Photo credit: Screenshot

The Florida Panthers defeated the Oilers in the finals and earned the right to have their names on the trophy but today the trophy returned with 2 unexpected names.

The Stanley Cup Finals are known as one of the most grueling playoff experiences in all of sports. This season the Florida Panthers outshined everyone and took home the trophy after a hard-fought 7 game series.
WE ARE STANLEY CUP CHAMPIONS!!!!

After several days of partying with the Stanley Cup, it was sent off to be engraved. To have your name on the Stanley Cup as a player you must play at least 41 regular season games or one game in the Stanley Cup Finals.
A player is required to have appeared in at least 41 regular-season games with a team, or one Stanley Cup Final game, to be eligible to have his name engraved on the trophy.
However, when the Stanley Cup trophy was revealed today with all of the new names there were 2 players who did not fit those requirements that snuck on due to a loophole.

Florida Panthers receive exemption to add extra players onto the Stanley Cup

Today a picture of the newly engraved Stanley Cup was posted on X and circulated all over. Fans noticed that there were two names, Jonah Gadjovich and Josh Mahura, who did not meet the requirements but found their names on the Stanley Cup anyway.
The NHL made two exceptions for players that would get their names on the cup with the #Panthers, despite not reaching the games played eligibility:

Jonah Gadjovich

Josh Mahura

Their inclusion in the names on the Stanley Cup means that the Florida Panthers took advantage of a stipulation added in 1994 that allows teams to petition for players to be added.
In 1994, a stipulation was added to allow a team to petition the Commissioner for permission to have players’ names put on the Stanley Cup if extenuating circumstances prevented them from being available to play. The management staff engraved on the trophy is determined by the team. However, it must be approved by the Hockey Hall of Fame and NHL. The maximum number of names a championship team can engrave on the trophy is 55.
As of now, it is unknown if the Florida Panthers used all 55 of their potential spots or if they applied for other players to be included and were denied. Regardless both Jonah Gadjovich and Josh Mahura will forever be able to say they have their names on the Stanley Cup.