History of Florida Panthers in Timeline

The Florida Panthers are an NHL ice hockey team based in the Miami metropolitan area, competing in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference. They were founded in 1993 and initially played at Miami Arena before relocating to Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, Florida in 1998. As the southernmost team in the NHL, the Panthers share the Florida market with the Tampa Bay Lightning.

1939: Folding of the Tropical Hockey League

In 1939, the Tropical Hockey League, the last professional ice hockey team in Miami before the Panthers, folded.

1991: Panthers Trademark Held by Huizenga

In 1991, Wayne Huizenga held the Panthers trademark since purchasing it from Tampa investors who wanted to create an MLB team in the Tampa Bay area.

December 10, 1992: NHL Franchise Awarded to Wayne Huizenga

On December 10, 1992, Wayne Huizenga was awarded an NHL franchise for Miami, the same day the Walt Disney Company earned rights to start a team in Anaheim. Huizenga owned the Florida Marlins and a share of the Miami Dolphins at the time. The entry fee was $50 million.

April 20, 1993: Team Name Announced

On April 20, 1993, at a press conference in Fort Lauderdale, the team was named the Florida Panthers, with Bill Torrey as president and Bobby Clarke as general manager. The team is named for the Florida panther, an endangered species.

June 1993: Offices Established

In June 1993, offices for the team were established. Vice president of business operations Dean Jordan admitted that the business people knew little about hockey. The new franchise would be the first professional ice hockey team in Miami since the Tropical Hockey League folded in 1939.

June 1993: NHL Entry Draft

In June 1993, the Panthers and the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim joined the NHL and filled their rosters in the expansion draft and the 1993 NHL entry draft in Quebec City. Ten players from that draft were part of the 1996 Eastern Conference-winning team.

1993: Panthers' First Logo

In 1993, the Florida Panthers introduced their first logo, featuring a leaping panther.

1993: Inaugural Season

The Florida Panthers began playing in the 1993–94 season and set the record for the most points by an expansion team in its inaugural season.

August 1994: Bryan Murray Replaces Clarke as General Manager

In August 1994, Bobby Clarke left to work for the Philadelphia Flyers, and Bryan Murray was brought in from the Detroit Red Wings as his replacement.

1994: Inaugural Season

In 1994, the Panthers began their inaugural season with a 4-4 tie against the Chicago Blackhawks. Their first win was a 2-0 shutout of the Tampa Bay Lightning. They narrowly missed the playoffs, finishing just two points below .500. The trap defense implemented by coach Roger Neilson was criticized, but the team's success led to strong attendance at the Miami Arena.

1995: Rat Trick Celebration Developed

During the 1995-96 season, a goal celebration known as the "rat trick" developed in Miami. After Scott Mellanby killed a rat in the locker room before the home opener, he scored two goals that night. Fans began throwing rubber rats on the ice to celebrate goals, with the number of rats increasing to over 2,000 during the playoffs.

1995: Introduction of Stanley C. Panther

In 1995, Stanley C. Panther, the Florida Panthers' official mascot, was introduced. He was named by Darrel Ambrosini.

1996: Broadcasting Rights Held by Bally Sports Florida

From 1996, the local broadcasting rights for the Florida Panthers were held by Bally Sports Florida (formerly SportsChannel and Fox Sports Florida).

1996: First Stanley Cup Playoffs Appearance

In 1996, the Florida Panthers made their first appearance in the Stanley Cup playoffs, reaching the 1996 Stanley Cup Final before losing to the Colorado Avalanche.

1996: Panthers' 1996 Reunion Game

In 1996, the Panthers held a reunion game.

1996: Viktor E. Ratt honors the 1996 Stanley Cup Final run

In 1996, the Stanley Cup Final run where rats were tossed on ice.

1996: Stanley Cup Final Appearance

In the 1996 playoffs, the Panthers, as the fourth seed, defeated the Boston Bruins, Philadelphia Flyers, and Pittsburgh Penguins to reach the Stanley Cup Final. The Colorado Avalanche swept the Panthers in four games. Bryan Murray was honored as NHL Executive of the Year.

1996: Eastern Conference Win

The Panthers won the Eastern Conference in 1996.

1997: Playoff Drought Begins

From 1997 to 2021, the Florida Panthers only qualified for the Stanley Cup playoffs six times and did not win a playoff series.

1997: Playoff Loss to the New York Rangers

In 1997, after a 12-game unbeaten streak, the Panthers faded and lost in five games in the first round of the playoffs to the New York Rangers.

1998: Panthers Debut Alternate Navy Uniform

In 1998, the Florida Panthers debuted an alternate navy uniform featuring the leaping panther holding broken hockey sticks.

1998: Move to Amerant Bank Arena

In 1998, the Florida Panthers moved from Miami Arena to what is now known as Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, Florida.

1998: Move to National Car Rental Center

In 1998, the Panthers moved into the brand new National Car Rental Center (now known as Amerant Bank Arena).

1999: Acquisition of Pavel Bure

In 1999, the Panthers acquired Pavel Bure in a trade with the Vancouver Canucks.

