Saturday night in Sunrise, Florida, brought a swirl of nostalgia, rivalry, and high-stakes hockey as the Florida Panthers hosted the Ottawa Senators at Amerant Bank Arena. The Panthers, fresh off a hard-fought victory over the Philadelphia Flyers and still basking in the afterglow of recent Stanley Cup success, squared off against a Senators squad determined to carve out its own legacy. But for one player, the matchup was more than just another game—it was a homecoming marked by memories, milestones, and the unmistakable buzz of an NHL season just getting underway.
Nick Cousins, once a key cog in the Panthers’ historic back-to-back Stanley Cup runs, found himself back in familiar territory. Stepping onto the ice at the Baptist Health IcePlex in Fort Lauderdale on Friday, Cousins took a moment to absorb it all. “So many good memories here,” Cousins reflected, his voice tinged with both gratitude and longing. “Lots of good people. Obviously only good memories here. I mean, when you win with [good] people, it’s a different bond.”
For Cousins, the bond with Florida runs deep. After two seasons in a Panthers uniform—culminating in the franchise’s first-ever Stanley Cup victory in 2024—he departed for Ottawa, signing a one-year deal with the Senators and later re-upping for another season. But his return to South Florida was delayed; knee surgery in February 2025 kept him off the ice when Ottawa visited last season. Now, at long last, Cousins was back, ready to face his former teammates and fans who cheered him through the most exhilarating chapter of his career.
“So nice to be back,” Cousins said, a smile breaking across his face as he glanced around the rink where so many of his hockey dreams had come true. His return was more than ceremonial. It was a chance to reconnect with the place that had helped him revitalize his career and to measure himself against the team that had once counted on his grit, versatility, and locker room presence.
During his tenure with the Panthers, Cousins was the kind of player every coach craves: reliable, adaptable, and relentless. He logged 42 points—16 goals and 26 assists—across 148 regular-season games, and added another eight points, including two crucial goals, in the playoffs. None was bigger than his overtime series-clincher in the second round of the 2024 Stanley Cup playoffs against the Toronto Maple Leafs. That goal didn’t just seal a series; it helped Florida believe they could go all the way.
But Cousins’ contributions went beyond the scoresheet. He was one of the most vocal presences in the Panthers’ dressing room, a glue guy who kept spirits high even when the stakes were highest. Whether it was sharing a laugh with fellow forward Ryan Lomberg and defenseman Brandon Montour or pulling a well-timed prank to shake off the tension, Cousins understood the importance of chemistry. “In the dressing room, being a good teammate,” Cousins explained. “That doesn’t take any talent. I think just keeping the room light and get in on the pranks and all that kind of stuff. I think just being remembered as good teammate. Even when I wasn’t playing down the stretch, I thought I still showed up with a with a good attitude and made sure the boys were still showing up with smiles on their faces.”
As a player, Cousins was willing to do whatever it took. “I was player that played the game hard and played up and down the lineup,” he said. “I think probably my favorite memory was just playing with with Benny [Sam Bennett] and Chucky [Matthew Tkachuk] down that one stretch there in the playoffs and going into the Finals. Probably the most fun I’ve had playing hockey was playing down here. Lots of good memories. This place will hold a special place in my heart for the rest of my life.”
Now, Cousins is carving out a new chapter in Ottawa. Despite missing part of last season due to injury, he posted 15 points in 50 games and has settled into a role on the Senators’ fourth line. The Senators, meanwhile, are a team on the rise. After snapping a playoff drought that stretched back to 2017, Ottawa is eyeing back-to-back postseason appearances for the first time since 2012-2013. Their season got off to a rousing start with a 5-4 comeback win over the Tampa Bay Lightning, a game in which they trailed 3-1 after the opening period but roared back to snatch victory.
“We’ve got some really good young players that are just coming into the prime of their careers,” Cousins noted. “Last year, the second half of the year, we kind of figured out how we need to play to be successful. We’re starting to see that. We had a really good training camp. Guys came in in great shape. We’ve just got some young studs here that know how to play, know how to win now. I think last year we kind of got a better feel for it, just managing the puck, managing the time of the game and all that kind of stuff. We’re getting there. We still have lots of room for improvement, but we’re trending in the right direction where we’re going to be a team that’s not only successful this year but the future is bright for sure.”
For the Panthers, the new season is another chance to reinforce their status as one of the NHL’s elite. The echoes of their Stanley Cup triumph still resonate, but the hunger for more is palpable. Their recent win over the Flyers was a testament to their resilience and depth, and the victory against the Senators on October 12, 2025, added another early-season boost. The Panthers’ faithful have grown accustomed to excellence, but the road ahead is long, and every point matters in the relentless Eastern Conference.
As for Cousins, the return to Florida was a poignant reminder of what he helped build—and what he hopes to achieve in Ottawa. The Panthers and Senators, once separated by history and circumstance, now share a thread of mutual respect forged in competition and camaraderie. The night at Amerant Bank Arena was more than a regular-season contest; it was a celebration of past glories, present ambitions, and the ever-turning wheel of the NHL.
With the Panthers’ victory over Ottawa now in the books and Cousins’ homecoming complete, both teams turn their attention to the challenges ahead. For Florida, it’s about defending their crown and staying hungry. For Ottawa, it’s about proving last year was no fluke—and that this group of young, hungry players can make history of their own. The season is young, the storylines are rich, and as Saturday night showed, the bonds of hockey run deeper than any final score.
