The Year of The Rat 🐀 😂 | The Point

[@DFort86]

I had a lot of fun as a 10 year old going to nearly every home game with 2-3 fake rats that year. Great memories. Miami Arena was a mad house.

[@McCantJustin]

Love to see content on my favorite hockey club! LETS GO PANTHERS 🐀🐀🐀🐀

[@manzac112]

I'm surprised his jersey hasn't been retired by the Panthers. He was a great player and leader for the Panthers.

[@McCantJustin]

Same here, he's more than deserving

[@pouncingpantherpucks2779]

The owners are just fucking stupid. They don't attach themselves with the good players that have played here. He should be up in the rafters.

[@SombraPiloto]

Saw the title and was initially confused because Marchand was eliminated in the first round this year.

[@daniell.6219]

Ooooof

[@joanncamperi7812]

Now that you say it.... He does kinda look like a rat! hahaha

[@Mike-ny5xf]

😜😜💪

[@maelleffo1574]

DAAAAMMMMNN!

[@seantaylornation21RIP4evr]

COOKED LMFAOOOO

[@doctorcane]

I recall that year, time to repeat truth a slightly different ending

[@averagejosh6699]

Close, but unfortunately no cigar

[@pouncingpantherpucks2779]

What a surprise. Thanks a lot for this. I really appreciate.

[@bigorange2082]

Now we’re the 2024 champs. We owe so much to those teams that came before. Thank you Scott. Thank you Beezer.

[@WPack911]

Great short documentary. As a Panthers fan since their first sesson I will never forget that year and this year has felt a lot like it, just want to end it the way it should ended, with a Cup! GO PANTHERS!!! #TimeToHunt

[@WPack911]

@Adam V Facts. Wolfpac 4~Life

[@ejcejc4113]

This is so ingrained in Panthers culture that our two mascots are: Stanley C. Panther & Victor E. Rat

[@ColoradoSportsFan178]

The Cats eating Rats🐀 😂 Avs had to deal with those rats for a while, but Roy took 'em down! What a crazy story.

[@ColoradoSportsFan178]

@Adam V Lolol fair enough. Good luck in the ECF!

[@razormc954]

As a lifelong Panthers fan, thank you. With that out of the way, I don't want to talk about "1996" as the Greatest Moment in Panthers history, I want that to be winning The Cup.

[@ckendall67]

They might just do it this year too.

[@markymark3668]

Someone threw a rat on the ice after the Panthers scored during Game 5 IN TORONTO of the series just yesterday I thought, "Huh that's an odd thing to throw, there must be a reason." Here I am sitting a little over 24 hours later discovering the origin of the rats being thrown on ice lol

[@beezer5623]

Was a great time for the NHL. Panthers had this buzz going for them after they beat the Bruins, crushed the Flyers in 6 then the comeback to take the hall of fame loaded Pens in 7. Avs were just to strong of a team for them to handle. But they gave them a couple decent games though even it was a disappointing series sweep. Panthers could have easily won 2 of those games if not for Roy and their lack of a couple pure goal scorers. Game 4 was one of the best games in Cup history IMO.

[@rory_cochrane]

Great production! Great story! A young player who created a legacy for himself and a franchise.

[@jennifer.martin.48]

I remember this so vividly as a 9 year old. It was such a special year and it was such a special team. I miss going to Panther games at the old Miami Arena. Here’s hoping we can get the Cup!

[@flames24lightning]

What awesome memories! I was 9 years old and the first NHL playoffs I watched and I got hooked. Thanks Mellanby for what you started!

[@thebluefus]

I was a kid in Michigan but I had Florida panthers stickers on my helmet

[@NintendoLAW]

GO CATS, GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Tonight we eliminate the biggest hockey market in the NHL, Toronto!

[@premiumnapping5627]

Viktor E. Rat is the Leagues best mascot 🫡🔥

[@ivanpojdl1620]

Finally the Cats are Stanley Cup Champions.

