Florida Panthers facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Florida Panthers
Conference	Eastern
Division	Atlantic
Founded	1993
History	Florida Panthers 1993–present
Home arena	Amerant Bank Arena
City	Sunrise, Florida
Colors	Red, blue, flat gold, white
Media	Scripps Sports (WSFL-TV) WQAM Sports Radio (560 AM)
Owner(s)	Sunrise Sports & Entertainment (Vincent Viola, chairman)
General manager	Bill Zito
Head coach	Paul Maurice
Captain	Aleksander Barkov
Minor league affiliates	Charlotte Checkers (AHL) Savannah Ghost Pirates (ECHL)
Stanley Cups	2 (2023–24, 2024–25)
Conference championships	4 (1995–96, 2022–23, 2023–24, 2024–25)
Presidents' Trophies	1 (2021–22)
Division championships	4 (2011–12, 2015–16, 2021–22, 2023–24)

The Florida Panthers are a professional ice hockey team. They play in the National Hockey League (NHL). Their home is in the Miami metropolitan area of Florida. The Panthers are part of the Atlantic Division in the Eastern Conference.

The team first played its games at Miami Arena. In 1998, they moved to their current home, Amerant Bank Arena. This arena is in Sunrise, Florida. The Panthers are the southernmost team in the NHL. They are one of two NHL teams in Florida, the other being the Tampa Bay Lightning.

The Panthers started playing in the 1993–94 season. They set a record for most points by a new team in its first season. This record was later broken by the Vegas Golden Knights in 2017–18. In 1996, the team reached the 1996 Stanley Cup Final but lost to the Colorado Avalanche. For many years, between 1997 and 2021, the Panthers struggled in the playoffs.

However, since the 2021–22 season, the Panthers have been very successful. They won their first playoff series in two decades in 2022. The team played in the Stanley Cup Final for three years in a row, from 2023 to 2025. They won their first Stanley Cup in 2024 and won again in 2025.

About the Florida Panthers Hockey Team

How the Panthers Started

Blockbuster Video owner Wayne Huizenga was given permission to start an NHL team in Miami. This happened on December 10, 1992. He also owned the Miami Marlins baseball team and part of the Miami Dolphins football team. The cost to start the team was $50 million.

Huizenga announced the team would play at the Miami Arena. They would share the building with the Miami Heat basketball team. A new arena was planned for the future. The new team was the first professional ice hockey team in Miami since 1939.

Wayne Huizenga helped start the Florida Panthers on December 10, 1992.

Huizenga first wanted to name the team "Block Busters." This was after his video rental company. The team would even have the same blue and gold colors. However, the NHL did not approve this name.

On April 20, 1993, the team was officially named the Florida Panthers. This was announced in Fort Lauderdale. Bill Torrey became the team president and Bobby Clarke was the general manager. The team is named after the Florida panther. This is an endangered big cat that lives in the nearby Everglades. The team also promised to help protect these panthers.

The Panthers joined the NHL for the 1993–94 season. Another new team, the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, also joined. Players for both teams were chosen in the 1993 NHL expansion draft and the 1993 NHL entry draft. Ten players from these drafts later helped the Panthers reach the 1996 Eastern Conference Final.

The Panthers' first big stars included goalie John Vanbiesbrouck and forward Scott Mellanby. Mellanby scored 30 goals in the team's first season. Their first game was a 4–4 tie against the Chicago Blackhawks. Their first win was a 2–0 shutout against the Tampa Bay Lightning. The Panthers had a very successful first season. They almost made the playoffs in 1994. Their success was partly due to a strong defensive strategy.

The Famous "Rat Trick"

A unique goal celebration started during the 1995–96 season. Before a home game, a rat ran into the team's locker room. Player Scott Mellanby hit the rat against a wall, killing it. That night, he scored two goals. Goalie Vanbiesbrouck joked it was a "rat trick."

Soon, fans started throwing rubber rats onto the ice after goals. This became a huge tradition. During the playoffs, over 2,000 rubber rats were thrown!

In the 1996 playoffs, the Panthers surprised everyone. They beat the Boston Bruins, then the top-seeded Philadelphia Flyers. Next, they defeated the Pittsburgh Penguins in a tough seven-game series. This led them to the 1996 Stanley Cup Final against the Colorado Avalanche. The Avalanche won the series in four games. Despite the loss, the Panthers set a record for most wins by a new team in their first playoffs.

Moving to a New Home Arena

The Panthers moved into a new arena in 1998. It was first called the National Car Rental Center. Today, it is known as Amerant Bank Arena. In the 1998–99 season, they acquired star player Pavel Bure, known as the "Russian Rocket." They reached the playoffs again in 1999–2000. However, they lost in the first round to the New Jersey Devils.

