Florida Panthers is an ice hockey team based in Miami metropolitan area. It was founded 1993 and it is the southernmost team in the NHL. They played their home games at BB&T Center in Florida. Florida Panthers is a member of Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference.

Team History

Florida Panthers started playing at NHL in the 1993-94 season. First two seasons they did not qualify to the NHL-playoffs, but surprisingly their third season (1995-96) they went all through the NHL Finals against Colorado Avalanche. Florida Panthers lose Finals 4-0, but it still stays biggest achievement of the franchise history. After nearly perfect season Florida Panthers have qualified only four times to the playoffs. Through the history of team, Florida Panthers have suffered low amount of spectators in attendance and general disinteresting of ice hockey in Miami metropolitan area.

Florida Panthers’ Owners and Staff

Currently, the General Manager of New York Islanders is Dale Tallon. The current head coach Joel Quenneville was appointed to his position in 2019. The team is owned by company called Sunrise Sports and Entertainment. Florida Panther have one minor league affiliate – Springfield Thunderbirds in AHL league.

Olli Jokinen – all-time scoring leader

Florida Panthers have short history as a NHL-team and when we talked about former players, we first bring out Finnish Olli Jokinen. When Jokinen started his Panthers career at 2000-01 he did not get along with head coach Terry Murray. After Panthers changed their coach to Mike Keenan at season 2002-03, Jokinen started to improved his game quickly and finished season with team-leading 65 points. After that Jokinen was five consecutive season Panthers best at points. Jokinen played 7 seasons as a Panther and then he was traded to Phoenix. Olli Jokinen played 567 games in Panthers and made 419 points.

Roberto Luongo – star goalie

Goalie Roberto Luongo played long career, he was actually traded to Florida Panthers first at season 2000-01. He played 6 seasons with Panthers and then 8 seasons with Vancouver Canucks (2006-14). Luongo was traded back to the Florida Panthers 2014 and he continued playing rest of his career there – Luongo retired 2019. Luongo was one of the top goalies at NHL which never win Stanley Cup. He played 1044 NHL games during his career.

Jonathan Huberdeau and Aleksander Barkov – current stars

Florida Panthers have last qualified NHL-playoffs at season 2015-16. Team has been underachieved strongly, but it still have some quality players in roster. Aleksander Barkov is currently serving as captain of Panthers. Barkov has been key part of team many years, he made 96 points during season 2018-19 and won Lady Byng Memorial Trophy same year. Jonathan Huberdau won Calder Trophy as a rookie of the year 2013. After that Huberdau have steadily came one of the best players of current Panthers. He made alongside Barkov 92 points during season 2018-19 and these two guys are key players for next NHL-seasons and race to the long waited playoffs.