Monday night saw the 2024 Stanley Cup Finals conclude in 7 games, with the Florida Panthers winning their first title in franchise history, a 2-1 win over the Edmonton Oilers to fend off a 3-0 series collapse. Three of the Panthers have ties to St. Louis, most notably Vladimir Tarasenko, who is now a 2 time Cup champion, and Matthew Tkachuk, son of Blues legend Keith Tkachuk. Additionally, defenseman Niko Mikkola takes home his first career title since he wasn't part of the Blues' Cup-winning squad back in 2019.
The St. Louis Blues Connection in South Florida
Tarasenko was initially sent to the New York Rangers in February 2023 alongside Mikkola for a couple of Sammy Blais and Hunter Skinner, as well as some future draft picks, before being shipped further north to Ottawa a few months later in July of that year during the free agency period. The 32-year-old Russian signed with Florida during the trade deadline this season in March in exchange for Ottawa to receive more future draft picks. Matthew Tkachuk has spent the past 2 seasons in Florida after a blockbuster trade from the Calgary Flames back in July 2022 that also saw Florida drop some of its other playmakers at the time while additionally sending, what else, more future draft picks!
Tarasenko finished with five goals and nine points over 24 games in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, while Tkachuk finished with six goals and 22 points over 24 games. Both very impressive numbers for two players with ties to the same city. As a matter of fact, St. Louis has seen many different sports successes in the last few weeks, with the Celtics' Jayson Tatum, a St. Louis native, helping Boston win their 18th NBA title, Tkachuk and Tarasenko winning the Cup, and the UFL's St. Louis Battlehawks making the XFL title game, all 3 events happening earlier this month.
Niko Mikkola is the last former Blue worth mentioning here. This season saw the 28-year-old Finn win his first championship after playing in all 82 regular-season games with the Panthers, something he'd never quite done in his career up to this point. Though he only scored 3 goals and managed 14 assists for 17 points, becoming a first-time Cup champion greatly overshadows that. Mikkola's countryman, Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov, also became the first Finnish captain to lift the Cup.
For Blues fans, seeing some of their great players win a Cup with another team may be a bit painful. But when you're reminded that one of them is directly related to a franchise great, you might feel a little better about it. Even if said player is kind of one of the league's most notable villains. But regardless, any time a father sees his son win it all, especially when the former never quite made it there, is definitely special. Now, with the 2023/24 NHL season closed, all eyes look to the mystical Sphere in Las Vegas for the next generation of future Cup winners!