But it has to be said that yesterday, as a Stanley Cup winner, he said/did things that Kris Knoblauch (who may have more chances to win in the future) or anyone else wouldn’t have said. Here’s what it looked like.
Paul Maurice gets the Cup mid-interview and then gives one of the most heartfelt interviews you will ever see pic.twitter.com/gMxHW4aL7U
– B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) June 25, 2024
1. When he lifted the Stanley Cup into the air, he closed his eyes. It was to feel the Stanley Cup instead of see it. And that’s the kind of detail people like.
He liked to feel his guys’ sweat as he hugged them, because they worked not to win the Cup, but to share it. And in the end, that’s what he wants.
2. His father will see the name “Maurice” on the Stanley Cup. And for Paul, that’s important. So he tells him straight to the camera.
Since his father grew up watching the Canadiens, Paul Maurice told him that his name would go on the Cup along with those of Maurice Richard and Jean Béliveau, among others. So he shared the Cup with his son and father.
“It’s for my mom and dad in Sault Ste. Marie. Hey dad, your name is going on the Cup with Beliveau, Richard, Howe, and Maurice.”
Congrats Paul Maurice! pic.twitter.com/CVsUceORHb
– The Hockey News (@TheHockeyNews) June 25, 2024
3. In an interview with Sportsnet, he said he’d like the Jets, the club he left just over two years ago, to be in a position to win the next Stanley Cup.
“If I could have one thing more, it would be for the Winnipeg Jets to win the next Stanley Cup.”
– Paul Maurice
cc: @NHLJets | #StanleyCup pic.twitter.com/8k155EHXSC
– Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) June 25, 2024
Roberto Luongo and Matthew Tkachuk, who also won their first Stanley Cup, thanked the Canucks and Flames – without wishing them the Cup, of course – after their victory.
Tkachuk told Flames fans he couldn’t let the Oilers win…
Well, well, well…
We meet at last, @strombone1.
– The Stanley Cup (@StanleyCup) June 25, 2024
4. Paul Maurice thought he was done coaching when he left Winnipeg and now, in his 26th season as an NHL pilot, he’s a Cup champion. He’s been through a lot to understand what it takes to win.
Overtime
– 16 votes out of 17 as playoff MVP. Clearly, he’d trade his 16 votes for a 16th win.
News: #Oilers Connor McDavid was the near unanimous winner of 2024 Conn Smythe Trophy for Stanley Cup playoff MVP.
McDavid garnered 16 of a possible 17 first place votes from a panel of @ThePHWA members.
Transparency matters. Here are all 17 ballots: https://t.co/ZM1Ip2LIc5 pic.twitter.com/rajl6ZJdLw
– Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) June 25, 2024
– The Canadian curse continues.
List of Canadian teams in the Stanley Cup Final since the Habs last won in 1993:
1994 – Canucks lose in 7
2004 – Flames lose in 7
2006 – Oilers lose in 7
2007 – Sens lose in 5
2011 – Canucks lose in 7
2021 – Canadiens lose in 5
2024 – Oilers lose in 7– NHL Watcher (@NHL_Watcher) June 25, 2024
– Brady Tkachuk has fun.
Oh man Brady’s head came *really* close to touching the Cup https://t.co/OqzZC81e7k
– Arpon Basu (@ArponBasu) June 25, 2024
– Poor guy…
Is Corey Perry the unluckiest man alive? #StanleyCup pic.twitter.com/ThYW25bNfc
– BarDown (@BarDown) June 25, 2024