The Stanley Cup has been "popping up around Tampa Bay as the Lightning celebrate their championship," but it remains "unclear" if the Cup will follow Lightning players as they scatter to their offseason homes, according to Diana Nearhos of the TAMPA BAY TIMES. The organization is still "working out what its offseason with the trophy will look like on a larger scale." Players, coaches, staff members and the owner(s) traditionally "get at least a day each with the Cup to do pretty much whatever they want almost wherever they want," but as Lightning players move about, some travel "isn’t allowed or is restricted by state, provincial and national governments due to the coronavirus pandemic." The organization is "buying itself some time to make" decisions. Instead of sending the Cup to Montreal to be "engraved with the names of players and others who were part of the championship just before the season starts, as is typically done," the Lightning "will do so next week." The "hope is for the Cup to be able to travel at least in North America this offseason" (TAMPA BAY TIMES, 10/16).
