Panthers touching Prince of Wales Trophy won’t hurt Stanley Cup chance

After their incredible playoff run, the Florida Panthers have probably earned the right to be confident. Heck, if they were overconfident, I don’t think anyone would bat an eyelash.

Sergei Bobrovsky has been an absolute wall in goal, Matthew Tkachuk has a great scoring touch in the clutch, and this Panthers squad is firing on all cylinders.

So, you should completely forgive them for touching the Prince of Wales Trophy — awarded annually to the winner of the Eastern Conference — in their celebration of earning a berth in the 2023 Stanley Cup Final.

Not only is that silly superstition of not touching the trophy no longer a big deal, it’s probably the opposite setup now.

Five of the last seven NHL teams to win the Stanley Cup touched the Prince of Wales trophy: the 2016-2017 Pittsburgh Penguins, the 2018 Washington Capitals, and the 2020-2021 Tampa Bay Lightning. Meanwhile, the last five teams who didn’t touch the trophy actually went on to lose the Cup, with the 2019 Boston Bruins standing out as the foremost recent example.

Right now, it’s not as if oddsmakers are buying the Panthers touching silver as a dealbreaker for their Stanley Cup chances. If anything, their healthy +110 odds to win the Cup with DraftKings indicate they’re no longer considered a Cinderella.

Let’s be frank.

If there is still a Prince of Wales Trophy curse here, it’s a mental one. (Remember that much of the same sentiments often apply to the West equivalent, Clarence S. Campbell Bowl.)

It’s on any team that thinks that enjoying a significant career accomplishment is somehow sullied by putting fingerprints on a beautiful trophy, albeit not the ultimate prize. I understand the idea of maintaining a singular focus — in this case, winning the Stanley Cup — but nothing says you shouldn’t enjoy the ride on the way. Nothing says you need to employ a stance of tunnel vision.

The Panthers are clearly having a blast every step of the way, and such joy is part of why they’ve made it this far. They shouldn’t change a thing.