Florida Panthers
Southernmost NHL team, two-time Stanley Cup champion.
The Florida Panthers are a professional ice hockey team in the National Hockey League (NHL), competing in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference. Based in the Miami metropolitan area, they are the southernmost franchise in the league and one of two NHL teams in Florida, the other being the Tampa Bay Lightning. The team initially played at Miami Arena before relocating in 1998 to what is now called Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, Florida. From 1996 to 2024, local broadcasting rights were held by Bally Sports Florida (formerly SportsChannel and Fox Sports Florida), after which a new deal was made with Scripps Sports. The Panthers are affiliated with two minor league teams: the Charlotte Checkers of the American Hockey League (AHL) and the Savannah Ghost Pirates of the ECHL.
The Panthers began play in the 1993–94 season, setting a record for the most points by an expansion team in its first season, a mark later surpassed by the Vegas Golden Knights in 2017–18. In 1996, the team made its first Stanley Cup playoff appearance, reaching the 1996 Stanley Cup Final before losing to the Colorado Avalanche. Between 1997 and 2021, the Panthers qualified for the playoffs only six times and did not win a single playoff series during that stretch. Starting with the 2021–22 season, the team found significant postseason success, winning its first playoff series in two decades in 2022. The Panthers then appeared in the Stanley Cup Final for three consecutive seasons from 2023 to 2025, capturing their first championship in 2024 and repeating as champions in 2025.
**History**
**Early years (1992–2000)** On December 10, 1992, Blockbuster Video magnate Wayne Huizenga was awarded an NHL franchise for Miami, the same day the Walt Disney Company received rights to start a team in Anaheim that became the Mighty Ducks. At the time, Huizenga owned the newly founded Florida Marlins of Major League Baseball (MLB) and a share of the NFL's Miami Dolphins. The entry fee was $50 million. Huizenga announced the team would play at Miami Arena, sharing the building with the NBA's Miami Heat, until a new arena was built.
- Founded
- 1993–94 season
- Home arena
- Amerant Bank Arena (since 1998)
- Division
- Atlantic Division, Eastern Conference
- Stanley cup titles
- 2 (2024, 2025)
- Stanley cup final appearances
- 4 (1996, 2023, 2024, 2025)
- Minor league affiliates
- Charlotte Checkers (AHL), Savannah Ghost Pirates (ECHL)
- Local broadcast partner
- Scripps Sports (since 2024)
Lore & Background
The Panthers began play in the 1993–94 season, setting a record for most points by an expansion team in its inaugural season, later surpassed by the Vegas Golden Knights. The team's first major stars included goaltender John Vanbiesbrouck, rookie Rob Niedermayer, and forward Scott Mellanby. In 1996, the Panthers made their first Stanley Cup playoffs appearance, reaching the Stanley Cup Final before falling to the Colorado Avalanche. Between 1997 and 2021, the Panthers qualified for the playoffs only six times and did not win a playoff series in that span.
Since the 2021–22 season, the Panthers have found considerable postseason success. They won their first playoff series in two decades in 2022, and appeared in the Stanley Cup Final for three straight seasons from 2023 to 2025, winning their first Stanley Cup in franchise history in 2024 and repeating as champions in 2025. The team's local broadcasting rights were held by Bally Sports Florida from 1996 to 2024, when a new deal with Scripps Sports began.
Reader's Guide
The Florida Panthers' significance lies in their transformation from an expansion team that set early records to a modern dynasty. Their 1996 Stanley Cup Final run, fueled by the 'rat trick' celebration and a trap defense, captured national attention despite a sweep by the Colorado Avalanche. After a long period of limited playoff success, the Panthers emerged as a powerhouse in the 2020s, winning their first Stanley Cup in 2024 and repeating in 2025. The franchise is notable for being the southernmost team in the NHL and for its role in expanding hockey into non-traditional markets. Their legacy includes setting the record for most wins by an expansion team in their first postseason appearance (12 victories), a mark later broken by the Vegas Golden Knights. The team's name honors the endangered Florida panther, and the franchise has maintained a financial commitment to panther preservation since its inception.
Did You Know?
- The 'rat trick' celebration originated when Scott Mellanby killed a rat in the locker room and then scored two goals.
- The Panthers won their first Stanley Cup in 2024 and repeated as champions in 2025.
- The team is named for the Florida panther, an endangered species endemic to the Everglades.
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