2000: Playoff Loss to New Jersey Devils

In 2000, the Panthers reached the playoffs again but lost in a first-round sweep to the New Jersey Devils, who eventually won the Stanley Cup.

2001: Team Slumps

In 2001, the Panthers slumped.

2002: Worst Record Ever and Bure Trade

In 2002, the Panthers had their worst record ever. Pavel Bure struggled and was traded to the Rangers at the trade deadline.

2002: Trade of First Round Pick

In 2002, the Panthers were eyeing Jay Bouwmeester for the draft. However, general manager Rick Dudley sent Florida's first pick to the Columbus Blue Jackets, who selected Rick Nash. The Panthers received the right to trade first-round selections with the Blue Jackets in 2003.

2003: Bouwmeester Selected Third Overall

In 2003, the Panthers gave the Atlanta Thrashers two draft picks to guarantee that Jay Bouwmeester would still be available for Florida's selection. Bouwmeester was selected third overall by the Panthers.

2003: NHL All-Star Weekend Hosted

In 2003, the Panthers hosted the NHL All-Star weekend. The Western Conference earned a 6-5 victory after the first overtime shootout in All-Star history, overcoming a four-goal performance by Dany Heatley, who won MVP honors.

2003: Navy Uniform Becomes Primary Home Uniform

Prior to the 2003-04 season, the navy uniform became the primary home uniform for the Florida Panthers, with the red uniform relegated to alternate status.

June 23, 2006: Blockbuster Trade with Vancouver

On June 23, 2006, the Panthers traded Roberto Luongo, Lukas Krajicek, and a sixth-round draft pick to Vancouver for Todd Bertuzzi, Alex Auld, and Bryan Allen. This trade is considered by some to be one of the worst in sports history, as Luongo was a top goaltender, while Bertuzzi played few games for Florida before getting injured.

June 22, 2007: Trade for Tomas Vokoun

On June 22, 2007, the Panthers acquired Tomas Vokoun from the Nashville Predators for three draft picks.

July 28, 2007: New Jerseys Unveiled

On July 28, 2007, the Florida Panthers unveiled their new jerseys to over 11,000 fans at the BankAtlantic Center during the intermission of the Panthers' 1996 Reunion game. Nathan Horton and Stephen Weiss showcased the jersey changes.

2007: End of First Uniform Set

In 2007, the Florida Panthers discontinued their first uniform set.

2007: Panthers Reveal New Uniform Designs

In 2007, the Florida Panthers revealed new uniform designs adopting the Reebok Edge template.

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June 2008: Trade of Olli Jokinen

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.

2008: Tomas Vokoun Selected to All-Star Team

In 2008, Tomas Vokoun was selected to the Eastern Conference All-Star Team.

November 2009: New Majority Owners

In November 2009, Cliff Viner and Stu Siegel became the new majority owners of the Florida Panthers.

November 23, 2009: Third Jersey Released

On November 23, 2009, the Panthers released their third jersey, replacing red with powder blue.

2009: Release of second 'Reverse Retro' uniform

In 2009, the Florida Panthers released a second 'Reverse Retro' uniform with a powder blue base and the alternate palm tree, sun and stick logo in front.

2009: Panthers Unveil Navy Alternate Uniform

In 2009, the Florida Panthers unveiled a navy alternate uniform featuring a roundel crest and powder blue trim.

May 17, 2010: Dale Tallon Hired as General Manager

On May 17, 2010, Dale Tallon was hired as the Florida Panthers' new general manager, replacing Randy Sexton.

June 1, 2011: Kevin Dineen Named Head Coach and Team Rebrands Image

On June 1, 2011, Kevin Dineen was named the 11th head coach of the Panthers, and the team rebranded its image with a new home jersey and changes to the road jersey.

2011: Panthers Retire Navy Uniforms

Before the 2011-12 season, the Florida Panthers retired their primary navy uniforms and returned to wearing red uniforms at home.

April 7, 2012: Panthers Win First Division Title

On April 7, 2012, the Florida Panthers won their first-ever division title in franchise history with a 4–1 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes, ending a decade-long postseason drought.

October 2014: Introduction of Viktor E. Ratt

In October 2014, Viktor E. Ratt, an anthropomorphic rat, was introduced as a mascot for the Florida Panthers.

2016: New Panthers Logo Unveiled

In 2016, the "leaping panther" logo was redesigned and relegated to an alternate logo, with a new primary logo introduced featuring a shield with a panther head profile.

2016: Panthers Overhaul Visual Design

Prior to the 2016-17 season, the Florida Panthers overhauled their visual design, replacing yellow with flat gold as trim color.

June 12, 2017: Bob Boughner Named Head Coach

On June 12, 2017, Bob Boughner was named the new head coach of the Florida Panthers.

2017: Adidas Takes Over as Supplier

In 2017, the basic uniform design was retained when Adidas took over as supplier.

2017: Vegas Golden Knights Break Record

In 2017-18, the Vegas Golden Knights broke the Panthers' record for most wins by an expansion team in their first postseason appearance.

