Editing Florida Panthers

{{short description|National Hockey League team in Sunrise, Florida}}
{{about|<!--Not used-->|the animal|Florida panther|the Florida International University sports teams|FIU Panthers}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2022}}
{{Infobox NHL team
| team_name = Florida Panthers
| current = 2024–25 Florida Panthers season
| bg_color = background:#FFFFFF !important; border-top:#C8102E 5px solid !important; border-bottom:#041E42 5px solid !important;
| text_color = #000000
| logo_image = Florida Panthers 2016 logo.svg
| conference = [[Eastern Conference (NHL)|Eastern]]
| division = [[Atlantic Division (NHL)|Atlantic]]
| founded = 1993
| history = '''Florida Panthers'''<br />[[1993–94 NHL season|1993]]–present
| arena = '''[[Amerant Bank Arena]]'''
| city = [[Sunrise, Florida]]
| uniform_image = ECA-Uniform-FLA.png
| uniform_image_size = 150px
| team_colors = Red, blue, flat gold, white<ref>{{cite news|last=Poupart|first=Alain|title=Florida Panthers unveil new logo, uniforms|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/panthers-unveil-new-uniforms-logo/c-280870132|publisher=NHL Enterprises, L.P.|website=NHL.com|date=June 2, 2016|access-date=September 29, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite press release|title=Florida Panthers Unveil 25th Anniversary Season Logo|url=https://www.nhl.com/panthers/news/florida-panthers-unveil-25th-anniversary-season-logo-299072758|publisher=NHL Enterprises, L.P.|website=FloridaPanthers.com|date=June 15, 2018|access-date=May 6, 2024|quote=Including the club's current color scheme of Panthers Red, Blue and Gold, the 25th anniversary logo also incorporates silver as a visual acknowledgement of the franchise's silver anniversary.}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Florida Panthers Brand Guide|url=https://www.nhl.com/panthers/team/brandguide|publisher=NHL Enterprises, L.P.|website=FloridaPanthers.com|access-date=October 23, 2021}}</ref><br />{{color box|#C8102E}} {{color box|#041E42}} {{color box|#B9975B}} {{color box|#FFFFFF}}
| media_affiliates = [[Scripps Sports]] ([[WSFL-TV]])<ref>{{Cite web|title=Florida Panthers, Scripps Sports partner on multi-year agreement to air National Hockey League team's games|url=https://www.nhl.com/panthers/news/florida-panthers-scripps-sports-partner-on-multi-year-agreement-to-air-national-hockey-league-team-s-game|access-date=July 2, 2024 |website=NHL.com}}</ref><br />[[WQAM|WQAM Sports Radio (560 AM)]]
| owner = Sunrise Sports & Entertainment<br />([[Vincent Viola]], chairman)<ref>{{cite press release|title=Vincent Viola Becomes Owner of the Florida Panthers|url=https://www.nhl.com/panthers/news/vincent-viola-becomes-owner-of-the-florida-panthers/c-684466|website=FloridaPanthers.com|publisher=NHL Enterprises, L.P.|date=September 27, 2013|access-date=October 6, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161221092223/https://www.nhl.com/panthers/news/vincent-viola-becomes-owner-of-the-florida-panthers/c-684466|archive-date=December 21, 2016}}</ref>
| general_manager = [[Bill Zito]]
| head_coach = [[Paul Maurice]]
| captain = [[Aleksander Barkov]]
| minor_league_affiliates = [[Charlotte Checkers]] ([[American Hockey League|AHL]])<br />[[Savannah Ghost Pirates]] ([[ECHL]])
| stanley_cups = '''1''' ([[2024 Stanley Cup Finals|2023–24]])
| conf_titles = '''3''' ([[1995–96 NHL season|1995–96]], [[2022–23 NHL season|2022–23]], [[2023–24 NHL season|2023–24]])
| presidents'_trophies = '''1''' ([[2021–22 NHL season|2021–22]])
| division_titles = '''4''' ([[2011–12 NHL season|2011–12]], [[2015–16 NHL season|2015–16]], [[2021–22 NHL season|2021–22]], [[2023–24 NHL season|2023–24]])
| website = {{URL|nhl.com/panthers}}
}}
The '''Florida Panthers''' are a professional [[ice hockey]] team based in the [[Miami metropolitan area]]. The Panthers compete in the [[National Hockey League]] (NHL) as a member of the [[Atlantic Division (NHL)|Atlantic Division]] in the [[Eastern Conference (NHL)|Eastern Conference]]. The team initially played its home games at [[Miami Arena]] before moving to the [[Amerant Bank Arena]] in 1998. Located in [[Sunrise, Florida]], the franchise is the southernmost team in the NHL. The Panthers are one of two NHL franchises based in [[Florida]] and they have a [[Lightning–Panthers rivalry|rivalry]] with the [[Tampa Bay Lightning]].

The team's local broadcasting rights were held by [[Bally Sports Florida]] (formerly SportsChannel and Fox Sports Florida) from 1996 to 2024 when they made a new broadcast deal with [[Scripps Sports]]. The Panthers are primarily affiliated with two [[minor league]] teams: the [[Charlotte Checkers]] of the [[American Hockey League]] (AHL) and the [[Savannah Ghost Pirates]] of the [[ECHL]].

The Panthers began playing in the [[1993–94 NHL season|1993–94 season]], when they set the record for the most [[Point (ice hockey)#Team stat|points]] by an expansion team in its inaugural season, which was later surpassed by the [[Vegas Golden Knights]] in [[2017–18 NHL season|2017–18]]. In 1996, the team made their first appearance in the [[Stanley Cup playoffs]], reaching the [[1996 Stanley Cup Finals]] before falling to the [[Colorado Avalanche]]. Between 1996 and 2020, the Panthers only qualified for the Stanley Cup playoffs five times, not winning a playoff series in that span.

Since the [[2020–21 NHL season|2020–21 season]], the Panthers have found postseason success. They won their first playoff series in two decades in [[2022 Stanley Cup playoffs|2022]], and reached the [[Stanley Cup Finals]] in [[2023 Stanley Cup Finals|2023]] where they fell to the [[Vegas Golden Knights]] in five games. The following year, the Panthers returned to the [[2024 Stanley Cup Finals|Stanley Cup Finals]], winning their first [[Stanley Cup]] in franchise history by defeating the [[Edmonton Oilers]] in seven games.

==History==

===Early years (1992–2000)===
[[Blockbuster Video]] magnate [[Wayne Huizenga]] was awarded an NHL franchise for [[Miami]] on December 10, 1992,<ref>{{cite web|last=Richards|first=George|title=Florida Panthers new owner Vincent Viola: 'We will win here'|url=http://www.miamiherald.com/sports/nhl/florida-panthers/article1955600.html|newspaper=The Miami Herald|date=September 28, 2013|access-date=January 17, 2017|archive-date=August 7, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160807044348/http://www.miamiherald.com/sports/nhl/florida-panthers/article1955600.html|url-status=live}}</ref> the same day [[the Walt Disney Company]] earned the rights to start a team in [[Anaheim, California|Anaheim]] that would become the [[Anaheim Ducks|Mighty Ducks]]. At the time, Huizenga owned both the newly founded [[Miami Marlins|Florida Marlins]] of [[Major League Baseball]] (MLB) and a share of the [[National Football League]] (NFL)'s [[Miami Dolphins]]. The entry fee was $50 million. Huizenga announced the team would play at the [[Miami Arena]], sharing the building with the [[National Basketball Association]] (NBA)'s [[Miami Heat]], until a new arena was built.<ref name=":0">{{cite news|last=LaPointe|first=Joe|title=NHL to add teams in Miami, Anaheim Huizenga, Disney high-profile owners|url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/1992/12/11/nhl-to-add-teams-in-miami-anaheim-huizenga-disney-high-profile-owners/|newspaper=[[The Baltimore Sun]]|date=December 11, 1992|access-date=June 18, 2018|archive-date=October 12, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131012094549/http://articles.baltimoresun.com/1992-12-11/sports/1992346112_1_huizenga-miami-team-hockey|url-status=live}}</ref> Offices for the team were only established in June 1993, while vice president of business operations Dean Jordan conceded that "none of the business people, myself included, knew anything about hockey."<ref>{{cite news|last=Farber|first=Michael|title=Above And Beyond|url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1009015/1/index.htm|magazine=Sports Illustrated|date=November 9, 1996|access-date=January 29, 2009|archive-date=November 5, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131105212732/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1009015/1/index.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref> The new franchise would be the first professional ice hockey team in Miami since the folding of the [[Tropical Hockey League]] in 1939.<ref>{{cite book |last= McKinley |first= Michael |title= Hockey: A People's History |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=5g_r5MsuEf4C&dq=%22Tropical+Hockey+League%22&pg=PA124 |access-date=June 16, 2022 |year=2009 |publisher=Random House Digital |isbn=978-0771057717 |page=124}}</ref>

[[File:Wayne Huizenga.jpg|thumb|[[Wayne Huizenga]] was awarded a franchise from the NHL on December 10, 1992.]]
Huizenga initially wanted to name the team the "Block Busters" in honor of his video rental chain.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Wyshynski |first1=Greg |title=Panthers' journey from NHL punch line to Stanley Cup champs |url=https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/40357551/nhl-playoffs-2024-stanley-cup-florida-panthers-journey-franchise-legacy |website=ESPN.com |access-date=March 10, 2025 |date=June 24, 2024}}</ref> The team would have the same colors as the video rental chain (blue and gold) and even a uniform concept was designed.<ref>{{cite web |title=Who were the Block Busters? |url=https://www.flapanthersvault.com/item/who-were-the-block-busters/ |website=flapanthersvault.com |access-date=March 10, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200926054224/https://www.flapanthersvault.com/item/who-were-the-block-busters/ |archive-date=September 26, 2020}}</ref> In the end, the NHL rejected the nickname.

