The Stanley Cup Playoffs are a tiring grind, which will wear down even the greatest athletes in the world. After an emotional and thrilling playoff run, the hard work of an entire career is justified by hoisting the Stanley Cup in the air. Traditionally, once a team has claimed the title, every winning player from the team receives a day with the physical Stanley Cup. Since the Cup so difficult to attain, and some players may only get the chance once in a lifetime, naturally, this day has involved one of professional sports’ oldest and most revered trophies ending up in some of the wildest, greatest, strangest and flat-out most incredible moments imaginable. The following are some of the craziest celebrations that players have enjoyed with the Stanley Cup.
10. Guy Carbonneau, 1999 Dallas Stars – Threw It Off A Balcony
The Dallas Stars won the Stanley Cup in 1999 over the Buffalo Sabres, following a very controversial goal, when Brett Hull clinched the series in Game Six, during triple overtime, by scoring a goal while having his foot in the crease. Due to the infamous “skate in the crease” rule being in full effect at the time (that year, in an attempt to cut down on goaltender interference, the NHL strictly disallowed all goals when any part of an opposing player could be shown to be in the crease), the goal created a massive controversy that overshadowed the post-celebration escapades of the Stars. One of the craziest stories from that year involved a house party at Stars defenseman Craig Ludwig’s house, where it’s rumored that veteran Guy Carbonneau attempted to land the Stanley Cup in a swimming pool by throwing it off the balcony. As the story goes, Carbonneau’s plan was unsuccessful and the Cup landed just shy of the pool, suffering a massive dent that can still be seen. Despite league officials denying that Carbonneau’s balcony toss is the origin of that dent, the story has been confirmed by enough players that it is commonly believed to have realistically occurred.
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