Honestly, if you missed the end of the 2024 NHL season, you missed one of the most stressful, chaotic, and eventually historic stretches of hockey ever played. People are still talking about it. The answer to who won the Stanley Cup in 2024 is the Florida Panthers, but just saying their name doesn't even come close to explaining the absolute roller coaster that June was for sports fans.
It was the Florida Panthers' first-ever championship.
Think about that. Thirty years of waiting, two previous trips to the Finals that ended in heartbreak, and they finally did it. But they didn't just win; they almost became the biggest punchline in NHL history before saving themselves at the very last second.
The Epic Collapse That Wasn't
The series against the Edmonton Oilers started out looking like a total blowout. Florida went up 3-0. In the hockey world, a 3-0 lead in the Finals is usually a death sentence. Before 2024, only one team had ever come back from that deficit to win the Cup—the 1942 Toronto Maple Leafs.
Then things got weird.
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Edmonton didn't just "win a game" to stay alive. They absolutely demolished Florida in Game 4 with an 8-1 score. Then they took Game 5. Then Game 6. Suddenly, the Panthers—who had looked invincible—were staring down the barrel of a Game 7. The momentum had completely shifted. Fans in Sunrise, Florida, were terrified. Fans in Edmonton were planning a parade.
Who won the Stanley Cup in 2024? Game 7 Breakdown
June 24, 2024. That was the night. Amerant Bank Arena was vibrating.
The game was a defensive masterclass. Carter Verhaeghe got Florida on the board early in the first period, but Mattias Janmark tied it up for the Oilers basically immediately. You could feel the air leave the building.
The hero of the night? Sam Reinhart.
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Late in the second period, Reinhart snapped a shot past Stuart Skinner to make it 2-1. That was it. That was the goal. Sergei Bobrovsky, the Panthers' veteran goalie who had struggled a bit in the middle of the series, turned back into a brick wall. He finished the game with 23 saves, including some heart-stopping stops in the final minutes when Edmonton pulled their goalie for an extra attacker.
When the buzzer sounded, the Panthers had avoided the greatest "choke" in modern sports and secured their first title.
Connor McDavid and the Bitter Consolation Prize
One of the strangest things about the 2024 Finals was the Conn Smythe Trophy. Usually, the MVP award goes to a player on the winning team. Not this time.
Connor McDavid won the Conn Smythe despite losing the series.
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He was that good. McDavid put up 42 points in 25 playoff games. That is the fourth-highest total in the history of the NHL. He broke Wayne Gretzky’s record for the most assists in a single postseason with 34. Even though his team lost Game 7, the voters couldn't ignore that they were watching one of the greatest individual performances ever. He didn't even come out to the ice to collect the trophy because he was so gutted by the loss. Can you blame him?
Keys to the Florida Panthers' Victory
Why did Florida win? It wasn't just luck.
- Aleksander Barkov: The captain was a machine. He became the first Finnish-born captain to hoist the Cup. His defensive work against McDavid and Leon Draisaitl was arguably the biggest reason the Oilers couldn't finish the comeback.
- Paul Maurice: The head coach had coached the second-most games in NHL history without winning a Cup. He finally got his ring. His "stay calm" approach after losing three straight games was a masterclass in leadership.
- Depth Scoring: While Edmonton relied heavily on their "Big Two," Florida got goals from everywhere. Sam Bennett, Evan Rodrigues, and Eetu Luostarinen were relentless.
What This Means for Hockey
The Panthers winning changed the narrative of the franchise. They aren't just "the team in the suburbs of Miami" anymore. They are a heavyweight. On the flip side, the Oilers' loss extended the "Canadian Curse"—a Canadian team hasn't won the Stanley Cup since 1993.
If you're looking to follow the sport more closely after this historic run, keep an eye on the salary cap moves Florida makes to keep this core together. Winning a Cup is hard, but repeating is legendary.
Actionable Next Steps for Fans:
- Watch the Game 7 Highlights: Seriously, go find the last five minutes of Game 7 on YouTube. The intensity of Bobrovsky's saves is a lesson in high-pressure performance.
- Track the "Cup Curse": Check how many players Florida lost in the 2024 offseason due to free agency. Success in the NHL usually leads to other teams poaching your best depth players.
- Follow the Oilers' Redemption Arc: Historically, teams that lose a heartbreaking Game 7 in the Finals often come back even hungrier the next year.
The 2024 Stanley Cup Final wasn't just a series; it was a testament to how fast things can change in sports. Florida's win proved that even when you're crumbling, one good night can change your life forever.