As Florida Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov skated around the ice with the Stanley Cup — it marked a dramatic turning point for a long-suffering franchise and fan base. "The team had struggled with attendance, certainly a lack of winning," Florida Panthers President and CEO Matt Caldwell told CNBC's "Last Call" on Friday. Upon purchasing the last-place Panthers, Viola made his intensions clear at his first official team press conference in 2013. "My family and I are honored to take the helm of the Florida Panthers organization with the No. 1 goal of putting a winning team on the ice year after year and bringing a Stanley Cup to our incredible fans here in South Florida," Viola said.

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Persons: Aleksander Barkov, Barkov, —, Vinnie Viola, Matt Caldwell, CNBC's, Vinnie …, Viola Organizations: Florida Panthers, Stanley, Virtu, Panthers Locations: South Florida