[@zerokoolTV]

I literally had man tears when i saw the rats once again. Wow so much memories. Now we see the rats again. Go Cats!! SI SE PUEDE VIVA LOS GATOS

[@wakemiamigreatagain]

That was such a fun and exciting playoff run for the team and the fans. I'm sure we all expected the team to be at least competitive for a long time to come. Sadly poor ownership and management didn't let that happen. Thank you Vinny Viola for bringing this team back to relevance. Hockey is exciting in South Florida again.

[@ckendall67]

Yeah, the Panthers have been through a lot of lean years but now we might be seeing the start of the Panthers being an actual legit contender going forward perhaps.

[@SG-jn3ec]

Nostalgic watching this! Remember it vividly. I was 12 yrs old...good times.

[@pennyd.3651]

Year of the rat 🐀

[@SylveonMujigaeOfficial]

Little did the guys at ESPN know, the Panthers were making another run to the Stanley Cup Final.

[@goldeneve]

So true

[@Pensfan5919]

Scotty, Straka, Dvorak, and Beezer kept hockey in Florida. It finally paid off, nearly 30 years later.

[@ckendall67]

This definitely was one of my favorite early memories as a hockey fan, the Panthers & their improbable playoff run in 1996, people just could not believe what the Panthers were doing, not to mention the whole backstory of the rats being a huge part of the team's identity at the time.

[@kh4l3dhi]

Go Panthers! The Year of the Rat was legendary

[@matthewlo7868]

Well… Florida… Y’all didn’t get it last year… so… How about this year?!

[@briank1263]

Ill always be a bolts fan , but Id be lying if i said I wasn't excited for a Panthers Cup win.

[@steveharvey2102]

Pause at 1:57 Tell me how this team made the finals, so quickly?? I watched it live. I collected all of the hockey cards, starting in 86. And Even I have trouble placing a lot of these names. Being from Montreal, like Scott Mellanby :) we knew THAT was a solid pick. BEST PICK, John Van B. But did he Ever play for Vancouver? I do not remember that!?! Brian Skrudland, won the cup with us, in 86. Great leader. Florida's first captain, I beleive. The Stephane Richer, taken from Boston, Is actually a different player than the guy who scored 50 in a season, for Montreal and won a cup here and in New Jersey. Darren Puppa, okay back up, started with Buffalo. Mike Hough, Dave Lowry, Joe Cirella. Jesse Belanger. Good but not great. It shows you how the expansion drafts have changed. Back then, a team was supposed to suffer for many years, before even making the playoffs! See:: San Jose, Tampa Bay, Washington, Kansas City, Ottawa and many more; For great examples of awful teams. It was kind of fun for fans in established cities. We used to make bets on the next time San Jose, or Ottawa, would actually win a game! Lol Now we have teams making the finals, in their first year!?! WTF I know St. Louis made the finals, their first 3 years of existence. The only reason for that, division alignment. St. Louis' record in those 3 finals 0-12. The last loss, provided us with a Flying Bobby Orr and hockey's "greatest photo". Maybe a new team, will provide a new candidate, for greatest photo, goal or save. Only time can tell. Cheers from Montreal. P.S. Every name, team, moment and other piece of info, found in this document. Come straight from my memory. No googling here ;) My point! Don't quote me, without double checking first. :) We all make mistakes.

[@NecroMalkor]

I was wondering why i saw rats being thrown on the ice during there series against the leafs. It all makes sense now 😂😂

[@matthewlo7868]

7:17 Actually, I think you said, and I quote… “No more rats.”

[@VFTC]

Can’t believe ESPN did a halfway decent hockey segment.

