History of Florida Panthers in Timeline
The Florida Panthers are an NHL ice hockey team based in the Miami metropolitan area, playing in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference. They are based in Sunrise, Florida, making them the southernmost team in the NHL. The Panthers originally played at Miami Arena, and then moved to the Amerant Bank Arena in 1998. The franchise is one of two NHL teams in Florida and maintains a rivalry with the Tampa Bay Lightning.
1991: Huizenga Acquired Panthers Trademark
In 1991, Wayne Huizenga purchased the Panthers trademark from a group of Tampa investors who sought to create an MLB team in the Tampa Bay area.
December 10, 1992: NHL Franchise Awarded to Miami
On December 10, 1992, Wayne Huizenga of Blockbuster Video was awarded an NHL franchise for Miami. The entry fee was $50 million.
April 20, 1993: Team Name Announced
On April 20, 1993, at a press conference in Fort Lauderdale, it was announced that the team would be named the Florida Panthers.
June 1993: Expansion and NHL Entry Draft
In June 1993, the Florida Panthers joined the NHL and participated in the expansion draft and the 1993 NHL entry draft in Quebec City.
June 1993: Team Offices Established
In June 1993, the offices for the Florida Panthers team were established, with VP Dean Jordan acknowledging a lack of hockey knowledge among the business staff.
1993: Introduction of the Leaping Panther Logo
In 1993, the Florida Panthers introduced their first primary logo, which depicted a leaping panther.
1993: Introduction of First Uniform Set
In 1993, the Panthers introduced their first uniform set, which featured red road and white home uniforms with the leaping panther crest in front and the alternate palm tree logo on the shoulders.
1993: Inaugural Season
In the 1993-94 season, the Florida Panthers began playing and set a record for the most points by an expansion team in its inaugural season.
August 1994: General Manager Clarke Left
In August 1994, general manager Bobby Clarke departed the Florida Panthers to work for the Philadelphia Flyers, and Bryan Murray was brought in as his replacement.
1994: Inaugural Season
In 1994, the Florida Panthers played their inaugural season, finishing just two points below .500 and narrowly missing the playoffs. Their first game was a 4–4 tie against the Chicago Blackhawks.
1995: "Rat Trick" Celebration
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 and then scored two goals in the game.
1995: Introduction of Stanley C. Panther
In the 1995–96 season, Stanley C. Panther, an anthropomorphic Florida panther named after the Stanley Cup, was introduced as the Panther's official mascot. He was named by Darrel Ambrosini.
1996: Stanley Cup Finals Appearance
In 1996, the Florida Panthers made their first appearance in the Stanley Cup playoffs, reaching the Stanley Cup Finals before losing to the Colorado Avalanche.
1996: Bally Sports Florida Rights
In 1996, the local broadcasting rights for the Florida Panthers were acquired by Bally Sports Florida (formerly SportsChannel and Fox Sports Florida).
1996: Panthers' 1996 Reunion game
On July 28, 2007, the Florida Panthers unveiled their new jerseys at the BankAtlantic Center during the first intermission of the Panthers' 1996 Reunion game.
1996: Eastern Conference-Winning Team
The 1993 NHL Entry Draft produced ten players who would eventually be a part of the 1996 Eastern Conference-winning team.
1997: Playoff Loss to Rangers
In 1997, the Panthers began the season with a 12-game unbeaten streak but faded in the second half and lost in five games in the first round of the playoffs to the New York Rangers.
1998: Debut of Alternate Navy Uniform
In 1998, the Panthers debuted an alternate navy uniform, featuring the leaping panther holding broken hockey sticks.
1999: Acquisition of Pavel Bure
In 1999, the Florida Panthers acquired Pavel Bure (the "Russian Rocket") in a blockbuster trade with the Vancouver Canucks.
2000: Playoff Appearance
In 2000, the Florida Panthers reached the playoffs again, losing in a first-round sweep to the New Jersey Devils.
2001: Team Slump
The Florida Panthers slumped in 2001, leading to Huizenga selling the team to an ownership group led by Alan Cohen.
2002: Draft Pick Trade
In 2002, the Florida Panthers traded their first overall pick in the NHL entry draft to the Columbus Blue Jackets, who selected Rick Nash. The Panthers then received the right to trade first-round selections with the Blue Jackets in the 2003 NHL entry draft.
2002: Worst Record and Bure Trade
In the 2001-02 season, the Florida Panthers had their worst record ever. Bure struggled and was traded to the Rangers at the 2002 trade deadline.
2003: Bouwmeester Draft
In 2003, the Florida Panthers selected Jay Bouwmeester third overall in the NHL entry draft after trading draft picks with the Atlanta Thrashers to ensure his availability.