On April 20, 1993, a press conference in [[Fort Lauderdale, Florida|Fort Lauderdale]] announced that the team would be named Florida Panthers, with former [[New York Islanders]] general manager [[Bill Torrey]] as president and [[Bobby Clarke]] as general manager. The team is named for the [[Florida panther]], an endangered species of large cat [[Endemism|endemic]] to the nearby [[Everglades]] region.<ref>{{cite news|last=Joseph|first=Dave|title=They're Panthers, Torrey Is President Nhl Expansion Team's New Boss Shaped Isles|url=http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1993-04-20/sports/9302070080_1_stanley-cup-nhl-bob-clarke|newspaper=[[Sun-Sentinel]]|date=April 20, 1993|access-date=June 18, 2018|archive-date=July 4, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130704010522/http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1993-04-20/sports/9302070080_1_stanley-cup-nhl-bob-clarke|url-status=dead}}</ref> Once the logos and uniforms were unveiled on June 15, the team also announced its financial commitment to the panther preservation cause.<ref>{{cite news|last=Joseph|first=Dave|title=Panthers Unveil Uniforms, Logo|url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/1993/06/15/panthers-unveil-uniforms-logo/|newspaper=[[Orlando Sentinel]]|date=June 15, 1993|access-date=June 18, 2018|archive-date=March 30, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140330053705/http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/1993-06-15/sports/9306150506_1_florida-panthers-panthers-merchandise-bill-torrey|url-status=live}}</ref> Huizenga had held the Panthers trademark since 1991, when he purchased it from a group of [[Tampa, Florida|Tampa]] investors who sought to create an MLB team in the Tampa Bay area.<ref>{{cite news|last=Giuliotti|first=Ed|title=Local Fans Give Huizenga 113,000 Votes of Confidence|url=http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1991-04-01/sports/9101160701_1_huizenga-florida-panthers-national-league-expansion|newspaper=Sun-Sentinel|date=April 1, 1991|access-date=June 18, 2018|archive-date=July 4, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130704011543/http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1991-04-01/sports/9101160701_1_huizenga-florida-panthers-national-league-expansion|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The new franchise joined the NHL for participation in the [[1993–94 NHL season|1993–94 season]], along with the [[Anaheim Ducks|Mighty Ducks of Anaheim]]. The Panthers' and Ducks' rosters were filled in both the [[1993 NHL expansion draft|expansion draft]] and the [[1993 NHL entry draft]] in June 1993, hosted by [[Quebec City]];<ref>{{cite news|last=Babineau|first=Jeff|title=Expansion Teams Laying Foundation|url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/1993/06/27/expansion-teams-laying-foundation/|newspaper=Orlando Sentinel|date=June 27, 1993|access-date=June 18, 2018|archive-date=May 12, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150512231315/http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/1993-06-27/sports/9306270413_1_sharks-goaltender-ron-hextall|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Babineau|first=Jeff|title=Florida, Anaheim Take Form Today|url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/1993/06/24/florida-anaheim-take-form-today/|newspaper=Orlando Sentinel|date=June 24, 1993|access-date=June 18, 2018|archive-date=March 30, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140330124947/http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/1993-06-24/sports/9306240127_1_expansion-draft-tampa-bay-entry-draft|url-status=live}}</ref> that draft produced ten players who would eventually be a part of the 1996 Eastern Conference-winning team.<ref name="Rat Pack">{{cite news|last=Montville|first=Leigh|title=Rat Pack|url=https://www.si.com/vault/1996/06/10/8103361/rat-pack-floridas-unlikely-run-to-the-cup-finals-has-miami-giddy-over-hockeyand-rabid-over-rodents|magazine=Sports Illustrated|date=June 10, 1996|access-date=January 29, 2009|archive-date=June 23, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160623212414/http://www.si.com/vault/1996/06/10/8103361/rat-pack-floridas-unlikely-run-to-the-cup-finals-has-miami-giddy-over-hockeyand-rabid-over-rodents|url-status=live}}</ref>

The Panthers' first major stars were former [[New York Rangers]] goaltender [[John Vanbiesbrouck]], rookie [[Rob Niedermayer]] and forward [[Scott Mellanby]], who scored 30 goals in Florida's inaugural season.<ref name=si>{{cite news | url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1148158/index.htm | publisher=CNN | title=A Goal in Sight | date=February 7, 1994 | access-date=May 14, 2013 | archive-date=October 6, 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006080432/http://www.cnn.com/bleacher-report/ | url-status=dead}}</ref> Their first game was a 4–4 tie on the road against the [[Chicago Blackhawks]], while their first win was a 2–0 shutout of the [[Tampa Bay Lightning]] in the [[Tropicana Field|Thunderdome]] before a then-NHL record crowd of 27,227. The Panthers had one of the most successful first seasons of any [[expansion team]] in league history, finishing just two points below .500 and narrowly missing out on the final [[1994 Stanley Cup playoffs|1994 playoff]] spot in the Eastern Conference.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1994-07-27/sports/9407270532_1_panthers-tampa-bay-lone-home-game|title=Panthers To Play Nine Exhibition Games|access-date=May 14, 2013|archive-date=October 2, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131002045033/http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1994-07-27/sports/9407270532_1_panthers-tampa-bay-lone-home-game|url-status=dead}}</ref> Their first-year success was attributed mainly to the [[neutral zone trap|trap defense]] that first-year coach [[Roger Neilson]] implemented. This conservative style was widely criticized by NHL teams; some even suggested that the Panthers were ruining the game.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1995-03-06/sports/9503050239_1_neutral-zone-trap-florida-panthers-roger-neilson|title=Cut The Trap? Neilson Isn't Staying in Neutral Zone|access-date=April 4, 2012|archive-date=May 19, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120519010145/http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1995-03-06/sports/9503050239_1_neutral-zone-trap-florida-panthers-roger-neilson|url-status=dead}}</ref> While the team executives expected the audience to consist of mostly "[[Snowbird (person)|snowbird]]" Canadians living in Florida, the Floridians soon embraced the Panthers.<ref name=si/> Helped by Miami's other teams having middling performances, the club averaged 94% capacity at the 14,500-seat Miami Arena, and sold 8,500 season tickets in 100 days.<ref name=si/>

In August 1994, general manager Clarke left to work for the [[Philadelphia Flyers]]; [[Bryan Murray (ice hockey)|Bryan Murray]] was brought in from the [[Detroit Red Wings]] as his replacement.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://articles.philly.com/1994-08-02/sports/25842215_1_terry-murray-new-flyers-coach-bryan-murray|title=Panthers Bring Aboard Bryan Murray As Gm|access-date=May 14, 2013|archive-date=March 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304090626/http://articles.philly.com/1994-08-02/sports/25842215_1_terry-murray-new-flyers-coach-bryan-murray|url-status=dead}}</ref> After another close brush with the playoffs, finishing the [[1994–95 NHL lockout|lockout]]-shortened [[1994–95 NHL season|1994–95 season]] again in ninth,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1995-05-04/sports/9505040096_1_jagr-s-shot-john-vanbiesbrouck-panthers|title=No Playoffs, But Panthers Finish in Style|access-date=May 14, 2013|archive-date=February 1, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140201155114/http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1995-05-04/sports/9505040096_1_jagr-s-shot-john-vanbiesbrouck-panthers|url-status=dead}}</ref> Neilson was fired following an argument with Murray regarding [[Ed Jovanovski]], whom the Panthers chose as the number one overall pick at the [[1994 NHL entry draft]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1995-06-13/sports/9506120510_1_jovanovski-hockey-team-roger-neilson|title=Looks Like Gm, Coach Couldn't See Eye To Eye|access-date=May 14, 2013|archive-date=February 1, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140201155110/http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1995-06-13/sports/9506120510_1_jovanovski-hockey-team-roger-neilson|url-status=dead}}</ref> [[Doug MacLean]], who had been the team's player development director, was promoted to coach.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/1995/07/25/sports/sports-people-hockey-panthers-promote-from-within-by-hiring-maclean-as-coach.html | work=The New York Times | title=SPORTS PEOPLE: HOCKEY; Panthers Promote From Within By Hiring MacLean as Coach | date=July 25, 1995 | access-date=February 16, 2017 | archive-date=August 4, 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170804215455/http://www.nytimes.com/1995/07/25/sports/sports-people-hockey-panthers-promote-from-within-by-hiring-maclean-as-coach.html | url-status=live}}</ref> The team then acquired [[Ray Sheppard]] from the [[San Jose Sharks]] at the [[NHL trade deadline]] and looked toward the playoffs for the first time.

====The Rat Trick and a trip to the 1996 Stanley Cup Finals====
A very unusual goal celebration developed in Miami during the [[1995–96 NHL season|1995–96 season]]. On the night of the Panthers' 1995–96 home opener, a [[rat]] scurried across the team's locker room. Scott Mellanby reacted by "[[one timer|one-timing]]" the rat against the wall, killing it. That night, he scored two goals, which Vanbiesbrouck quipped was "a [[rat trick]]." Two nights later, as the story found its way into the world, a few fans threw rubber rats on the ice in celebration of a goal. The [[rubber]] rat count went from 16 for the third home game to over 2,000 during the playoffs.<ref name="Rat Pack"/>

In the [[1996 Stanley Cup playoffs|1996 playoffs]], as the fourth seed in the East, the Panthers faced the [[Boston Bruins]] in the first round and won in five games. [[Bill Lindsay]]'s series-clinching goal is still a trademark image for the run the third-year franchise went on. The Panthers went on to upset the top-seeded Philadelphia Flyers in six games followed by the second-seeded [[Pittsburgh Penguins]] in seven (with [[Tom Fitzgerald (ice hockey)|Tom Fitzgerald]] scoring what would end up being the game-winning goal) to reach the [[1996 Stanley Cup Finals|Stanley Cup Finals]] against the [[Colorado Avalanche]], another team making its first Finals appearance.<ref name="Rat Pack"/> The Avalanche, however, swept the Panthers in four games. Despite losing in the Finals, the Panthers set a record for most wins by an expansion team in their first postseason appearance with 12 victories (this record would later be broken by the [[Vegas Golden Knights]] during their inaugural season in 2017–18).<ref>{{cite news|title =No stopping the Avalanche – Colorado completes Cup sweep of Panthers with 3OT victory|url =http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=SAEC&p_theme=saec&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB03D7A86BE23F7&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM|author =Ulman, Howard|agency =Associated Press|date =June 11, 1996|access-date =March 25, 2007|archive-date =June 9, 2011|archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20110609205058/http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=SAEC&p_theme=saec&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB03D7A86BE23F7&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM|url-status =live}}</ref> For his team's surprising success, Bryan Murray was honored as NHL Executive of the Year.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1996-05-07/sports/9605060431_1_coach-doug-maclean-jason-podollan-voting|title=Murphy's Toe Ready|access-date=May 14, 2013|archive-date=June 23, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150623212637/http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1996-05-07/sports/9605060431_1_coach-doug-maclean-jason-podollan-voting|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The Panthers began the next season with a 12-game unbeaten streak, but faded in the second half of the season after trading second line center [[Stu Barnes]]. They lost in five games in the first round of the playoffs to the [[Wayne Gretzky]]-led [[New York Rangers]]. The team would plummet in the [[1997–98 NHL season|1997–98 season]]. After a 7–12–4 start, the Panthers fired Doug MacLean, replacing him for the season with general manager Bryan Murray. The change did not aid matters, as Florida posted a franchise-worst 24–43–15 record, including a 15-game winless streak. This season also marked the end of goaltender John Vanbiesbrouck's time in Florida; in the midst of that streak, he was shelled by the [[Chicago Blackhawks]] and never played another game for the Panthers. In the following off-season, Vanbiesbrouck signed with the Flyers as a free agent.