Years of Challenges and Changes

After 2000, the team faced some tough years. Wayne Huizenga sold the Panthers to a new ownership group. The team had its worst record ever in the 2001–02 season. Pavel Bure was traded to the Rangers.

The Panthers chose Jay Bouwmeester as the third overall pick in the 2002 NHL entry draft.

The Panthers drafted defenseman Jay Bouwmeester third overall in the 2002 NHL entry draft. In 2003, the Panthers hosted the NHL All-Star weekend. This brought many star players to Florida.

Important Player Trades

On June 23, 2006, the Panthers made a big trade with Vancouver. They sent goalie Roberto Luongo and other players away. In return, they received Todd Bertuzzi, Alex Auld, and Bryan Allen. Luongo was one of the best goalies in the league at the time. Bertuzzi played only a few games for Florida due to injury.

In 2007, the Panthers traded for goalie Tomas Vokoun from the Nashville Predators. Vokoun later became an All-Star. In 2008, the team traded captain Olli Jokinen. The Panthers had a strong season in 2008–09. However, they missed the playoffs for the eighth year in a row. This was the longest streak in the NHL at that time.

Building a New Team

In 2010, Dale Tallon became the team's new general manager. He worked to rebuild the team. He drafted young players like Erik Gudbranson, Nick Bjugstad, and Quinton Howden. Many new players joined the team in the 2011 off-season. These included Brian Campbell, Jose Theodore, and Kris Versteeg.

The Panthers acquired Brian Campbell during the 2011 off-season. Campbell played with the Panthers from 2011 to 2016.

In the 2011–12 season, the Panthers won their first-ever division title. They made it to the playoffs, ending a ten-year drought. However, they lost in the first round to the New Jersey Devils. The next two seasons, 2012–13 and 2013–14, were difficult. The team finished near the bottom of the league.

In 2014, the Panthers drafted defenseman Aaron Ekblad as the first overall pick. He became a key player. Aleksander Barkov was drafted second overall in 2013. He grew into the team's captain and a star player.

Aleksander Barkov, drafted second overall by the Panthers in 2013, became the team's captain and a star player.

The 2015–16 season was a great one for the Panthers. They set a franchise record with a 12-game winning streak. They also won a franchise-record 47 games and their division title. But they lost in the first round of the playoffs to the New York Islanders.

Changes in Management

After the 2015–16 season, there were changes in the team's management. In the 2017 NHL expansion draft, the Panthers left some good players unprotected. These players, Jonathan Marchessault and Reilly Smith, were chosen by the Vegas Golden Knights. This decision later affected the Panthers in the 2023 Stanley Cup Final.

The 2017–18 season saw the Panthers make a strong comeback late in the season. They almost made the playoffs, missing by just one point. In 2019, Joel Quenneville became the new head coach. Longtime goalie Roberto Luongo retired. The team then signed star goalie Sergei Bobrovsky. In August 2020, general manager Dale Tallon left the team.

Becoming Stanley Cup Champions!

Reaching the Playoffs Again

Bill Zito became the new general manager on September 2, 2020. In the shortened 2020–21 season, the Panthers finished second in their division. They faced their rival, the Tampa Bay Lightning, in the playoffs. The Lightning won the series and went on to win the Stanley Cup.

In the 2021–22 season, the Panthers started with a 7–0–0 record. Coach Quenneville resigned from his duties due to past issues that came to light. Andrew Brunette became the interim head coach. The Panthers had an amazing season. They clinched a playoff spot on April 3, 2022. They won their division title on April 21, 2022. They also won the Presidents' Trophy for the first time, as the best team in the regular season.

The Panthers won their first playoff series in 26 years in 2022, beating the Washington Capitals. However, they were swept by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the second round.

Three Finals and Two Championships

Forward Matthew Tkachuk, pictured with the Calgary Flames, joined the Panthers in 2022.

After the 2022 season, Paul Maurice was hired as the new head coach. The Panthers also made a big trade. They sent star player Jonathan Huberdeau and defenseman MacKenzie Weegar to the Calgary Flames. In return, they received forward Matthew Tkachuk. This trade was a huge success for the team.

In the 2022–23 season, the Panthers faced challenges with injuries. But they fought hard and earned the last playoff spot. They faced the top-ranked Boston Bruins in the first round. The Panthers were big underdogs. They came back from being down 3–1 in the series to win in seven games! This was a huge upset.

