EDMONTON — Matthew Tkachuk of the Florida Panthers started his NHL off-season Tuesday by taking the Stanley Cup for a swim at Fort Lauderdale Beach.

Later this week, he will appear on TV and talk shows, pose for photo ops, and participate in a championship parade and rally.

After a quiet 4,100-kilometre flight home from Sunrise, Fla., the Edmonton Oilers begin their off-season Wednesday by cleaning out lockers at Rogers Place, thinking about how close they came to ending Canada’s Cup drought and experiencing the same highs of Tkachuk and his triumphant teammates.