===New arena and a decade of struggles (1998–2010)===
The Panthers moved into the brand new National Car Rental Center (now known as [[Amerant Bank Arena]]) in 1998. In [[1998–99 NHL season|1998–99]], they acquired [[Pavel Bure]] (the "Russian Rocket"), in a blockbuster trade with the [[Vancouver Canucks]]. They then reached the playoffs again in [[1999–2000 NHL season|1999–2000]], losing in a first round sweep to the eventual [[Stanley Cup]] champion [[New Jersey Devils]]. The team slumped in [[2000–01 NHL season|2000–01]]. Afterward, Huizenga sold the Panthers to an ownership group led by Alan Cohen.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=nT1GAAAAIBAJ&sjid=buUMAAAAIBAJ&pg=4337,937756|title=Record-Journal – Google News Archive Search|access-date=September 21, 2016|archive-date=November 25, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211125201129/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=nT1GAAAAIBAJ&sjid=buUMAAAAIBAJ&pg=4337%2C937756|url-status=live}}</ref> The following season, [[2001–02 NHL season|2001–02]], the Panthers had their worst record ever. Bure struggled despite being reunited with his brother [[Valeri Bure|Valeri]], and was traded to the Rangers at the 2002 trade deadline.

[[File:Jay Bouwmeester.jpg|thumb|left|upright|The Panthers drafted [[Jay Bouwmeester]] third overall in the [[2002 NHL entry draft]].]]
The Panthers then began eyeing defenseman [[Jay Bouwmeester]], who was widely tipped to be picked first overall pick at the [[2002 NHL entry draft]]. However, then-general manager [[Rick Dudley]] sent Florida's first pick to the [[Columbus Blue Jackets]], who selected winger [[Rick Nash]], and in return, the Panthers received the right to trade first-round selections with the Blue Jackets in the [[2003 NHL entry draft]],<ref>{{cite web|title=This Day In Panthers History – June|url=http://panthers.nhl.com/club/page.htm?id=37497|website=FloridaPanthers.com|publisher=NHL Enterprises, L.P.|access-date=June 18, 2018|archive-date=September 6, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150906065112/http://panthers.nhl.com/club/page.htm?id=37497|url-status=dead}}</ref> a right which was not exercised when the Panthers received the first overall selection in 2003 as well. The [[Atlanta Thrashers]], after picking goaltender [[Kari Lehtonen]] second overall, announced that the Panthers had given them two draft picks to guarantee that Bouwmeester would still be available for Florida's selection. Bouwmeester was selected third overall by the Panthers. Said then-head coach [[Mike Keenan]], "We shouldn't have done that ... Jay would have been number-one if we'd kept that pick."<ref>{{cite book| author=McDonell, Chris. | title=Hockey's Greatest Stars: Legends and Young Lions | publisher= Firefly Books | year=2005 | isbn=1-55407-038-4 | pages=135}}</ref>

In 2003, the Panthers hosted the [[2003 National Hockey League All-Star Game|NHL All-Star weekend]] in which the [[Western Conference (NHL)|Western Conference]] earned a 6–5 victory after the first overtime shootout in All-Star history. The West overcame a four-goal outburst by Thrashers winger [[Dany Heatley]], who took home MVP honors in his first All-Star appearance.

On June 23, 2006, the Panthers were again involved in a blockbuster trade with Vancouver, sending [[Roberto Luongo]], [[Lukáš Krajíček|Lukas Krajicek]] and a sixth-round draft pick ([[Sergei Shirokov]]) in exchange for [[Todd Bertuzzi]], [[Alex Auld]] and [[Bryan Allen (ice hockey)|Bryan Allen]]. This trade has been regarded by some as one of the worst trades in professional sports history – Luongo, who was at the prime of his career, was one of the League's top goaltenders, while Bertuzzi played just a handful of games for Florida before getting injured. He would later be traded to Detroit Red Wings at the trade deadline for [[Shawn Matthias]]. Additionally, Auld ended up a poor replacement for Luongo, and was ultimately let go after one season with the team.

On June 22, 2007, the Panthers were involved in yet another draft-day deal involving a goaltender. The team acquired [[Tomáš Vokoun|Tomas Vokoun]] from the [[Nashville Predators]] in exchange for three draft picks – a first-round pick in 2008, a second-round pick in 2008 and a conditional second-round pick that could be used in 2007 or 2008. The move would eventually pay off when Vokoun was selected to the Eastern Conference All-Star Team. On July 28, 2007, Florida unveiled their new jerseys to over 11,000 fans at the BankAtlantic Center during the first intermission of the Panthers' 1996 Reunion game. Star forwards [[Nathan Horton]] and [[Stephen Weiss]] were both in full gear to help showcase the sweater changes.

In June 2008, the Panthers traded their captain [[Olli Jokinen]] to the [[Phoenix Coyotes]] for a second-round draft pick and defensemen [[Keith Ballard]] and [[Nick Boynton]]. The Panthers finished the [[2008–09 NHL season|2008–09 season]] with a strong 41–30–11 record and 93 points, their second-highest finish in franchise history. Despite this, however, the Panthers missed the playoffs for an eighth-straight season, the then-longest streak in the NHL.

In November 2009, [[Cliff Viner]] and Stu Siegel became the new majority owners.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/hockey/nhl/2009-11-16-1521235273_x.htm|title=Panthers announce new majority owners - USATODAY.com|access-date=July 5, 2013|archive-date=May 18, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150518071341/http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/hockey/nhl/2009-11-16-1521235273_x.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> On November 23, 2009, the Panthers made their third jersey, ridding red from the alternate jersey, replacing it with powder blue. The Panthers missed the playoffs for the ninth consecutive time in the [[2009–10 NHL season|2009–10 season]], making them the first team in NHL history to do so in one city.

===Dale Tallon era (2010–2020)===

====The Blueprint (2010–2016)====
Panthers management hired [[Dale Tallon]] as the team's new general manager on May 17, 2010. Tallon rebuilt the team with [[2010 NHL entry draft|2010]] draft picks [[Erik Gudbranson]], [[Nick Bjugstad]] and [[Quinton Howden]], as well as the acquisition of players, including [[Steve Bernier]], [[Michael Grabner]], [[Marty Reasoner]], [[Ryan Carter]] and [[Sergei Samsonov]]. All of the above-mentioned players, however, were traded at the 2011 trade deadline or released during the 2011 off-season, save for Gudbranson, Bjugstad and Howden. At the end of the [[2010–11 NHL season|2010–11 season]], just Stephen Weiss and [[David Booth (ice hockey)|David Booth]] remained from the pre-lockout era Panthers roster.

[[File:Brian Campbell Panthers.jpg|thumb|upright|The Panthers acquired [[Brian Campbell]] during the 2011 off-season. Campbell played with the Panthers from 2011 to 2016.]]
On June 1, 2011, [[Kevin Dineen]], head coach of the [[American Hockey League]] (AHL)'s [[Portland Pirates]], was named to be the 11th head coach of the Panthers. The team also rebranded their image, releasing a new home jersey, predominantly red with navy blue sleeves, and eliminating the navy blue piping on the road jersey; this new {{Not a typo|jersey}} replaced the navy blue one as the main home jersey. The 2011 off-season saw the acquisitions of [[Scottie Upshall]], [[Tomáš Fleischmann|Tomas Fleischmann]], [[Sean Bergenheim]], [[Marcel Goc]], [[Matt Bradley]], [[Ed Jovanovski]], [[José Théodore|Jose Theodore]], [[Kris Versteeg]], [[Tomáš Kopecký|Tomas Kopecky]] and [[Brian Campbell]].

After several more trades and over 300-man-games lost to injury throughout the season, the Panthers were able to finish first in the Southeast Division, marking the end of their record-setting decade-long postseason drought. The Panthers won the first-ever division title in franchise history with a 4–1 victory over the [[Carolina Hurricanes]] on April 7, 2012. However, the Panthers were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs by the eventual Eastern Conference champion New Jersey Devils, losing at home in double overtime of game 7.

In the [[2012–13 NHL lockout|lockout]]-shortened [[2012–13 NHL season|2012–13 season]], the Panthers had an abysmal season. Unable to regain their form from last season, the Panthers suffered key injuries and fell back down into the basement with the worst record in the League. In the [[2013–14 NHL season|2013–14 season]], the Panthers failed to gain any momentum and finished 29th out of 30 teams. The team then fired head coach Kevin Dineen and replaced him with [[Peter Horachek]]. At the trade deadline, the Panthers reacquired Roberto Luongo from Vancouver. The Panthers would relieve Horachek of his duties at the end of the season, replacing him with former [[Columbus Blue Jackets]] head coach [[Gerard Gallant]]. The team also received the first overall pick in the [[2014 NHL entry draft]], using it to select [[Barrie Colts]] defenseman [[Aaron Ekblad]].

[[File:Aleksander Barkov 2015-03-14 (cropped).jpg|thumb|left|150px|[[Aleksander Barkov]], drafted second overall by the Panthers in [[2013 NHL entry draft|2013]], would emerge as the franchise's captain and star during the late-2010s.]]
The Panthers' [[2014–15 NHL season|2014–15]] home opener on October 12, 2014, set a team record for the lowest attendance at a home opener, with only 11,419 spectators in attendance. The team's next game against the [[Ottawa Senators]] marked the team's lowest attendance ever, with only 7,311 in attendance.<ref name="np-pantherslow">{{cite web |last1=Fitz-Gerald |first1=Sean |title=Florida Panthers set record for lowest attendance in franchise history |url=https://nationalpost.com/sports/hockey/nhl/florida-panthers-struggling-both-on-the-ice-and-in-the-stands |website=National Post |access-date=November 27, 2024 |date=October 13, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Brehm |first1=Mike |title=Florida Panthers set record for fewest fans at a game, and the photos are sad |url=https://ftw.usatoday.com/2014/10/florida-panthers-nhl-sparse-crowd-ottawa-seantors |website=For The Win |access-date=November 27, 2024 |date=October 13, 2014}}</ref> Despite finishing with a record of 38–29–15, the Panthers missed the [[2015 Stanley Cup playoffs|2015 playoffs]] by seven points.

On December 8, 2015, the Panthers announced that they signed a 13-year lease, and an $86 million funding agreement with [[Broward County]] and would have a new logo and uniforms after the 2015–16 season. Their original logo had remained almost unchanged since their first season in 1993.<ref>{{cite web|last=Creamer|first=Chris|title=Florida Panthers Staying Put, Re-Design Coming|url=http://news.sportslogos.net/2015/12/09/florida-panthers-staying-put-re-design-coming/|website=[[SportsLogos.net]]|date=December 9, 2015|access-date=June 18, 2018|archive-date=June 18, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180618102445/http://news.sportslogos.net/2015/12/09/florida-panthers-staying-put-re-design-coming/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Wallman|first=Brittany|title=Broward Commission gives $86 million to Florida Panthers|url=http://www.sun-sentinel.com/local/broward/fl-panthers-subsidy-vote-20151208-story.html|newspaper=[[Sun-Sentinel]]|date=December 8, 2015|access-date=June 18, 2018|archive-date=June 18, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180618102412/http://www.sun-sentinel.com/local/broward/fl-panthers-subsidy-vote-20151208-story.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

In the [[2015–16 NHL season|2015–16 season]], the team set a franchise record with a 12-game win streak. They also set a franchise record for most wins in a regular season with 47 wins and won their division for the second time in their existence. However, the Panthers lost to the [[New York Islanders]] in six games in the first round of the [[2016 Stanley Cup playoffs|playoffs]]; this would be the first playoff series win for the Islanders since the 1992–93 season. Head coach Gerard Gallant was nominated as a finalist for the [[Jack Adams Award]], which recognizes the NHL Coach of the Year.