2003: Navy Uniform Becomes Primary Home Uniform
Prior to the 2003–04 season, the Panthers' navy uniform became the primary home uniform, and the red uniform was relegated to alternate status.
June 23, 2006: Blockbuster Trade with Vancouver
On June 23, 2006, the Florida Panthers traded Roberto Luongo, Lukas Krajicek, and a draft pick to Vancouver for Todd Bertuzzi, Alex Auld, and Bryan Allen.
June 22, 2007: Acquisition of Tomas Vokoun
On June 22, 2007, the Florida Panthers acquired Tomas Vokoun from the Nashville Predators in exchange for three draft picks.
July 28, 2007: New Jersey Unveiling
On July 28, 2007, the Florida Panthers unveiled their new jerseys to over 11,000 fans at the BankAtlantic Center during the first intermission of the Panthers' 1996 Reunion game.
2007: New Uniform Designs with Reebok Edge Template
In 2007, the Panthers adopted the Reebok Edge template and revealed new uniform designs, featuring a thicker stripe on each sleeve and added piping on the navy and white uniforms.
2007: End of First Uniform Era
In 2007, the Panthers' first uniform set, which was introduced in 1993, was retired.
June 2008: Olli Jokinen Trade
In June 2008, the Florida Panthers traded their captain Olli Jokinen to the Phoenix Coyotes for a second-round draft pick and defensemen Keith Ballard and Nick Boynton.
2008: First-Round Draft Pick
In 2008, the Florida Panthers gave the Nashville Predators a first-round pick in exchange for Tomas Vokoun.
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 Unveiled
On November 23, 2009, the Florida Panthers unveiled their third jersey, replacing red with powder blue.
2009: Unveiling of Navy Alternate Uniform
In 2009, the Panthers unveiled a navy alternate uniform featuring a roundel crest with a panther head surrounded by the team name, powder blue trim, and the "FLA" sunshine logo on the shoulders.
2009: Introduction of powder blue color
In 2009, the powder blue color was introduced for the first time to the Panthers' uniform.
May 17, 2010: Dale Tallon Hired as General Manager
On May 17, 2010, Dale Tallon was hired as the new general manager for the Florida Panthers.
June 1, 2011: Kevin Dineen Named Head Coach
On June 1, 2011, Kevin Dineen was appointed as the 11th head coach of the Florida Panthers. Additionally, the team introduced a new home jersey featuring a predominantly red design with navy blue sleeves, replacing the navy blue jersey as the main home jersey.
2011: Return to Red Home Uniforms
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.
April 7, 2012: Panthers Win First Division Title
On April 7, 2012, the Florida Panthers secured their first-ever division title in franchise history with a 4–1 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes, ending their decade-long playoff drought.
October 2014: Introduction of Viktor E. Ratt
In October 2014, Viktor E. Ratt, an anthropomorphic rat, was introduced as a mascot, honoring the club's 1996 Stanley Cup Finals run.
December 8, 2015: Panthers Announce New Lease, Logo and Uniforms
On December 8, 2015, the Florida Panthers announced a 13-year lease and $86 million funding agreement with Broward County. They also revealed plans for a new logo and uniforms after the 2015–16 season.
2016: New Logo Unveiled
In 2016, the Panthers unveiled a new primary logo for the 2016–17 season, featuring a shield with the profile of a panther head below the word "Florida."
2016: Overhaul of Visual Design
Prior to the 2016–17 season, the Panthers overhauled their visual design, replacing yellow with flat gold as trim color. Red uniforms featured the shield logo with the team name, while white uniforms used the variation with the state name.
June 12, 2017: Bob Boughner Named Head Coach
On June 12, 2017, Bob Boughner was named as the new head coach for the Florida Panthers.
2017: Playoff Win Record Broken
During their inaugural season in 2017-18, the Vegas Golden Knights broke the Panthers' record for most wins by an expansion team in their first postseason appearance, originally set in 1996.
2017: Adidas Takes Over as Supplier
In 2017, Adidas took over as supplier for the Panthers' uniforms, retaining the basic design from the previous season.
April 7, 2019: Bob Boughner Fired, Joel Quenneville Hired
On April 7, 2019, the Florida Panthers fired Bob Boughner after failing to qualify for the playoffs for the third straight season. The next day, Joel Quenneville was named the 16th head coach of the Panthers.
August 10, 2020: Tallon and Panthers Part Ways
On August 10, 2020, after nine years as general manager, the Panthers and Dale Tallon mutually agreed to part ways following the team's elimination in the 2020 Stanley Cup playoffs.
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: Partnership with Charlotte Checkers
In September 2020, the Panthers partnered with the Charlotte Checkers of the AHL to be their top affiliate.
2020: Playoff Drought
Between 1996 and 2020, the Panthers only qualified for the Stanley Cup playoffs five times, not winning a playoff series in that span.
