Bill Zito’s wild week post-Stanley Cup win showed just how quickly the excitement of victory can turn into the urgency of offseason business. Shortly after leading the Florida Panthers to their first championship, Zito was back at his desk, focused on keeping the momentum going.

When the Panthers clinched the Cup on June 24, Zito's responsibilities ramped up. With key players heading into free agency, he had little time to celebrate. "I remember driving home at 5 AM after Game 7, then back in the office by 7:30," he recounted, clearly overwhelmed but determined to continue building a championship team.

Fast forward to today: despite losing some cornerstone players during the offseason, the Panthers are thriving. They're one of only eight teams left standing as they prepare to face the Toronto Maple Leafs in Round 2, and odds are looking good for them to make a third consecutive Cup Final appearance. "It’s all about our core’s talent and character," Zito affirmed.

In a surprising twist, the Maple Leafs emerged as beneficiaries of the Panthers' summer sell-off. They snatched veteran defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson and goaltender Anthony Stolarz, both looking to capitalize on the void left by the Panthers' roster changes. Stolarz quickly claimed the No. 1 goaltending role after joining Toronto, showing that what once belonged to Florida is now part of their strategy.

Stolarz recalls the whirlwind: "I had to run to Staples for the contract after the parade. Everything happened fast." Toronto’s hunger for fresh talent made them aggressive in the market, adding depth with players like Steven Lorentz, who found his groove in Toronto after being moved around in the Panthers' lineup.

Ekman-Larsson noted that the Panthers’ championship celebrations were intense. "When I got there, it felt like the biggest party you’ve ever seen," he said, reminiscing about the euphoric days before the business of free agency took over.

Meanwhile, the Panthers lost several significant contributors to other teams, including defenseman Brandon Montour who landed a hefty contract with the Seattle Kraken. Despite these departures, Zito managed to keep pivotal players like Sam Reinhart, demonstrating his knack for making strategic decisions under pressure.

As the playoffs unfold, the Panthers and Leafs are ready to clash, each team driven not just by wins but by the familiarity and respect developed during a shared championship journey. It’s a fierce rivalry, and while they may share past experiences, once the puck drops, it's all business.

As Ekman-Larsson puts it, "The hockey world is not that big. You have friends, but on the ice, it’s a battle. That’s what I love about the league.” Expect nothing less than fireworks as these two teams take to the ice for what promises to be a thrilling series.