====Front office miscues (2016–2020)====
The [[2016–17 NHL season|2016–17 season]] began with the promotion of general manager Dale Tallon to an executive position within the organization and assistant general manager [[Tom Rowe (ice hockey)|Tom Rowe]] was promoted to general manager.<ref>{{cite news |last=Wyshynski |first=Greg |url=https://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nhl-puck-daddy/panthers-reassign-dale-tallon--shake-up-front-office-to-spotlight-analytics-063756912.html |title=Panthers reassign Dale Tallon, shake up front office to spotlight analytics |work=[[Yahoo! Sports]] |date=May 8, 2016 |access-date=May 8, 2016 |archive-date=May 9, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160509044418/http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nhl-puck-daddy/panthers-reassign-dale-tallon--shake-up-front-office-to-spotlight-analytics-063756912.html |url-status=live}}</ref> After an 11–10–1 start to the season, the Panthers fired head coach Gerard Gallant and general manager Tom Rowe took over as interim head coach.<ref>{{cite news|title=Florida Panthers Name GM Tom Rowe Interim Head Coach|url=https://www.nhl.com/panthers/news/florida-panthers-name-gm-tom-rowe-interim-head-coach/c-284147032|website=FloridaPanthers.com|publisher=NHL Enterprises, L.P.|date=November 28, 2016|access-date=November 28, 2016|archive-date=November 29, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161129023803/https://www.nhl.com/panthers/news/florida-panthers-name-gm-tom-rowe-interim-head-coach/c-284147032|url-status=live}}</ref> At the end of the season, Rowe was relieved of his duties as both coach and general manager and was named special advisor to Tallon, who returned to positions of team president and general manager.<ref>{{cite news|title=Dale Tallon Named Panthers General Manager|url=https://www.nhl.com/panthers/news/dale-tallon-named-panthers-general-manager/c-288637636|website=FloridaPanthers.com|publisher=NHL Enterprises, L.P.|date=April 10, 2017|access-date=April 10, 2017|archive-date=October 3, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181003135423/https://www.nhl.com/panthers/news/dale-tallon-named-panthers-general-manager/c-288637636|url-status=live}}</ref> On June 12, 2017, the Panthers named [[Bob Boughner]] as their new head coach.<ref>{{cite news|title=Florida Panthers Name Bob Boughner Head Coach|url=https://www.nhl.com/panthers/news/florida-panthers-name-bob-boughner-head-coach/c-289896766|website=FloridaPanthers.com|publisher=NHL Enterprises, L.P.|access-date=June 13, 2017|date=June 13, 2017|archive-date=May 20, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220520204219/https://www.nhl.com/panthers/news/florida-panthers-name-bob-boughner-head-coach/c-289896766|url-status=live}}</ref>

In the [[2017 NHL expansion draft]], the Panthers left [[Jonathan Marchessault]] and [[Reilly Smith]] unprotected, despite the fact they both had 30-goal seasons on their resumes.<ref name="2017NHLED">{{Cite web |title=Expansion draft blunder may cost Panthers a Stanley Cup |url=https://www.yardbarker.com/nhl/articles/expansion_draft_blunder_may_cost_panthers_a_stanley_cup/s1_13132_38906456 |access-date=July 21, 2024 |website=Yardbarker |date=June 13, 2023}}</ref> In return for the unprotected players, the [[Vegas Golden Knights]] sent the Panthers a [[2018 NHL entry draft|2018]] fourth-round draft pick, leaving the Panthers with the extra salary cap space. The Panthers instead chose to protect [[Nick Bjugstad]], [[Mark Pysyk]], and [[Alex Petrovic]] who all were eventually traded or no longer on the team within the next two years.<ref name="2017NHLED" /> The expansion draft would later haunt the Panthers in the [[2023 Stanley Cup Finals]] as the Vegas Golden Knights would defeat the Panthers in five games with Marchessault winning the [[Conn Smythe Trophy]] and Smith scoring the series-clinching goal.

The [[2017–18 NHL season|2017–18 season]] began with a 19–22–6 record leading up to the [[2018 NHL All-Star Game]]. The Panthers then went on a 25–8–2 run in their last 35 games, ending up one point short of a playoff berth. Their 44–30–8 record earned 96 regular season points, tying the league record of the [[2014–15 Boston Bruins season|2014–15 Boston Bruins]] and the [[2018–19 Montreal Canadiens season|2018–19 Montreal Canadiens]] for the team with the most regular season points to miss the postseason.<ref>{{cite web |title=Most points by an NHL team without reaching playoffs |url=https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/409884-most-points-by-an-nhl-team-without-reaching-playoffs |website=Guinness World Records |access-date=May 15, 2022 |archive-date=May 15, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220515165521/https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/409884-most-points-by-an-nhl-team-without-reaching-playoffs |url-status=live}}</ref>

On April 7, 2019, the Panthers fired Boughner after the team failed to qualify for the playoffs for the third straight season.<ref>{{cite web |title=Florida Panthers Relieve Head Coach Bob Boughner of Duties |url=https://www.nhl.com/panthers/news/florida-panthers-relieve-head-coach-bob-boughner-of-duties/c-306559480 |website=NHL.com |access-date=April 8, 2019 |date=April 7, 2019 |archive-date=April 7, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190407222616/https://www.nhl.com/panthers/news/florida-panthers-relieve-head-coach-bob-boughner-of-duties/c-306559480 |url-status=live}}</ref> The next day, [[Joel Quenneville]] was named the 16th head coach of the Panthers.<ref>{{cite web |title=Florida Panthers Name Joel Quenneville Head Coach |url=https://www.nhl.com/panthers/news/florida-panthers-name-joel-quenneville-head-coach/c-306572380 |publisher=National Hockey League |access-date=April 8, 2019 |date=April 8, 2019 |archive-date=April 8, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190408120349/https://www.nhl.com/panthers/news/florida-panthers-name-joel-quenneville-head-coach/c-306572380 |url-status=live}}</ref> Longtime goaltender [[Roberto Luongo]] retired at the conclusion of the [[2018–19 NHL season|2018–19 season]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Roberto Luongo announces retirement from NHL |url=https://www.nhlpa.com/news/1-17562/roberto-luongo-announces-retirement-from-nhl |access-date=July 21, 2024 |website=NHLPA.com}}</ref> Tallon made a splash on the first day of free agency to replace the retired Luongo and signed two-time [[Vezina Trophy]]-winning goaltender [[Sergei Bobrovsky]] to a seven-year deal.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Panthers sign Sergei Bobrovsky to seven-year, $70M deal |url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/panthers-sign-sergei-bobrovsky-seven-year-70m-deal/ |access-date=July 21, 2024 |website=Sportsnet.ca}}</ref> At the time of the signing, Bobrovsky's contract was deemed a risk and gamble due to the contract value, Bobrovsky's inconsistent play, and his age.{{citation needed|date=August 2024}}

On August 10, 2020, after nine years as general manager, the Panthers and Tallon mutually agreed to part ways, following the team's elimination in the [[2020 Stanley Cup playoffs]]. In Tallon's tenure, the Panthers qualified for the [[Stanley Cup playoffs]] three times, in [[2011–12 NHL season|2012]], [[2015–16 NHL season|2016]], and [[2019–20 NHL season|2020]] with the Panthers never advancing past the first round, leaving the Panthers without a playoff series win since [[1995–96 NHL season|1996]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Tallon out as general manager of Panthers after 10 seasons|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/dale-tallon-florida-panthers-part-ways-after-10-seasons/c-318368422|website=NHL.com|publisher=NHL Enterprises, L.P.|date=August 11, 2020|access-date=August 10, 2020|archive-date=January 15, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210115004120/https://www.nhl.com/news/dale-tallon-florida-panthers-part-ways-after-10-seasons/c-318368422|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Arrival of Bill Zito and Stanley Cup contention (2020–present)===

====2020–2022: Return to playoff consistency, Presidents' Trophy====
Panthers management hired [[Bill Zito]] to succeed Tallon as the team's general manager on September 2, 2020.<ref>{{cite news|title=Florida Panthers Name Bill Zito General Manager|url=https://www.nhl.com/panthers/news/florida-panthers-name-bill-zito-general-manager/c-318857380|website=NHL.com|publisher=NHL Enterprises, L.P.|date=September 2, 2020|access-date=April 13, 2021|archive-date=April 13, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210413185941/https://www.nhl.com/panthers/news/florida-panthers-name-bill-zito-general-manager/c-318857380|url-status=live}}</ref> During the shortened [[2020–21 NHL season|2020–21 season]], the Panthers compiled 79 points in 56 games played, finishing the season in second place in the temporary [[Central Division (NHL)|Central Division]], one point behind the Carolina Hurricanes. As such, they were pitted against division and statewide rival, the Tampa Bay Lightning, in the first round of the [[2021 Stanley Cup playoffs|2021 playoffs]]. They were defeated in six games by the eventual [[2021 Stanley Cup Finals|Stanley Cup]] champions, for yet another first round exit.