2020: "Reverse Retro" Alternate Uniform Release
For the 2020–21 season, the Panthers released a "Reverse Retro" alternate uniform, a recoloring of the team's original 1990s "leaping panther" uniform with a navy base and flat gold trim. A second "Reverse Retro" uniform was also unveiled, using the same template but with a powder blue base and the alternate palm tree, sun and stick logo.
2020: Postseason Success
Since the 2020–21 season, the Panthers have found postseason success.
October 28, 2021: Quenneville Resigns as Coach
On October 28, 2021, Joel Quenneville resigned from his coaching duties as a result of the fallout from the 2010 Chicago Blackhawks sexual assault scandal.
April 3, 2022: Panthers Clinch Playoff Berth
On April 3, 2022, the Florida Panthers clinched a playoff berth, becoming the first team to do so during the 2021–22 season. They defeated the Buffalo Sabres at home 5-3, marking their 48th victory of the season and breaking their previous record from 2015–16.
April 21, 2022: Panthers Win Atlantic Division Title
On April 21, 2022, the Florida Panthers secured the Atlantic Division title for the first time since the 2015–16 season, following a 5–2 victory over the Detroit Red Wings. The Panthers also achieved their 12th consecutive win, matching a franchise record set in the 2015-16 season.
June 22, 2022: Paul Maurice Hired as Head Coach
On June 22, 2022, the Florida Panthers hired Paul Maurice to be the franchise's 18th head coach.
2022: ECHL Affiliate
In 2022, the Florida Everblades were the Panthers' ECHL affiliate.
2022: First Playoff Series Win in Two Decades
In 2022, the Florida Panthers won their first playoff series in two decades.
2023: Stanley Cup Finals Appearance
From 2023 to 2025, the Florida Panthers appeared in the Stanley Cup Finals for three straight seasons.
2023: End of Bally Sports Florida's Rightsholding
From its inaugural season through 2023–24, Bally Sports Florida was the regional television rightsholder for all Panthers games not broadcast exclusively by the NHL's national television partners.
2023: ECHL Affiliate
In 2023, the Florida Everblades were the Panthers' ECHL affiliate.
2023: Panthers Defeat Hurricanes in Conference Finals
In 2023, the Panthers defeated the Carolina Hurricanes in the conference finals.
2023: Panthers' Successful Season
In 2023, the Panthers had another successful season despite expectations of regression, with a 52-24-6 record and 110 points. Star center Sam Reinhart scored 57 goals, placing him second in the league. They overtook the Boston Bruins in the last regular season game to win the Atlantic Division crown, their third in franchise history.
June 2024: Affiliation Agreement with Savannah Ghost Pirates
In June 2024, the Panthers announced an affiliation agreement with the Savannah Ghost Pirates of the ECHL.
July 2024: Agreement with E.W. Scripps Company
In July 2024, the Panthers announced a multi-year agreement with the E.W. Scripps Company and its Scripps Sports division to broadcast games, beginning in the 2024–25 season. WSFL-TV in Miami-Fort Lauderdale will serve as the flagship station.
2024: Broadcast Deal with Scripps Sports
In 2024, the Florida Panthers ended their broadcast agreement with Bally Sports Florida and entered into a new broadcast deal with Scripps Sports.
2024: First Stanley Cup in Franchise History
In 2024, the Florida Panthers won their first Stanley Cup in franchise history by defeating the Edmonton Oilers in seven games.
2024: Panthers Win First Stanley Cup
In 2024, the Panthers defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs and Tampa Bay Lightning in the first two rounds of the playoffs. They then won the conference finals against the New York Rangers, advancing to the Stanley Cup Finals for the second straight year. They ultimately defeated the Edmonton Oilers in seven games to win their first Stanley Cup in franchise history.
2024: Panthers Advance to Playoffs Despite Injuries
In 2024, the Panthers placed third in the Atlantic Division and fifth in the Eastern Conference despite injuries to key players like Matthew Tkachuk and Dmitry Kulikov. Aaron Ekblad was suspended for violating the NHL/NHLPA Performance Enhancing Substances Program.
May 31, 2025: Season Update
The Panthers' history was updated on May 31, 2025.
2025: Stanley Cup Finals Appearance
From 2023 to 2025, the Florida Panthers appeared in the Stanley Cup Finals for three straight seasons.
2025: Panthers Clinch Third Consecutive Conference Championship
In 2025, the Panthers won four out of five games against the Toronto Maple Leafs, including decisive 6–1 wins in games 5 and 7 in Toronto. After taking a commanding 3–0 series lead, the Panthers went on to win the series in five games against the Carolina Hurricanes, clinching their third consecutive conference championship and a trip to the 2025 Stanley Cup Finals.
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