The NHL brought back a 60-year-old fan-favorite tradition last night in game one of the Stanley Cup Finals between the Edmonton Oilers and the Florida Panthers.

Hype was through the roof last night as the Oilers and the Panthers jumped on the ice for the first game of the 2024 Stanley Cup Finals. Before the singing of the national anthems, fans noticed that the NHL decided to bring back something that hadn’t been done since the 1960s.

They presented the starting lineup from both teams before bringing the Stanley Cup onto the ice.

Per Michael Russo:

“First time since the 1960s that the Stanley Cup Final begins with what’s on the line front and center on the ice.”

Insider Chris Johnston added that the last time the Stanley Cup was on-site for game one of the Stanley Cup Finals was in 2020, in the bubble.

“It wasn’t on the ice, but the NHL did unveil the Stanley Cup in the stands right before puck drop on Game 1 of the 2020 Stanley Cup Final inside the COVID bubble.”

Stanley Cup Finals are always special. There’s always an extra dose of energy going into those crucial games. Seeing the Stanley Cup in the building is clearly a special moment for players, as they could be only a few games away from winning it.

Did you enjoy seeing the NHL bring back the 60-year-old fan-favorite tradition for game one of the Stanley Cup Finals?