In the [[2021–22 NHL season|2021–22 season]], Quenneville led the Panthers to a 7–0–0 record through the team's first seven games, but he would resign from his coaching duties as a result of the fallout from the [[2010 Chicago Blackhawks sexual assault scandal]] on October 28, 2021.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Florida Panthers Announce Resignation of Joel Quenneville|date=October 29, 2021 |url=https://www.nhl.com/panthers/news/florida-panthers-announce-resignation-of-joel-quenneville/c-327334254|access-date=October 29, 2021|publisher=National Hockey League|archive-date=October 29, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211029015033/https://www.nhl.com/panthers/news/florida-panthers-announce-resignation-of-joel-quenneville/c-327334254|url-status=live}}</ref> The next day, the Panthers named former NHL player [[Andrew Brunette]] their interim head coach.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Brunette starts in Florida on 'sad day for hockey' |url=https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/32503876/florida-panthers-entrust-team-andrew-brunette-joel-quenneville-resignation |access-date=May 17, 2024 |website=ESPN.com |agency=Associated Press |date=October 29, 2021}}</ref> On April 3, 2022, the Panthers became the first team during the 2021–22 season to clinch a playoff berth, when they defeated the [[Buffalo Sabres]] at home, 5–3. This victory was also Florida's 48th of the season, breaking their previous record set during [[2015–16 NHL season|2015–16 season]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Florida Panthers Clinch Berth in 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs |url=https://www.nhl.com/panthers/news/florida-panthers-clinch-berth-in-2022-stanley-cup-playoffs/c-332597612 |website=NHL.com |access-date=April 22, 2022 |date=April 3, 2022 |archive-date=April 22, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220422041623/https://www.nhl.com/panthers/news/florida-panthers-clinch-berth-in-2022-stanley-cup-playoffs/c-332597612 |url-status=live}}</ref> Three weeks later, on April 21, 2022, following a 5–2 victory over the [[Detroit Red Wings]], the Panthers crowned themselves as [[Atlantic Division (NHL)|Atlantic Division]] champions for the first time since the 2015–16 season.<ref>{{cite web |title=Florida Panthers Clinch Atlantic Division Title |url=https://www.nhl.com/panthers/news/florida-panthers-clinch-atlantic-division-title/c-877278 |website=NHL.com |access-date=April 22, 2022 |date=April 21, 2022 |archive-date=April 22, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220422041622/https://www.nhl.com/panthers/news/florida-panthers-clinch-atlantic-division-title/c-877278 |url-status=live}}</ref> The victory was also Florida's 12th consecutive, dating back to a 7–4 win over the [[Montreal Canadiens]] on March 29.<ref>{{cite web |title=Canadiens at Panthers, 03/29/22 |url=https://www.espn.com/nhl/game/_/gameId/401350195/c-877278 |website=ESPN.com |access-date=April 22, 2022 |date=March 29, 2022 |archive-date=April 22, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220422041622/https://www.espn.com/nhl/game/_/gameId/401350195/c-877278 |url-status=live}}</ref> This win streak matched another one achieved during the 2015–16 season, tying the franchise record. With the win, the Panthers improved to a stellar 56–15–6 record, tallying 118 points, and overcoming the [[Colorado Avalanche]] in the quest for the [[Presidents' Trophy]]. After an Avalanche defeat, and a Panthers 4–0 victory over the [[Ottawa Senators]] on April 28, the Panthers clinched the Presidents' Trophy for the first time in franchise history.<ref>{{cite web|title=Florida Panthers clinch franchise's first Presidents' Trophy, top seed in playoffs|url=https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/33824337/florida-panthers-clinch-franchise-first-presidents-trophy-top-seed-playoffs|website=ESPN.com|access-date=May 4, 2022|date=April 28, 2022|archive-date=May 4, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220504012652/https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/33824337/florida-panthers-clinch-franchise-first-presidents-trophy-top-seed-playoffs|url-status=live}}</ref> They would end the regular season with 122 points, with a 58–18–6 record, the best record registered in the league since division rivals Tampa Bay Lightning in [[2018–19 NHL season|2018–19]]. On May 13, the Panthers advanced past the first round for the first time in 26 years, dating back to the [[1996 Stanley Cup playoffs#Conference finals|1996 conference finals]], by beating the [[Washington Capitals]] in six games, eliminating them with a 4–3 overtime victory.<ref>{{cite web|title=Carter Verhaeghe scores in overtime as Florida Panthers eliminate Washington Capitals in Stanley Cup playoffs|url=https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/33912472/carter-verhaeghe-scores-florida-panthers-eliminate-washington-capitals-stanley-cup-playoffs|website=ESPN.com|access-date=May 14, 2022|date=May 13, 2022|archive-date=May 14, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220514032307/https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/33912472/carter-verhaeghe-scores-florida-panthers-eliminate-washington-capitals-stanley-cup-playoffs|url-status=live}}</ref> However, the Panthers were swept in four games by the archrival the Tampa Bay Lightning in the second round. Florida went completely dry offensively, scoring only three goals throughout the whole four-game series.<ref>{{cite web |title=2022 NHL Eastern Second Round Tampa Bay Lightning defeat Florida Panthers 4–0 |url=https://www.hockey-reference.com/playoffs/2022-florida-panthers-vs-tampa-bay-lightning-eastern-second-round.html |website=hockey-reference.com |access-date=May 6, 2023 |date=April 24, 2022 |archive-date=May 6, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230506165503/https://www.hockey-reference.com/playoffs/2022-florida-panthers-vs-tampa-bay-lightning-eastern-second-round.html |url-status=live}}</ref>

====2022–present: Back-to-back Stanley Cup Finals and first Stanley Cup championship====
[[File:MatthewTkachuk.jpg|thumb|Forward [[Matthew Tkachuk]], pictured with the [[Calgary Flames]].]]
After being swept in the second round by the Lightning, general manager Bill Zito decided to move on from interim head coach Andrew Brunette. On June 22, 2022, the Panthers hired [[Paul Maurice]] to be the franchise's 18th head coach.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Panthers hire former Jets head coach Maurice |url=https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/34130596/source-florida-panthers-hiring-ex-jets-coach-paul-maurice |access-date=July 7, 2024 |website=ESPN.com |date=June 22, 2022}}</ref> Later that same off-season, the Panthers traded away [[Hart Memorial Trophy]] nominee forward [[Jonathan Huberdeau]], defenseman [[MacKenzie Weegar]], a first-round pick, and prospect [[Cole Schwindt]] to the [[Calgary Flames]] in exchange for forward [[Matthew Tkachuk]] and a mid-round draft pick.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Tkachuk gets to Florida, says trade left him 'very ecstatic' |url=https://apnews.com/article/nhl-sports-hockey-relationships-florida-15cfbe5f1682d785c585251f8298ad8c |access-date=July 7, 2024 |website=AP News |date=July 24, 2022}}</ref> The Tkachuk–Hubderdeau trade saw two [[List of NHL players with 100-point seasons|100-point NHL scorers]] traded for each other for the first time since 1988, when [[Wayne Gretzky]] was traded for [[Jimmy Carson]].<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Vingan |first1=Adam |title=How Tkachuk, Huberdeau and Weegar have performed since blockbuster trade |url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/how-tkachuk-huberdeau-and-weegar-have-performed-since-blockbuster-trade/ |access-date=July 7, 2024 |website=Sportsnet.ca |date=January 27, 2023}}</ref> This trade was also the first [[Sign-and-trade deal|sign-and-trade]] in NHL history as Tkachuk was a [[restricted free agent]] at the time.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Serafini |first=Joshua |title=Brad Treliving made NHL history with the Matthew Tkachuk trade |url=https://thewincolumn.ca/2022/07/27/brad-treliving-made-nhl-history-with-the-matthew-tkachuk-trade/ |access-date=July 7, 2024 |website=The Win Column |date=July 27, 2022}}</ref> The hiring of head coach Maurice and the Tkachuk trade proved to be successful in the following seasons.

For the [[2022–23 NHL season|2022–23 season]], the Panthers looked to carry on their positive regular season streak. However, the team was hampered by injuries, most notably to star center Aleksander Barkov, who was sidelined for a large portion of the season.<ref>{{cite web |title=NHL Buzz: Barkov has lower-body injury, out for Panthers against Bruins |url=https://www.nhl.com/news/nhl-buzz-news-and-notes-december-19/c-338970884 |website=NHL.com |access-date=May 25, 2023 |archive-date=May 25, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230525161128/https://www.nhl.com/news/nhl-buzz-news-and-notes-december-19/c-338970884 |url-status=live}}</ref> Despite being outside of playoff contention by February 2023, the Panthers slowly gained momentum, aided by Barkov's return, and eventually finished the season with a 42–32–8 record, good enough for 92 points and the second wild card spot and eighth seed in the Eastern Conference overall, one point ahead of the Pittsburgh Penguins and Buffalo Sabres. As such, they were set to battle the record-breaking, 135-point Boston Bruins in the [[2023 Stanley Cup playoffs#(A1) Boston Bruins vs. (WC2) Florida Panthers|first round]]. As the heavy underdogs in the series, the Panthers were down 3–1 after losing game 4 at home. However, they won game 5 in overtime, 4–3 at the [[TD Garden]], and game 6, 7–5, at home to tie the series at 3. In the definitive game 7, the Panthers led 2–0 after the first period, but were down 3–2 with under two minutes left in the third period, facing elimination. However, after goaltender [[Sergei Bobrovsky]] left the net to bring an extra skater to the ice, [[Brandon Montour]] scored with under a minute left to play to send the game to overtime. In overtime, despite a few saves by Bruins goaltender [[Jeremy Swayman]], [[Carter Verhaeghe]] scored to win the game 4–3 and stun the Bruins, setting up a second round matchup against the [[Toronto Maple Leafs]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cbssports.com/nhl/news/bruins-vs-panthers-score-florida-stuns-boston-in-game-7-behind-carter-verhaeghes-game-winning-goal-in-ot/live/|work=CBS Sports|title=Bruins vs. Panthers score: Florida stuns Boston in Game 7 behind Carter Verhaeghe's game-winning goal in OT|last=Nivison|first=Austin|date=April 30, 2023|access-date=May 1, 2023|archive-date=May 1, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230501034258/https://www.cbssports.com/nhl/news/bruins-vs-panthers-score-florida-stuns-boston-in-game-7-behind-carter-verhaeghes-game-winning-goal-in-ot/live/|url-status=live}}</ref> In the second round, the Panthers continued their positive streak, defeating the Maple Leafs in five games.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/miami/news/florida-panthers-defeat-toronto-maple-leafs-3-2-to-advance-to-conference-finals/|website=CBS News|publisher=CBS News|title=Florida Panthers defeat Toronto Maple Leafs 3–2 to advance to Eastern Conference final|date=May 12, 2023|access-date=May 25, 2023|archive-date=May 25, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230525015921/https://www.cbsnews.com/miami/news/florida-panthers-defeat-toronto-maple-leafs-3-2-to-advance-to-conference-finals/|url-status=live}}</ref> The Panthers played their longest game in franchise history on May 18, against the [[Carolina Hurricanes]] in the conference finals, which resulted in a 3–2 Panthers victory with [[Matthew Tkachuk]] scoring the game-winning goal with 12.7 seconds left in quadruple overtime.<ref>{{cite web |title=Tkachuk ends 6th-longest game in NHL history, Panthers outlast Hurricanes 3–2 in 4th OT |url=https://www.espn.com/nhl/recap/_/gameId/401548431 |website=ESPN |access-date=May 20, 2023 |date=May 18, 2023 |archive-date=May 19, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230519171457/https://www.espn.com/nhl/recap/_/gameId/401548431 |url-status=live}}</ref> The Panthers would then sweep the Hurricanes in four games which included a goal by Tkachuk with 4.3 seconds left in game 4. This would be the first time the Panthers had ever swept a playoff series. They advanced to the [[2023 Stanley Cup Finals]],<ref>{{cite web |title=Tkachuk sends Panthers to Stanley Cup Final, after topping Hurricanes 4–3 for sweep |url=https://www.espn.com/nhl/recap/_/gameId/401548434 |website=ESPN |access-date=May 25, 2023 |date=May 24, 2023 |archive-date=May 25, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230525145047/https://www.espn.com/nhl/recap/_/gameId/401548434 |url-status=live}}</ref> where they lost to the [[Vegas Golden Knights]] in five games.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Belson |first1=Ken |title=Vegas Golden Knights Win the Stanley Cup in Just Their Sixth Season |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/06/13/sports/hockey/nhl-stanley-cup-knights-panthers.html |website=The New York Times |access-date=December 24, 2023 |date=June 13, 2023}}</ref>

