [Panthers GM Bill Zito], seeing all the boys and the coaches and stuff, it's a hard feeling to describe. Like I said, you only get to go and come back once. So, yeah, it was fun."

    Anthony Stolarz spoke on Tuesday in Toronto, calling his first matchup against the Panthers "just another game." But the Maple Leafs goaltender was clearly excited to receive his cup ring.

    "Yeah, it's exciting, you know, something that, you know, doesn't happen every day," said Stolarz, "It's going to be something that, hopefully, I keep in my family for generations here."

    The Maple Leafs will take on the Panthers on Wednesday night with puck drop scheduled shortly after 7:30 p.m. ET. All three of Lorentz, Ekman-Larsson, and Stolarz will play against their former team.