Hockey fans were left fuming Saturday night after a widely criticized rendition of The Star-Spangled Banner ahead of Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals between the Florida Panthers and the Carolina Hurricanes. The performance, delivered by The Voice Season 27 winner Adam David, quickly became a lightning rod for outrage on social media.
The 25-year-old South Florida native, fresh off his victory on the NBC singing competition, took the ice at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, Florida—but what was meant to be a patriotic moment instead drew boos, memes, and accusations of anthem “butchery.”
Too Slow, Too Long, Too Mumbled
Critics pointed to David’s unclear enunciation—particularly during the line “at the twilight’s last gleaming”—and the unusually long duration of his performance. At 2 minutes and 11 seconds, his version of the anthem ran significantly longer than the average Super Bowl anthem, which clocks in around 1:43.
ESPN’s Greg Wyshynski quipped: “The military hero of the game is 100 years old. I think he’s now 102 after that anthem.”
Others were less diplomatic.
“#Panthers anthem singer might be having a stroke,” one X (formerly Twitter) user posted.
A Viral Backlash
Social media was relentless. One viral post featured a photo of David captioned: “Terrible anthem in FLA…dragged it onnnn and onnnn. It’s not about you, dufus.” Another sarcastically remarked: “Congratulations, Canes fans—your anthem singer somehow wasn’t the worst.” The latter was a nod to backlash over the Hurricanes’ own anthem performance in Game 2.
One fan summarized the moment: “Sometimes I wonder if these singers are vetted. That was not the American anthem.”
Fresh Off the Win—and Already in Hot Water
Just days ago, David made headlines for his underdog victory on The Voice, helping coach Michael Bublé notch his second consecutive win. But his rapid rise to fame is now met with skepticism.
One comment read: “America failed again! First Renzo loses The Voice, now this guy tanks the anthem on live TV?”
Though David has yet to respond to the criticism publicly, he previously opened up about struggling with impostor syndrome during his run on The Voice—a feeling some fans now say seems “prophetic.”
Anthem Drama a Theme in NHL Playoffs
This latest controversy is part of a broader trend throughout this year’s NHL season, where national anthem performances have sparked repeated public backlash.
In Canada, The Star-Spangled Banner has been booed at multiple NHL and NBA games, triggering similar responses from American crowds. Earlier in the year, a Canadian anthem singer was panned for intentionally changing lyrics during a U.S.-Canada matchup.
Panthers vs. Hurricanes: Lost in the Noise
Amid the uproar, the actual game almost became an afterthought. The Panthers entered Game 3 leading the series 2-0, looking to take a commanding hold of the conference finals—but the buzz heading into puck drop was all about a national anthem that missed the mark.