[[File:Sergei Bobrovsky with the Stanley Cup.jpg|thumb|Goaltender [[Sergei Bobrovsky]] hoisting the [[Stanley Cup]].]]
For the [[2023–24 NHL season|2023–24 season]], the Panthers were expected to regress in results, as it was believed their aggressive [[forecheck]]ing and stout defense would be figured out by rival teams. However, the Panthers once again enjoyed a successful season. They went 52–24–6 for 110 points, star center [[Sam Reinhart]] netted 57 goals (behind [[Auston Matthews]] for the league lead), and overtook the Boston Bruins in the last regular season game for the [[Atlantic Division (NHL)|Atlantic Division]] crown, their third in franchise history.<ref name="Maple20240416">{{cite web |last1=Richards |first1=George |title=Panthers clinch 1st in Atlantic Division with win against Maple Leafs |url=https://www.nhl.com/news/toronto-maple-leafs-florida-panthers-game-recap-april-16 |website=NHL.com|access-date=April 23, 2024 |date=April 16, 2024}}</ref> Barkov became the franchise's [[List of Florida Panthers records|all-time points leader]] in a 5–2 win over the Detroit Red Wings on March 20.<ref name=":0" /> The Panthers defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs 5–2 at home, while the Bruins were ousted by the [[Ottawa Senators]], 3–1, to win the division.<ref>{{cite web |title=Jiri Smejkal gets 1st goal, Senators beat Bruins 3–1 in regular-season finale |url=https://www.espn.com/nhl/recap/_/gameId/401560522 |website=ESPN|access-date=April 23, 2024 |date=April 16, 2024}}</ref> In the first round of the [[2024 Stanley Cup playoffs|2024 playoffs]], the Panthers played against their rivals, the Tampa Bay Lightning, and won the series in five games.<ref name="Lightning4292024">{{cite web |last1=Richards |first1=George |title=Panthers pull away in 3rd, eliminate Lightning with win in Game 5 |url=https://www.nhl.com/news/tampa-bay-lightning-florida-panthers-game-5-recap-april-29 |website=NHL.com |access-date=May 6, 2024 |date=April 29, 2024}}</ref> In the next round, the Panthers played the Boston Bruins again, this time winning the series in six games. In the conference finals, they won the six-game series against the [[New York Rangers]], advancing to the Stanley Cup Finals for the second straight year, where they defeated the [[Edmonton Oilers]] in seven games to win their first Stanley Cup in franchise history.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://sports.yahoo.com/live/stanley-cup-final-panthers-win-game-7-thriller-over-oilers-to-secure-first-championship-in-franchise-history-025534039.html|title=Stanley Cup Final: Panthers win Game 7 thriller over Oilers to secure first championship in franchise history|website=Yahoo Sports|last1=Owens|first1=Jason|last2=Leahy|first2=Sean|date=June 24, 2024|access-date=June 24, 2024}}</ref>

In the [[2024–25 NHL season|2024–25 season]], the Panthers placed third in the Atlantic Division and fifth in the Eastern Conference. The team dealt with injuries towards the end of the season, including to star forward [[Matthew Tkachuk]] and defenseman [[Dmitry Kulikov (ice hockey)|Dmitry Kulikov]]. Tkachuk was injured during the [[4 Nations Face-Off]], but he returned for the playoffs.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Panthers Star Matthew Tkachuk Out for Season Due to 4 Nations Face-Off Injury |url=https://www.si.com/nhl/panthers-matthew-tkachuk-out-for-season-due-to-4-nations-face-off-injury |access-date=May 13, 2025 |website=SI |date=March 3, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Tkachuk returns for Panthers in Game 1 of Eastern 1st Round against Lightning |url=https://www.nhl.com/news/matthew-tkachuk-game-time-decision-for-game-1-for-florida-panthers-in-eastern-first-round |access-date=May 13, 2025 |website=NHL.com |date=April 23, 2025}}</ref> Longtime defenseman [[Aaron Ekblad]] was suspended 20 games for violating the NHL/NHLPA Performance Enhancing Substances Program.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ekblad of Panthers suspended 20 games |url=https://www.nhl.com/news/florida-panthers-aaron-ekblad-suspended-20-games |access-date=May 13, 2025 |website=NHL.com |date=March 10, 2025}}</ref> The Panthers met their cross-state rival the [[Tampa Bay Lightning]] in the first round of the playoffs, with Florida winning the series in five games.

==Team identity==

===Logos, colors, and uniforms===
The Florida Panthers have had just two primary logos over the course of their history. Their first logo, used from 1993 to 2016, depicted a leaping panther. Other logos from the era included an alternate version of the "leaping panther" logo, this time holding a pair of broken hockey sticks, and a logo depicting a yellow sun behind a hockey stick and a palm tree. The "leaping panther" logo was redesigned and relegated to an alternate logo when the Panthers unveiled a new logo in the 2016–17 season. The current primary logo is a shield with the profile of a panther head below the word "Florida"; the same logo with the word "Panthers" above is also used interchangeably.<ref name="PanthersUniforms">{{cite news |last=Ferrell |first=Peter |url=https://thehockeywriters.com/florida-panthers-jersey-history/ |title=Florida Panthers Jersey History |work=The Hockey Writers |date=February 12, 2018 |access-date=January 24, 2020 |archive-date=May 24, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200524232736/https://thehockeywriters.com/florida-panthers-jersey-history/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

The Panthers' first uniform set was used from 1993 to 2007. The red road and white home uniforms featured the leaping panther crest in front and the alternate palm tree logo on the shoulders. Diagonal stripes accentuated the sleeves and the yoke design was triangular in shape. Yellow and navy were used as accent colors.<ref name="PanthersUniforms"/>

In 1998, the Panthers debuted an alternate navy uniform, with the front crest depicting the leaping panther holding a pair of broken hockey sticks. Prior to the 2003–04 season, the navy uniform became the primary home uniform while the red uniform was relegated to alternate status. The crests on both uniforms were also switched.<ref name="PanthersUniforms"/>

Adopting the [[Reebok]] Edge template in 2007, the Panthers revealed new uniform designs. The navy and white uniforms sported a thicker stripe on each sleeve along with added piping.<ref name="PanthersUniforms"/>

In 2009, the Panthers unveiled a navy alternate uniform, featuring a roundel crest depicting a panther head surrounded by the team name. Powder blue replaced red as trim color and the alternate "FLA" sunshine logo was placed on the shoulders. This uniform was used for three seasons.<ref name="PanthersUniforms"/>

Before the 2011–12 season, the Panthers retired their primary navy uniforms and returned to wearing red uniforms at home. The piping on the chest was also eliminated.<ref name="PanthersUniforms"/>

The Panthers overhauled their visual design prior to the 2016–17 season, replacing yellow with flat gold as trim color. Red uniforms featured the shield logo with the team name, while the white uniforms used the variation with the state name. An alternate logo featuring the [[flag of Florida]] below a crawling panther is added on the sleeves. Both sets feature thick contrasting stripes on the chest and sleeves. The basic design was retained once [[Adidas]] took over as supplier prior to the 2017–18 season.<ref name="PanthersUniforms"/>

For the 2020–21 season, the Panthers released a "Reverse Retro" alternate uniform, essentially a recoloring of the team's original uniform. In this case, the Panthers wore their original 1990s "leaping panther" uniform, but with a navy base and flat gold replacing yellow as a trim color.<ref>{{cite news|title=Reverse Retro alternate jerseys for all 31 teams unveiled by NHL, adidas|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/nhl-reveals-adidas-reverse-retro-jerseys/c-319633384|publisher=National Hockey League|date=December 1, 2020|access-date=December 5, 2020|archive-date=December 11, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201211011731/https://www.nhl.com/news/nhl-reveals-adidas-reverse-retro-jerseys/c-319633384|url-status=live}}</ref> A second "Reverse Retro" uniform was unveiled, again using the same 1990s-era template but with a powder blue base (a nod to the 2009–12 navy alternates) and the alternate palm tree, sun and stick logo in front.<ref>{{cite news|title=NHL Reverse Retro jerseys for all 32 teams unveiled by adidas|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/2022-adidas-nhl-reverse-retro-jerseys-reveal/c-336511528|website=NHL.com|date=October 20, 2022|access-date=October 20, 2022|archive-date=October 20, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221020150818/https://www.nhl.com/news/2022-adidas-nhl-reverse-retro-jerseys-reveal/c-336511528|url-status=live}}</ref>
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===Mascots===
The Panthers have two [[List of NHL mascots#Florida Panthers|mascots]]: '''Stanley C. Panther''' and '''Viktor E. Ratt'''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mascots |url=https://www.nhl.com/panthers/fans/mascots |access-date=July 7, 2024 |website=NHL.com}}</ref>
 
'''Stanley C. Panther''' is a large anthropomorphic [[Florida panther]] and is the Panther's official mascot. He is named for the [[Stanley Cup]]. Further, Stanley C. Panther was introduced during the 1995–96 season.<ref name="mascot history">{{Cite web |title=What is the Panthers' mascot? How Florida got multiple mascots for its NHL team |url=https://www.sportingnews.com/us/nhl/news/florida-panthers-mascot-two-stanley-c-panther-viktor-e-rat/dm6ivuttshweuz5ecl2ltk1q |access-date=July 7, 2024 |website=sportingnews.com |date=June 23, 2024}}</ref> He was named by Darrel Ambrosini, a then-five-year-old fan of the team who creatively came up with the mascot's moniker.<ref>{{cite web |title=Puckish name for hockey mascot lands boy in rink |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230605162755/https://www.sun-sentinel.com/1995/12/20/puckish-name-for-hockey-mascot-lands-boy-in-rink/ |website=Sun Sentinel |access-date=March 10, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240707024619/https://www.sun-sentinel.com/1995/12/20/puckish-name-for-hockey-mascot-lands-boy-in-rink/ |archive-date=July 7, 2024 |date=December 20, 1995}}</ref>

'''Viktor E. Ratt''' was introduced in October 2014 after much debate and honors the club's [[1996 Stanley Cup Finals]] run [[Rat trick|where rats were tossed on ice]]. He is an anthropomorphic [[rat]].<ref name="mascot history" />

==Broadcasting==
{{main|List of Florida Panthers broadcasters}}

===Television===
The Panthers' designated television market includes South Florida. In July 2024, amid [[Bally Sports]]'s bankruptcy, the Panthers announced an agreement with the [[E.W. Scripps Company]] and its [[Scripps Sports]] division, under a multi-year deal beginning in the [[2024–25 NHL season|2024–25 season]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Stanley Cup champion Panthers sign deal to move local broadcasts from Bally to Scripps Sports |url=https://apnews.com/article/panthers-tv-deal-scripps-bally-fa29ee81e38a11993da8e343f390708a |access-date=July 5, 2024 |website=AP News |date=July 2, 2024}}</ref> Scripps' [[Miami-Fort Lauderdale]] station [[WSFL-TV]] serves as [[Flagship (broadcasting)|flagship station]] of the Panthers' television network, while [[WHDT]] airs games in the Stuart–West Palm Beach market.<ref name="2024Scripps">{{Cite web |title=Florida Panthers, Scripps Sports partner on multi-year agreement to air National Hockey League team's games |url=https://www.nhl.com/panthers/news/florida-panthers-scripps-sports-partner-on-multi-year-agreement-to-air-national-hockey-league-team-s-games |access-date=July 5, 2024 |website=NHL.com |date=July 2, 2024}}</ref> [[WFTX-TV|WFTX-DT3]] airs games in the Fort Myers-Naples market.<ref name="2024Scripps" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=Florida Panthers and Scripps Sports Announce Programming for 2024-25 Season |url=https://www.nhl.com/panthers/news/florida-panthers-and-scripps-sports-announce-programming-for-2024-25-season |access-date=August 30, 2024 |website=NHL.com |date=August 29, 2024}}</ref> The Panthers stream in-market games on Panthers+.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Florida Panthers Launch 'Panthers Plus' In Conjunction With ViewLift And Scripps Sports On Sept. 27 |url=https://tvnewscheck.com/digital/article/florida-panthers-launch-panthers-plus-in-conjunction-with-viewlift-and-scripps-sports-on-sept-27|website=TVNewsCheck |date=September 24, 2024 |access-date=September 24, 2024}}</ref>

From its inaugural season through 2023–24, [[Bally Sports Florida]] (formerly Fox Sports Florida and SportsChannel Florida) was the regional television rightsholder for all Panthers games not broadcast exclusively by the NHL's national television partners.

