Ryan Lomberg shares poignant farewell message for Panthers fans upon signing with Flames in free agency

By Evan Bell

Modified Jul 09, 2024 19:09 GMT

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After signing with the Calgary Flames, Ryan Lomberg bid farewell to the Florida Panthers and their fans with a heartfelt post on Instagram this week. The post came on the heels of Lomberg signing a two-year deal with the Flames worth $4 million, marking the end of his time in Florida after four seasons.

After going undrafted in the 2015 NHL draft, Lomberg joined the Flames' AHL affiliate, the Stockton Heat. After five seasons with the Flames' organization, where he primarily played for the Heat, Lomberg joined the Panthers prior to the 2020-21 NHL season.

After signing a two-year extension with the Panthers in 2021, Ryan Lomberg continued to grow as a player. Year after year, he continued to develop, playing valuable minutes in each of the team's four most recent Stanley Cup Playoff appearances.

Now, after helping the team win their first Stanley Cup in franchise history, Lomberg will be returning to Calgary. While many are excited about the Ontario native returning to the Flames, the moment is bittersweet for Ryan Lomberg.

On Tuesday, he took to Instagram, sharing a series of photos while reflecting on his time in Florida.

"We Are The Champions! What a run it was. Came to Florida four years ago trying to become a full time NHL player and now I’m leaving a Stanley Cup Champion. Thank you to the Florida Panthers organization and all of South Florida that supported us.

"I will always be thankful for my time in south Florida and extremely grateful for all the life long relationships I was able to form. Panthers Territory… WE DID IT!!!"

"He definitely brings the juice" - Calgary GM Craig Conroy talks about Ryan Lomberg's impact on the ice

After winning the Stanley Cup, the Florida Panthers faced the reality of navigating the offseason while minimizing roster turnover.

So far, the team has notably resigned Sam Reinhart and Dmitry Kulikov. However, in the case of Ryan Lomberg, it didn't take long for the winger to sign with the Flames. Following the team's Stanley Cup win, the Panthers were honored with a championship parade, their first in franchise history.

Just 24 hours later, Lomberg agreed to a two-year deal with the Calgary Flames, marking the end of his time with the Panthers. This time, when he dons a Flames jersey, he will do so as a Stanley Cup champion rather than as a two-way player like he was prior to signing with the Panthers.

While speaking to media members earlier this month, Calgary general manager Craig Conroy spoke about Ryan Lomberg being a difference-maker on the ice:

"He definitely brings the juice all the time. You know he’s going to come to work every day. He brings it. He’s a great teammate. He’s going to have everyone’s back. He’s not the biggest guy, but he’s fearless. And he’s a great person."

With the Flames eager to improve on their 38-39-5 record from last season, it will be interesting to see how things play out for the franchise this year.