The Panthers also reached the Stanley Cup Final in in 2023 before losing to the Vegas Golden Knights in five games in 2023. Florida (32-19-3) leads the Atlantic Division again this season and hopes to make a run at a third straight Final appearance and repeating as Cup champions.

Trump complimented Panthers owner Vincent Viola, who he called “a friend of mine,” and noted the contributions of coach Paul Maurice, captain Aleksander Barkov, goalie Sergei Bobrovsky, Tkachuk and fellow forwards Anton Lundell, Carter Verhaeghe and Sam Reinhart.

“It was very special,” said Barkov, who is from Finland. “I know I’m not American, but still it was a huge honor to get to visit the White House and see Mr. President and shake his hand. Even to be in the same room with him, it was a special thing, so, for sure, one of those moments that you’re going to remember of the rest of your life.”

Viola, Barkov and Tkachuk presented President Trump with a framed Panthers jersey with “45-47” on the back — representing that he is the 45th and 47th president of the United States –, another “Trump 47” jersey and a gold stick before spending a few minutes with him in the Oval Office.

“This was really cool,” forward Evan Rodrigues said. “You head into the season and you kind of turn the page a little bit, but to come here and kind of celebrate it again was a cool experience. It was something that probably you’re looking at a once-in-a-lifetime experience meeting the president, getting to go in the Oval Office. Just an awesome moment.”

This was the Panthers’ second visit with a president in three months, Florida also met Finland President Alexander Stubb following the second game of 2024 NHL Global Series Finland against the Dallas Stars in Tampere on Nov. 2. The Panthers presented President Stubb, whose father Goran Stubb was NHL’s Director of European Scouting for 40 years before retiring in 2023, with a customized jersey and took their photo with him in the locker room.

“It actually tells you a lot about what we accomplished because you know it’s a big thing,” said Barkov, who was the first Finland-born captain to hoist the Stanley Cup. “As a hockey player, you want to win the Stanley Cup, but then once you do, there are so many different honors and accomplishments and, obviously meeting the president — the Finnish president, the American president — it was a great honor. So, it was worth it.”

Going to the White House at this time had additional meaning for Tkachuk. The 27-year-old will play for his country, along with his younger brother Brady Tkachuk of the Ottawa Senators, in the upcoming 4 Nations Face-off, an international tournament featuring teams made up of only NHL players from Canada, Finland, Sweden and the United States to be held Feb. 12-20 in Montreal and Boston.

“Representing the United States coming up too (at the 4 Nations Face-Off) and to be here at the White House, it’s all coming together so fast,” Tkachuk said. “I definitely take great pride in being American and being from the United States. I can’t really stress enough how much it means for me to be here.”