Panthers games on TV are called by [[Steve Goldstein (broadcaster)|Steve Goldstein]] on play-by-play, and [[Randy Moller]] on color.

===Radio===
The team has a radio deal with [[Audacy, Inc.]] to broadcast Panther games on the radio. Audacy airs the team's games on [[WQAM|WQAM 560]] repeating on [[Power 96|96.5]] (HD2) and [[WKIS|99.9]] (HD2) in Broward/Dade, [[WBZT|WBZT 1230]] repeating on [[WKGR|98.7]] (HD2) in West Palm Beach, [[WCTH|WCTH-FM 100.3]] in the Florida Keys, and [[WCZR|WCZR-FM 101.7]] in the Treasure Coast.

Panthers games on radio are called by [[Doug Plagens]] on play-by-play, and [[Bill Lindsay]] on color.

==Minor league affiliates==
In September 2020, the Panthers reached an agreement to partner with the [[Charlotte Checkers]] of the [[American Hockey League|AHL]] to be the Panthers' top affiliate. The Checkers receive many of the team's top prospects and draft picks to further their development.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Checkers Announce Affiliation with NHL's Florida Panthers |url=https://charlottecheckers.com/articles/features/checkers-announce-affiliation-with-nhl-s-florida-panthers |access-date=July 7, 2024 |website=charlottecheckers.com |date=September 10, 2020}}</ref> The length of the multi-year affiliation was not announced.

In June 2024, the Panthers announced an affiliation agreement with the [[Savannah Ghost Pirates]] of the [[ECHL]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Florida Panthers Announce ECHL Affiliation with Savannah Ghost Pirates |url=https://www.nhl.com/panthers/news/florida-panthers-announce-echl-affiliation-with-savannah-ghost-pirates |access-date=July 7, 2024 |website=NHL.com |date=June 17, 2024}}</ref> The length of the multi-year affiliation was not announced. The [[Florida Everblades]] were the Panthers' ECHL affiliate for the 2022–23 and 2023–24 seasons.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Florida Everblades, Florida Panthers Enter Affiliation Agreement |url=https://www.floridaeverblades.com/news/2022/07/florida-everblades-florida-panthers-enter-affiliation-agreement |access-date=July 7, 2024 |website=Florida Everblades |date=July 6, 2022}}</ref>

==Season-by-season record==
''This is a partial list of the last five seasons completed by the Panthers. For the full season-by-season history, see [[List of Florida Panthers seasons]].''

'''''Note:''' GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, OTL = Overtime Losses, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against''
{| class="wikitable"
|- style="font-weight:bold; background-color:#dddddd;"
| Season || GP || W || L || OTL || Pts || GF || GA || Finish || Playoffs
|-
| [[2019–20 NHL season|2019–20]] || 69 || 35 || 26 || 8 || 78 || 231 || 228 || 4th, Atlantic || Lost in qualifying round, 1–3 ([[New York Islanders|Islanders]])
|- style="background:#eee;"
| [[2020–21 NHL season|2020–21]] || 56 || 37 || 14 || 5 || 79 || 189 || 153 || 2nd, Central || Lost in first round, 2–4 ([[Tampa Bay Lightning|Lightning]])
|-
| [[2021–22 NHL season|2021–22]] || 82 || 58 || 18 || 6 || 122 || 340 || 246 || 1st, Atlantic || Lost in second round, 0–4 (Lightning)
|- style="background:#eee;"
| [[2022–23 NHL season|2022–23]] || 82 || 42 || 32 || 8 || 92 || 290 || 273 || 4th, Atlantic || Lost in [[2023 Stanley Cup Finals|Stanley Cup Finals]], 1–4 ([[Vegas Golden Knights|Golden Knights]])
|- style="font-weight:bold;"
| [[2023–24 NHL season|2023–24]] || 82 || 52 || 24 || 6 || 110 || 268 || 200 || 1st, Atlantic || [[2024 Stanley Cup Finals|Stanley Cup champions]], 4–3 ([[Edmonton Oilers|Oilers]])
|}

==Players and personnel==
{{main|List of Florida Panthers players}}

===Current roster===
{{Florida Panthers roster}}

===Team captains===
{{div col}}
* [[Brian Skrudland]], 1993–1997
* [[Scott Mellanby]], 1997–2001
* [[Pavel Bure]] & [[Paul Laus]], 2001–2002 {{small|(co-captains)}}
* [[Olli Jokinen]], 2003–2008
* [[Bryan McCabe]], 2009–2011
* [[Ed Jovanovski]], 2013–2014
* [[Willie Mitchell (ice hockey)|Willie Mitchell]], 2014–2016
* [[Derek MacKenzie]], 2016–2018
* [[Aleksander Barkov]], 2018–present
{{col div end}}

===Head coaches===
{{main|List of Florida Panthers head coaches}}
[[Paul Maurice]] has been the head coach of the Panthers since June 22, 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Panthers hire former Jets head coach Maurice |url=https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/34130596/source-florida-panthers-hiring-ex-jets-coach-paul-maurice |access-date=July 5, 2024 |website=ESPN.com |date=June 22, 2022}}</ref>

===General managers===
{{main|List of Florida Panthers general managers}}
[[Bill Zito]] has been the general manager of the Panthers since September 2, 2020.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Panthers hire Bill Zito as new general manager |url=https://www.nbcsports.com/nhl/news/panthers-hire-bill-zito-as-new-general-manager |access-date=July 5, 2024 |website=NBC Sports |date=September 2, 2020}}</ref>

==League and team honors==

===Awards and trophies===
{{main|List of Florida Panthers award winners}}
{{col-float|width=33%}}
'''[[Stanley Cup]]'''
* [[2023–24 NHL season|2023–24]]

'''[[Prince of Wales Trophy]]'''
* [[1995–96 NHL season|1995–96]]
* [[2022–23 NHL season|2022–23]]
* [[2023–24 NHL season|2023–24]]

'''[[Presidents' Trophy]]'''
* [[2021–22 NHL season|2021–22]]
{{col-float-break|width=33%}}
'''[[Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy]]'''
* [[Pavel Bure]]: [[1999–2000 NHL season|1999–2000]], [[2000–01 NHL season|2000–01]]

'''[[Lady Byng Memorial Trophy]]'''
* [[Brian Campbell]]: [[2011–12 NHL season|2011–12]]
* [[Aleksander Barkov]]: [[2018–19 NHL season|2018–19]]

'''[[Calder Memorial Trophy]]'''
* [[Jonathan Huberdeau]]: [[2012–13 NHL season|2012–13]]
* [[Aaron Ekblad]]: [[2014–15 NHL season|2014–15]]
{{col-float-break|width=33%}}
'''[[Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy]]'''
* [[Jaromír Jágr|Jaromir Jagr]]: [[2015–16 NHL season|2015–16]]

'''[[Frank J. Selke Trophy]]'''
* [[Aleksander Barkov]]: [[2020–21 NHL season|2020–21]], [[2023–24 NHL season|2023–24]]
{{col-float-end}}
<!--PLEASE DO NOT UPDATE STATISTICS MID-SEASON, AS IT CREATES MORE PROBLEMS THAN IT SOLVES, AND WIKIPEDIA'S PURPOSE IS NOT TO PROVIDE UP-TO-THE-MINUTE STATISTICS. PLEASE SAVE THE UPDATING OF STATISTICS UNTIL THE END OF THE REGULAR SEASON AND/OR PLAYOFFS.-->

===First-round draft picks===
{{main|List of Florida Panthers draft picks}}
{{div col|colwidth=30em}}
* [[1993 NHL entry draft|1993]]: [[Rob Niedermayer]] (5th overall)
* [[1994 NHL entry draft|1994]]: [[Ed Jovanovski]] (1st overall)
* [[1995 NHL entry draft|1995]]: [[Radek Dvořák|Radek Dvorak]] (10th overall)
* [[1996 NHL entry draft|1996]]: [[Marcus Nilson]] (20th overall)
* [[1997 NHL entry draft|1997]]: [[Mike Brown (winger, born 1979)|Mike Brown]] (20th overall)
* [[1999 NHL entry draft|1999]]: [[Denis Shvidki]] (12th overall)
* [[2001 NHL entry draft|2001]]: [[Stephen Weiss]] (4th overall) & [[Lukáš Krajíček|Lukas Krajicek]] (24th overall)
* [[2002 NHL entry draft|2002]]: [[Jay Bouwmeester]] (3rd overall) & [[Petr Tatíček|Petr Taticek]] (9th overall)
* [[2003 NHL entry draft|2003]]: [[Nathan Horton]] (3rd overall) & [[Anthony Stewart (ice hockey)|Anthony Stewart]] (25th overall)
* [[2004 NHL entry draft|2004]]: [[Rostislav Olesz]] (7th overall)
* [[2005 NHL entry draft|2005]]: [[Kenndal McArdle]] (20th overall)
* [[2006 NHL entry draft|2006]]: [[Michael Frolík|Michael Frolik]] (10th overall)
* [[2007 NHL entry draft|2007]]: [[Keaton Ellerby]] (10th overall)
* [[2009 NHL entry draft|2009]]: [[Dmitri Kulikov (ice hockey)|Dmitri Kulikov]] (14th overall)
* [[2010 NHL entry draft|2010]]: [[Erik Gudbranson]] (3rd overall), [[Nick Bjugstad]] (19th overall) & [[Quinton Howden]] (25th overall)
* [[2011 NHL entry draft|2011]]: [[Jonathan Huberdeau]] (3rd overall)
* [[2012 NHL entry draft|2012]]: [[Mike Matheson]] (23rd overall)
* [[2013 NHL entry draft|2013]]: [[Aleksander Barkov]] (2nd overall)
* [[2014 NHL entry draft|2014]]: [[Aaron Ekblad]] (1st overall)
* [[2015 NHL entry draft|2015]]: [[Lawson Crouse]] (11th overall)
* [[2016 NHL entry draft|2016]]: [[Henrik Borgström|Henrik Borgstrom]] (23rd overall)
* [[2017 NHL entry draft|2017]]: [[Owen Tippett]] (10th overall)
* [[2018 NHL entry draft|2018]]: [[Grigori Denisenko]] (15th overall)
* [[2019 NHL entry draft|2019]]: [[Spencer Knight]] (13th overall)
* [[2020 NHL entry draft|2020]]: [[Anton Lundell]] (12th overall)
* [[2021 NHL entry draft|2021]]: [[Mackie Samoskevich]] (24th overall)
{{div col end}}

