Is hockey in Florida? Many were skeptical when the NHL awarded an expansion franchise to the Sunshine State back in 1993. However, the Florida Panthers have defied expectations and have become one of the league’s most intriguing success stories. In this blog post, we’ll take a closer look at the Florida Panthers, their history, and their recent success.
History of the Florida Panthers
The Florida Panthers were founded in 1993 as an expansion franchise along with the Anaheim Ducks. The team played its first game on October 6, 1993, against the Chicago Blackhawks, winning 4-3 in front of a sellout crowd at the Miami Arena.
Despite some early struggles, the Panthers made the playoffs in just their third season in 1996, led by captain Scott Mellanby and goalie John Vanbiesbrouck. The team made it all the way to the Stanley Cup Final but ultimately lost to the Colorado Avalanche in a sweep.
The Panthers continued to have some success in the late 1990s and early 2000s, making the playoffs four times between 1999 and 2004. However, the team then went through a long stretch of mediocrity, missing the playoffs for 12 straight seasons from 2001-2012.
Recent Success:
However, in recent years, the Panthers have experienced a resurgence. In the 2019-2020 season, the team finished fourth in the Atlantic Division with a record of 35-26-8, earning a spot in the expanded 24-team playoff format due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Panthers then went on to win their first playoff series in 24 years, defeating the New York Islanders in the qualifying round before losing to the eventual Stanley Cup champions, the Tampa Bay Lightning, in the first round.
The success has continued in the 2020-2021 season, as the Panthers finished second in the Central Division with a record of 37-14-5, earning a spot in the playoffs for the second consecutive year.
Key Players:
The Panthers have a talented roster, led by captain Aleksander Barkov, who has emerged as one of the best two-way centers in the NHL. Other key players include winger Jonathan Huberdeau, defenseman Aaron Ekblad, and goalie Sergei Bobrovsky.
The team also added some key pieces in the offseason, including defenseman Markus Nutivaara and forwards Patric Hornqvist and Carter Verhaeghe.
The Florida Panthers have come a long way since their early days as an expansion franchise. With a talented roster, a dedicated fan base, and a commitment to winning, the Panthers have become one of the NHL’s most surprising success stories. As the team continues to build and grow, it will be exciting to see what the future holds for hockey in the Sunshine State.
Facts The Florida Panthers
- The Florida Panthers are a professional ice hockey team based in Sunrise, Florida.
- The team was founded in 1993 as an expansion franchise.
- The Panthers play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League (NHL).
- The team’s home arena is the BB&T Center, which has a capacity of 19,250.
- The team’s colors are red, navy blue, gold, and white.
- The Panthers have made the playoffs 6 times in their history, including 2 consecutive appearances in the 2019-2020 and 2020-2021 seasons.
- The team’s first playoff appearance came in the 1995-1996 season when they reached the Stanley Cup Finals but lost to the Colorado Avalanche.
- The Panthers’ mascot is a panther named “Stanley C. Panther.”
- The team is owned by Vincent J. Viola and Douglas A. Cifu.
- The Panthers have retired two numbers in their history: #93 in honor of the year the team was founded and #1 in honor of former goaltender John Vanbiesbrouck.
- The Panthers’ all-time leading scorer is Olli Jokinen, who tallied 419 points in 567 games with the team.
- The team’s all-time leading goal scorer is Pavel Bure, who scored 152 goals in 223 games with the Panthers.
- The Panthers’ current head coach is Joel Quenneville, who won three Stanley Cups as head coach of the Chicago Blackhawks.
- The team’s current captain is Aleksander Barkov, who was selected second overall by the Panthers in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft.
- The Panthers’ starting goalie is Sergei Bobrovsky, a two-time Vezina Trophy winner.
- The team has made a number of notable trades in recent years, including acquiring Jonathan Huberdeau in the first round of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft and trading for defenseman Aaron Ekblad in 2014.
- The Panthers have a strong rivalry with the Tampa Bay Lightning, with the two teams playing in the “Battle of Florida.”
- The team’s longest winning streak is 12 games, which they accomplished during the 2015-2016 season.
- The Panthers’ longest playoff run came in the 1995-1996 season when they reached the Stanley Cup Finals.
- The team’s current alternate captain is Aaron Ekblad.
- The Panthers’ first-ever draft pick was Rob Niedermayer, who was selected fifth overall in the 1993 NHL Entry Draft.
- The Panthers’ largest margin of victory came in a 7-0 win over the Atlanta Thrashers in 2006.
- The team has had a number of notable players in its history, including Roberto Luongo, Scott Mellanby, and Ed Jovanovski.
- The Panthers’ longest-serving captain is Brian Skrudland, who served as captain from 1993 to 1997.
- The team has had three head coaches in its history who have won the Jack Adams Award, which is given to the NHL’s best coach: Doug MacLean, Jacques Martin, and Joel Quenneville.
- The Panthers have had a number of alternate captains in their history, including Scott Mellanby, Bill Lindsay, and Ed Jovanovski.
- The team’s longest-serving player is Radek Dvorak, who played 613 games with the Panthers over the course of 10 seasons.
- The Panthers have had a number of different logos and uniforms throughout their history, with their current design debuting in 2016
Why are they called the Florida Panthers?
The Florida Panthers are named after the Florida Panther, which is a subspecies of cougar that is native to the southern part of the state. The Florida Panther is an endangered species, and the hockey team chose the name to help raise awareness about the animal and its plight. The team’s logo features a stylized panther head, which has become an iconic symbol for the team and for the state of Florida. The Florida Panthers were one of two NHL expansion teams added in 1993, along with the Anaheim Ducks.
What are the two NHL teams in Florida?
The two NHL teams in Florida are the Florida Panthers and the Tampa Bay Lightning. The Florida Panthers are based in Sunrise, Florida, which is located in the southern part of the state near Miami. The Tampa Bay Lightning is based in Tampa, Florida, which is located in the central part of the state on the Gulf Coast. Both teams were added to the NHL as expansion teams in 1992 and 1993, respectively, and have been playing in the league ever since.
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