Overview
- Trump hosted the Stanley Cup champion Panthers at the White House late Jan. 15 in Washington after back-to-back titles in 2024 and 2025.
- He praised their postseason run, saying he watched several games and that they "left Canada without the Stanley Cup again."
- He singled out goaltender Sergei "Bob" Bobrovsky as "legendary," citing multiple shutouts across the first three rounds and a pivotal Game 4 versus Toronto in the second round.
- The delegation included Russian players Bobrovsky and defenseman Dmitry Kulikov along with the coaching staff and team personnel.
- Bobrovsky, 37, owns two Vezina Trophy seasons (2012/13 and 2016/17), debuted in the NHL with the Flyers in 2010, later played for the Blue Jackets, and won a 2014 world title with Russia.