===Hockey Hall of Fame inductees===
The Florida Panthers have an affiliation with a number of inductees to the [[Hockey Hall of Fame]]. Inductees affiliated with the Panthers include seven former players and two builders of the sport. Builders that have an affiliation with the Panthers include former head coach [[Roger Nielson]], and [[Bill Torrey]], former general manager of the Panthers. Former [[play-by-play]] commentator, [[Dave Strader]] was also a recipient of the [[Foster Hewitt Memorial Award]] from the Hockey Hall of Fame, for his contributions in hockey broadcasting.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hhof.com/html/leg_broadcasters.shtml|title=Foster Hewitt Memorial Award winners|publisher=Hockey Hall of Fame and Museum|year=2018|access-date=April 12, 2018|archive-date=June 12, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612142146/https://www.hhof.com/html/leg_broadcasters.shtml|url-status=dead}}</ref>

'''Players'''
* [[Ed Belfour]]
* [[Pavel Bure]]
* [[Dino Ciccarelli]]
* [[Igor Larionov]]
* [[Roberto Luongo]]
* [[Joe Nieuwendyk]]
* [[Mike Vernon (ice hockey)|Mike Vernon]]

'''Builders'''
* [[Roger Neilson]]
* [[Bill Torrey]]
[[File:Roberto Luongo Panthers 2006.jpg|thumb|Goaltender [[Roberto Luongo]] is the only player to have his jersey number retired by the Panthers]]

===Retired numbers===
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"
|+ style="background:#FFFFFF;border-top:#C8102E 5px solid;border-bottom:#041E42 5px solid;"|Florida Panthers retired numbers
|-
! width=40px|No.
! width=120px|Player
! width=120px|Position
! width=100px|Career
! width=150px|No. retirement
|-
| '''1''' || [[Roberto Luongo]] || [[Goaltender|G]] || 2000–2006<br />2014–2019 || March 7, 2020<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nhl.com/news/florida-panthers-will-retire-roberto-luongo-jersey/c-308500718 |title=Luongo to have number retired by Panthers |website=Florida Panthers |date=August 12, 2019 |access-date=August 13, 2019 |archive-date=August 13, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190813221239/https://www.nhl.com/news/florida-panthers-will-retire-roberto-luongo-jersey/c-308500718 |url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
| '''37''' || [[Wayne Huizenga]] || Owner || 1993–2001 || January 19, 2018<ref>{{cite web|last1=DeFranks|first1=Matthew|title=Panthers retire No. 37 in honor of former owner H. Wayne Huizenga|url=http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/florida-panthers/fl-sp-panthers-notes-20180119-story.html|website=Sun-Sentinel|access-date=January 21, 2018|date=January 19, 2018|archive-date=January 21, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180121053724/http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/florida-panthers/fl-sp-panthers-notes-20180119-story.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
| '''93''' || [[Bill Torrey]] || President<br />General manager || 1993–2001 || October 23, 2010
|}
* The NHL retired [[Wayne Gretzky]]'s No. 99 for all its member teams at the [[50th National Hockey League All-Star Game|2000 NHL All-Star Game]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Perfect setting: Gretzky's number retired before All-Star Game |publisher=CNN Sports Illustrated. Associated Press |date=February 6, 2000 |url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/hockey/nhl/2000/nhl_allstar/news/2000/02/06/gretsky_99/ |access-date=June 9, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131112022319/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/hockey/nhl/2000/nhl_allstar/news/2000/02/06/gretsky_99/ |archive-date=November 12, 2013}}</ref>

==Statistics and records==
{{main|List of Florida Panthers records}}

===Franchise scoring leaders===
[[File:Stephen Weiss.jpg|thumb|upright|Recording 394 points as a Panther, [[Stephen Weiss]] is fourth all-time in franchise point scoring.]]
These are the top-ten-point-scorers in franchise history.<ref>{{cite web|title=Regular Season – All Skaters – Career for Franchise – Career Points – NHL.com – Stats|url=https://www.nhl.com/stats/skaters?reportType=allTime&seasonFrom=19171918&seasonTo=20242025&gameType=2&playerPlayedFor=franchise.33&sort=points,goals,assists&page=0&pageSize=50|publisher=[[National Hockey League]]|access-date=April 21, 2025}}</ref> Figures are updated after each completed NHL regular season.
* {{Color box|#CCFFCC|*|border=darkgray}} – current Panthers player
'''''Note:''' Pos = Position; GP = Games Played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; P/G = Points per game''
<!--PLEASE DO NOT UPDATE STATISTICS MID-SEASON, AS IT CREATES MORE PROBLEMS THAN IT SOLVES, AND WIKIPEDIA'S PURPOSE IS NOT TO PROVIDE UP-TO-THE-MINUTE STATISTICS. PLEASE SAVE THE UPDATING OF STATISTICS UNTIL THE END OF THE REGULAR SEASON AND/OR PLAYOFFS.-->
{{col-begin|width=auto}}
{{col-break}}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|+ style="background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#C8102E 5px solid; border-bottom:#041E42 5px solid;"|Points
|-
! style="text-align:left;"|Player || Pos || GP || G || A || Pts || P/G
|- style="background:#cfc;"
| style="text-align:left;"|[[Aleksander Barkov]]* || C || 804 || 286 || 496 || '''782''' || .97
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[Jonathan Huberdeau]] || LW || 671 || 198 || 415 || '''613''' || .91
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[Olli Jokinen]] || C || 567 || 188 || 231 || '''419''' || .74
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[Stephen Weiss]] || C || 654 || 145 || 249 || '''394''' || .60
|- style="background:#cfc;"
| style="text-align:left;"|[[Aaron Ekblad]]* || D || 732 || 118 || 262 || '''380''' || .52
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[Scott Mellanby]] || RW || 552 || 157 || 197 || '''354''' || .64
|- style="background:#cfc;"
| style="text-align:left;"|[[Sam Reinhart]] || C || 321 || 160 || 164 || '''324''' || 1.01
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[Nathan Horton]] || C || 422 || 142 || 153 || '''295''' || .70
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[Viktor Kozlov]] || C || 414 || 101 || 190 || '''291''' || .70
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[Róbert Švehla|Robert Svehla]] || D || 573 || 61 || 229 || '''290''' || .51
|}
{{col-break|gap=1em}}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|+ style= "background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#C8102E 5px solid; border-bottom:#041E42 5px solid;"|Goals
|-
! style="text-align:left;"|Player || Pos || G
|- style="background:#cfc;"
| style="text-align:left;"|[[Aleksander Barkov]]* || C || 286
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[Jonathan Huberdeau]] || LW || 198
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[Olli Jokinen]] || C || 188
|- style="background:#cfc;"
| style="text-align:left;"|[[Sam Reinhart]]* || C || 160
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[Scott Mellanby]] || RW || 157
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[Pavel Bure]] || RW || 152
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[Stephen Weiss]] || C || 145
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[Nathan Horton]] || C || 142
|- style="background:#cfc;"
| style="text-align:left;"|[[Carter Verhaeghe]]* || C || 138
|- style="background:#cfc;"
| style="text-align:left;"|[[Aaron Ekblad]]* || D || 118
|}
{{col-break|gap=1em}}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|+ style= "background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#C8102E 5px solid; border-bottom:#041E42 5px solid;"|Assists
|-
! style="text-align:left;"|Player || Pos || A
|-
|- style="background:#cfc;"
| style="text-align:left;"|[[Aleksander Barkov]]* || C || 496
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[Jonathan Huberdeau]] || LW || 415
|- style="background:#cfc;"
| style="text-align:left;"|[[Aaron Ekblad]]* || D || 262
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[Stephen Weiss]] || C || 249
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[Olli Jokinen]] || C || 231
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[Róbert Švehla|Robert Svehla]] || D || 229
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[Keith Yandle]] || D || 201
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[Scott Mellanby]] || RW || 197
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[Viktor Kozlov]] || C || 190
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[Vincent Trocheck]] || C || 171
|}
{{col-end}}

===Franchise individual records===
{{div col}}
* Most goals in a season: [[Pavel Bure]], 59 (2000–01)
* Most assists in a season: [[Jonathan Huberdeau]], 85 (2021–22)
* Most points in a season: Jonathan Huberdeau, 115 (2021–22)
* Most penalty minutes in a season: [[Peter Worrell]], 354 (2001–02)
* Most points in a season, defenseman: [[Brandon Montour]], 73 (2022–23)
* Most points in a season, rookie: [[Jesse Bélanger|Jesse Belanger]], 50 (1993–94)
* Highest +/- in a season: [[Gustav Forsling]], +56 (2023–24)
* Most wins in a season: [[Sergei Bobrovsky]], 39 (2021–22)
* Most saves in a shutout win: [[Craig Anderson (ice hockey)|Craig Anderson]], 53
* Most shutouts in a season: [[Roberto Luongo]] (2003–04), [[Tomáš Vokoun|Tomas Vokoun]] (2009–10), 7
* All-time leader in goals against average: [[Tomáš Vokoun|Tomas Vokoun]], 2.57
* All-time leader in shutouts: [[Roberto Luongo]], 38
* All-time leader in games played by a goaltender: [[Roberto Luongo]], 572
* All-time leader in wins by a goaltender: [[Roberto Luongo]], 230
{{col div end}}

===Other honors===
Featured as cover athlete of ''[[NHL 97]]'' video game: [[John Vanbiesbrouck]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=genesis nhl97.jpg|url=https://www.covercentury.com/index.php?p=genesis&l=n&f=genesis_nhl97.jpg|access-date=August 14, 2020|website=Cover Century|archive-date=January 22, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220122142538/https://www.covercentury.com/index.php?p=genesis&l=n&f=genesis_nhl97.jpg|url-status=live}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[List of Florida Panthers general managers]]
* [[List of Florida Panthers head coaches]]
* [[List of Florida Panthers players]]
* [[Sports in Miami]]
* [[FTL War Memorial]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Florida Panthers}}
* {{Official website}}

{{Florida Panthers}}
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[[Category:Florida Panthers| ]]
[[Category:National Hockey League teams]]
[[Category:1993 establishments in Florida]]
[[Category:Atlantic Division (NHL)]]
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