[@miccrhaafetl5101]

The Beezer was one of my goalies

[@Project305miami]

Scott Mellanby spent his entire pro career in the Show

[@steveharvey2102]

No mention of the original, "Rat Man", Kenny Linesman? I undrstand this is a quick vid to give some background, for the fans, who were not yet. Way Back in 96! Google Ken Linesman for The O.G. Ratbuster :) Go Florida Go! From Montreal. As a kid I spent a lot of time at my Grandfather's fishing pier, on Daytona Beach, so Florida was always special to us. And to a lot of other Canadians ;) Like Mellanby said, " The freeze of Edmonton, to the Sunshine state! Where do I sign? :)

[@paulybeefs8588]

Matthew Tkachuk joins the Panthers and all of a sudden it's the year of the rat once again

[@derekd8142]

I remember I was 8 or 9 and my dad handed me a couple rates before before the game lol😊

[@ejcejc4113]

2023 The year of the rat We've come A LONG WAY.

[@goldeneve]

Little they know welcome back to the cup panthers

[@oceanshrugs9235]

I know it isn't the year of the rat anymore but I still want to see rats getting showered on the ice whenever they make it 😂 It should really be their thing! It's so cool

[@judithstewart4249]

It is our thing actually!!! We throw rats every time we win :)

[@oceanshrugs9235]

@@judithstewart4249 awesome!

[@TrueMr.Quinn1]

They still get thrown and they are getting thrown more than ever now that we made it so far in the Stanley Cup playoffs, now in the finals lol

[@Erick2009909]

I hope the panthers won a Stanley cup

[@steveharvey2102]

Don't piss off Patrick...ever. Signed, A Montreal fan. Est. 1986

[@autistica1]

I was 13 years old. It was great then but honestly, I'm sick of hearing about 1996. I want to talk about winning a cup.

[@curbfeld9558]

By the title, I thought this was gonna be about Brad Marchand

[@streethockeyking98]

Matty Tkachuck is the new rat king

[@perronechris98]

The year of the rat is the history of the Panthers and wouldn't you know it. Marcy got beat by his own kind in 7.

[@nickt9676]

LETS GO CATS These boys still got some more eating to do

[@shardhoney]

LETS GOOOO CATSS 🐀🐀🐀🐀🐀🐀🐀ESPN PANTHERS CONTENT??????

[@tybeard8532]

St.Louis native Matthew TKACHUCK sending the cats to the finals last night made me watch this video.. praying Florida gets their first cup.-blues fan

[@stephencruse6525]

It’s not 1993.

[@james9564]

It's the year of the Rat 23 and the Panthers are on a run.

[@user-cp7fo7im1s]

I actually miss the old Miami Arena. Miami sports was best when the venues were mostly shitholes. The Orange Bowl was the best. An old run down building that I would give anything to have back. Especially over that abomination that's there now.

[@otaviofrnazario]

for the Heat it's not really true... their history turned around since the opening of the now Kaseya Center. But I agree for the Dolphins and the U

[@user-cp7fo7im1s]

@@otaviofrnazario Yeah, it's not a perfect comparison. I was just reminiscing or whatever.

[@investorbettor505]

Go cats!

[@aliboritz3011]

❤ year of the 🐀 poor rat

[@davidherbek9212]

Year of hockey rat, I thought the Washington Commodes played football at the DC Swamp Eat Stadium. David

[@ShadowTwister28]

Big Cats kill Mice

[@asyataylor7240]

Wtf

[@bb-gc2tx]

im not buying mellanby story that the rat ran directly at him. i bet espn told him to say that so it didnt sound like he murdered a poor defenseless rat 🤣

[@davidherbek9212]

DC SWAMP RAT STADIUM, home of the "Washington Commodes", formerly the Washington Commanders. Bring your own toilet paper and remember to flush after each dump snd pisd. Suggestion, bring air freshener in emresoect to the ticket holder beside you. David

[@sebcharb7313]

You guys really do have a rat. His name is Gudas.

[@sebcharb7313]

@TheAdamV Karma is a bitch. I predict the Cats will lose against the Canes. And I truly hate the Canes.

[@canadasugardaddysugardaddy1797]

How fitting, Florida got a real life Rat in Tkachuk now