2017: Vegas Golden Knights Surpass Inaugural Season Record

In 2017–18, the Vegas Golden Knights surpassed the Florida Panthers' record for most points by an expansion team in its inaugural season.

April 7, 2019: Bob Boughner Fired

On April 7, 2019, the Panthers fired head coach Bob Boughner after the team failed to qualify for the playoffs for the third straight season.

August 10, 2020: Tallon and Panthers Part Ways

On August 10, 2020, after nine years as general manager, the Florida Panthers and Dale Tallon mutually agreed to part ways.

September 2, 2020: Bill Zito Hired as General Manager

On September 2, 2020, Bill Zito was hired to succeed Dale Tallon as the team's general manager for the Florida Panthers.

September 2020: Panthers Partner with Charlotte Checkers

In September 2020, the Florida Panthers reached an agreement to partner with the Charlotte Checkers of the AHL as their top affiliate.

2020: Panthers Release Reverse Retro Alternate Uniform

In 2020, the Florida Panthers released a "Reverse Retro" alternate uniform, a recoloring of the team's original uniform with a navy base and flat gold trim.

October 28, 2021: Quenneville Resigns Amid Scandal Fallout

On October 28, 2021, Joel Quenneville resigned from his coaching duties with the Florida Panthers due to the fallout from the 2010 Chicago Blackhawks sexual assault scandal.

2021: End of Playoff Drought

Between 1997 and 2021, the Panthers only qualified for the Stanley Cup playoffs six times, not winning a playoff series in that span.

2021: Postseason Success

Since the 2021–22 season, the Florida Panthers have had considerable postseason success.

April 3, 2022: Panthers Clinch Playoff Berth

On April 3, 2022, the Florida Panthers clinched a playoff berth, defeating the Buffalo Sabres 5-3, marking their 48th victory of the season and breaking a previous record.

April 21, 2022: Panthers Crowned Atlantic Division Champions

On April 21, 2022, the Florida Panthers became Atlantic Division champions for the first time since the 2015-16 season after a 5-2 victory over the Detroit Red Wings. The victory marked Florida's 12th consecutive win, matching a franchise record.

June 22, 2022: Paul Maurice Hired as Head Coach

On June 22, 2022, Paul Maurice was hired to be the franchise's 18th head coach after Bill Zito decided to move on from interim head coach Andrew Brunette.

2022: Florida Everblades were the Panthers' ECHL affiliate

In 2022, the Florida Everblades were the Panthers' ECHL affiliate for the 2022–23 and 2023–24 seasons.

2022: First Playoff Series Win

In 2022, the Florida Panthers won their first playoff series in two decades.

2023: Stanley Cup Final Appearance

From 2023 to 2025, the Florida Panthers appeared in the Stanley Cup Final for three straight seasons.

2023: Bally Sports Florida was the regional television rightsholder

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.

2023: Panthers successful season

In 2023, despite expectations of regression, the Panthers had a successful season, with Sam Reinhart scoring 57 goals.

2023: Florida Everblades were the Panthers' ECHL affiliate

In 2023, the Florida Everblades were the Panthers' ECHL affiliate for the 2022–23 and 2023–24 seasons.

2023: Panthers defeat the Carolina Hurricanes in the conference finals

In 2023, the Florida Panthers defeated the Carolina Hurricanes in the conference finals.

June 2024: Panthers Announce Affiliation with Savannah Ghost Pirates

In June 2024, the Florida Panthers announced an affiliation agreement with the Savannah Ghost Pirates of the ECHL.

July 2024: Panthers Announce TV Agreement with E.W. Scripps Company

In July 2024, amid Bally Sports's bankruptcy, the Florida Panthers announced a multi-year agreement with the E.W. Scripps Company and its Scripps Sports division, beginning in the 2024–25 season.

2024: Panthers win Stanley Cup

In 2024, the Florida Panthers finished the regular season strong, winning the Atlantic Division. They won the Stanley Cup against the Edmonton Oilers.

2024: Broadcast Deal with Scripps Sports

In 2024, the Florida Panthers made a new broadcast deal with Scripps Sports, ending their relationship with Bally Sports Florida.

2024: First Stanley Cup Win

In 2024, the Florida Panthers won their first Stanley Cup in franchise history.

2024: Panthers place third in the Atlantic Division

In 2024, the Panthers placed third in the Atlantic Division and fifth in the Eastern Conference, dealing with injuries to key players such as Matthew Tkachuk and Dmitry Kulikov.

2025: Second Stanley Cup Win

In 2025, the Florida Panthers repeated as Stanley Cup champions.

2025: Panthers win second Stanley Cup

In 2025, the Panthers won their second straight Stanley Cup, defeating the Edmonton Oilers in a rematch of the previous year's final.

February 6, 2026: Information Update

The information was updated on February 6, 2026.

2026: Panthers' Uniforms for the 2026 NHL Winter Classic

For the Florida Panthers' appearance at the 2026 NHL Winter Classic, they wore red uniforms with cream letters, navy blue and gold stripes, and a chain-stitched felt variation of the "leaping panther" crest.