They then defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs in five games. In the conference finals, they swept the Carolina Hurricanes in four games. This sent them to the 2023 Stanley Cup Final. They lost to the Vegas Golden Knights in five games.

Goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky hoisting the Stanley Cup in 2024.

The 2023–24 season was another strong year. The Panthers won their division title again. Star center Sam Reinhart scored 57 goals. Captain Aleksander Barkov became the team's all-time points leader. In the 2024 playoffs, they beat the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Boston Bruins. They then defeated the New York Rangers to reach the 2024 Stanley Cup Final. The Panthers won their first-ever Stanley Cup by beating the Edmonton Oilers in seven games!

In the 2024–25 season, the Panthers continued their success. They placed third in their division. They faced the Tampa Bay Lightning again in the playoffs and won. They then defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs and swept the Carolina Hurricanes in the conference finals. This sent them to their third straight Stanley Cup Final. The Panthers defeated the Edmonton Oilers in six games to win their second consecutive Stanley Cup!

Team Look and Mascots

Logos, Colors, and Uniforms

The Florida Panthers have had two main logos. Their first logo, used from 1993 to 2016, showed a leaping panther. Other logos from that time included a panther holding broken hockey sticks. There was also a logo with a yellow sun, a hockey stick, and a palm tree.

In 2016, the Panthers changed their main logo. The new logo is a shield with a panther's head. The word "Florida" or "Panthers" is above the head. The old leaping panther logo is now used as an alternate.

The team's first uniforms were red for road games and white for home games. They featured the leaping panther logo. Yellow and navy blue were used as accent colors. Over the years, the uniforms changed. Navy blue became a main color for a while. In 2011, they returned to wearing red uniforms at home.

In 2016, the team completely updated its look. They changed yellow to a "flat gold" color. The new uniforms have thick stripes on the chest and sleeves. For special games, like the 2026 NHL Winter Classic, they wore unique red uniforms with cream letters and chain-stitched felt logos. They also had "Reverse Retro" uniforms that brought back old designs with new colors.

Meet the Mascots

The Panthers have two fun mascots: Stanley C. Panther and Viktor E. Ratt.

Stanley C. Panther is a large, friendly panther. He is the team's official mascot. He is named after the Stanley Cup, the championship trophy. Stanley C. Panther was introduced during the 1995–96 season. A young fan named Darrel Ambrosini came up with his name.

Viktor E. Ratt joined the team in October 2014. He honors the "Rat Trick" tradition from the 1996 Stanley Cup Final run. Viktor E. Ratt is a fun, animated rat.

Panthers on TV and Radio

The Panthers' games are broadcast on TV and radio. For television, Scripps Sports shows the games on WSFL-TV and other stations. On the radio, you can hear the games on WQAM 560 AM and other local stations.

Developing Future Stars

The Panthers work with minor league teams to help young players grow. Their main affiliate is the Charlotte Checkers in the AHL. Many top prospects play for the Checkers. They also have an affiliation with the Savannah Ghost Pirates in the ECHL.

Panthers Season Highlights

This table shows the Panthers' performance in recent seasons. Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, OTL = Overtime Losses, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against

Key Players and Coaches

Team Captains

Coaches and General Managers

Paul Maurice has been the head coach of the Panthers since June 22, 2022. Bill Zito has been the general manager of the Panthers since September 2, 2020.

Panthers Achievements

Awards and Trophies

Top Draft Picks

Honored in the Hockey Hall of Fame

Several people connected to the Florida Panthers are in the Hockey Hall of Fame. These include former players and team builders.

Players

Builders (People who helped build the team or sport)

• Roger Neilson (Former Head Coach)
• Bill Torrey (Former General Manager)

Retired Jersey Numbers

The Panthers honor special people by retiring their jersey numbers. This means no other player on the team can wear that number.

• The NHL retired Wayne Gretzky's No. 99 for all its teams in 2000.

Panthers Records

All-Time Scoring Leaders

These are the top ten players with the most points in the Panthers' regular season history.

•  *  – current Panthers player

Note: Pos = Position; GP = Games Played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; P/G = Points per game

Playoff Scoring Leaders

These are the top ten players with the most points in the Panthers' playoff history.

•  *  – current Panthers player

Note: Pos = Position; GP = Games Played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; P/G = Points per game

Special Team Records

Other Honors

• Featured as cover athlete of NHL 97 video game: John Vanbiesbrouck.
• Featured as cover athlete of NHL 26 video game: Matthew Tkachuk.

See also

In Spanish: Florida Panthers para niños

• List of Florida Panthers general managers
• List of Florida Panthers head coaches
• List of Florida Panthers players
• Sports in Miami
• FTL War Memorial