Nhl Suspends Florida Panthers Exec For Back-and-forth With Playoff Opponent's Fan About Israel, Canada

The National Hockey League announced connected Tuesday that a number proprietor of nan Florida Panthers has been suspended owed to his societal media activity.

Doug Cifu sewage into a spat pinch a Toronto Maple Leafs instrumentality that turned into a chat astir nan Israel-Palestine conflict and Cifu mentioning Canada arsenic nan "51st state."

Florida and Toronto are presently facing disconnected successful nan 2nd information of nan Stanley Cup Playoffs.

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View of a Florida Panthers logo connected a jersey worn by a personnel of nan squad astatine Bell Centre.  (David Kirouac-Imagn Images)

The bid has been alternatively chippy, which began pinch a precocious deed from Florida's Sam Bennett connected Leafs goalie Anthony Stolarz - later successful nan game, Stolarz sewage sick connected nan chair and has not played since.

A fan, pinch nan sanction "Dr. Grizzo," posted connected X, "Hey, what's worse, utilizing headshots to triumph a bid aliases utilizing starvation arsenic a limb to triumph a war?"

Cifu responded, "Actually being a whiny dope anti-semite is intelligibly worse. Loser."

Florida Panthers defenseman Dmitry Kulikov (7) and Toronto Maple Leafs halfway Bobby McMann (74) conflict during nan 3rd play successful crippled 4 of nan 2nd information of nan 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs astatine Amerant Bank Arena.  (Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images)

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"Not approving of utilizing starvation arsenic a limb makes maine a bigot?" nan instrumentality replied, adding a derogatory remark astir Cifu's blimpish governmental views.

Cifu wrote back, "Eat s--- 51st authorities anti-semite loser. Israel now and forever. Until ever [sic] past Hamas rat is eliminated."

Cifu past made his relationship backstage and deactivated his account.

"Two days ago, I posted regrettable and inflammatory comments connected societal media. My behaviour does not bespeak nan standards of nan Florida Panthers statement and nan Viola family. I sincerely apologize to each those affected by my comments. I americium committed to moving pinch nan NHL to amend my actions."

Florida Panthers halfway Sam Reinhart (13) and Toronto Maple Leafs halfway Auston Matthews (34) skate during nan 2nd play successful crippled 4 of nan 2nd information of nan 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs astatine Amerant Bank Arena.  (Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images)

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The bid is tied astatine two games apiece pinch Game 5 successful Toronto connected Wednesday night.

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