Who Is The Florida Panthers Fan With The Chicken Tender Superstition That Helped Team Win The Stanley Cup?

His name is Max Bagnoli, and no, he’s not a player, coach, or trainer. But ask any Florida Panthers fan who showed up to games during the 2025 Stanley Cup run and they’ll know exactly who he is. Max became an unofficial symbol of the team’s playoff charge—all because of a single chicken tender he refused to eat.

At every home game throughout the postseason, Bagnoli would buy chicken tenders from the concession stand. He’d then pick out the biggest one, hold it in his right hand, and refuse to let it go for the full 60 minutes. It didn’t matter if the game went to overtime, or if the Panthers were down late—he kept the tender in hand. No bites. No breaks. Just belief.

The story started as an inside joke in the lower bowl. But by the time Florida reached the conference finals, local media had picked it up. Fans started posting photos of Max mid-grip. “Chicken Tender Guy” began trending among Panthers circles on social media. And to his credit, Max leaned into it—never asking for attention, just doing what he thought helped the team win.

Why Did Max Bagnoli Hold a Chicken Tender at Every Panthers Game?

Bagnoli told CBS he started the ritual during a late-season win streak. After Bobrovsky stood on his head in a 2–1 victory, Max noticed he’d been holding the same oversized tender most of the third period. So he tried it again. Then again. And the team kept winning. At some point it went from joke to ritual. From ritual to reputation.

“I don’t eat it, I just hold it for Bob,” Max said. “He’s locked in. I’ve gotta be too.”

It was dumb, harmless, and completely pure. Sports are filled with superstitions. This one just happened to involve fried food, and a goalie playing the best hockey of his life.

Did the Chicken Tender Superstition Help the Panthers Win the Stanley Cup?

Of course not. But also… maybe a little?

Bobrovsky was a wall. The Panthers were relentless. And Sunrise became one of the toughest places to play during the postseason. Florida didn’t lose a single home game after Game 2 of the first round. Max was at every one. The tender was there too. You can dismiss it as coincidence, but the vibes were real.

Part of what made this run special for Florida was how grounded it felt. No superstars begging for headlines. No big-market narratives. Just defense, toughness, and guys like Max doing their part in the stands. Fans embraced it. So did the team. Multiple players shouted him out after Game 5. A few joked that he better not eat the thing now.

What Happened to the Chicken Tender After the Stanley Cup Win?

Max hasn’t said. Some fans want it bronzed. Others think it belongs in the team store. The most likely outcome is that it’s in his freezer, wrapped in foil next to an autographed puck or two. Whatever the case, it did its job. Or at least, it didn’t get in the way of destiny.

This was just a with a newly-started tradition, watching the team he’s loved for years finally put it all together.

Florida Panthers Fan Chicken Tender Story: A Weird Highlight of the Playoffs

It’s easy to laugh at the idea of a grown man waving around a battered concession stand chicken strip like it’s a rally towel. And that’s fine. It is funny. But it’s also kind of perfect. Hockey’s weird. Fans are weirder. And sometimes that weirdness makes the difference between another quiet season and a playoff run people actually remember.

So sure, the Panthers won because they were deeper, better coached, more disciplined. But somewhere in the box scores and analytics, you’ll find the handprint of Max Bagnoli—chicken tender still intact. And in its own dumb, lovable way, that’s part of the legend now.