A PGP Guide to: The Florida Panthers

A PGP Guide to: The Florida Panthers

The Florida Panthers aesthetic is palm trees, plastic rats, South Florida chaos, Matthew Tkachuk chewing on his mouthguard, Sergei Bobrovsky standing on his head, Aleksander Barkov being one of the best players in hockey, and a franchise that spent decades being kind of irrelevant before suddenly becoming the team everyone hated playing. Florida went from having only one Stanley Cup Final appearance during its first 29 seasons to reaching three straight Finals from 2023-25 and winning back to back Stanley Cups in 2024 and 2025, but injuries completely wrecked the 2025-26 season and snapped their playoff streak.

The Basics

Team: Florida Panthers

Conference: Eastern Conference

Division: Atlantic Division

Home Arena: Amerant Bank Arena

Location: Sunrise, Florida

Franchise Founded: 1993

Team Colors: Red, blue, gold and white

Stanley Cups: 2

Stanley Cup Years: 2024, 2025

Stanley Cup Final Appearances: 1996, 2023, 2024, 2025

Biggest Rivals: Tampa Bay Lightning, Boston Bruins, Edmonton Oilers, Toronto Maple Leafs, Vegas Golden Knights

The Panthers are based in Sunrise, not Miami, although they represent the broader South Florida market. They originally played at Miami Arena before moving to their current home in Sunrise in 1998. They are also the southernmost franchise in the NHL, which makes the fact that they have spent the last several years terrorizing Canadian hockey markets particularly funny.

The Origin Story

The Florida Panthers were born during the NHL's early 1990s expansion into nontraditional hockey markets. Businessman Wayne Huizenga was awarded the franchise in 1992, and Florida began playing during the 1993-94 season. The name Panthers was chosen specifically to draw attention to the endangered Florida panther, the state's native big cat.

Their first few seasons were actually surprisingly successful, but Florida missed the playoffs during its first two years. Then came 1995-96 and the rats.

The Vibe Check

The Panthers feel like the NHL's ultimate transformation story. For years, they were basically known as that hockey team in Florida that isn't Tampa, or the team with empty seat jokes. They’re known as the team that had Pavel Bure once and that went to a Stanley Cup Final in 1996 and then vanished.

Now, they're hated, which is kind of the ultimate sign that you've made it. Florida plays an aggressive, irritating, physical style that feels specifically designed to make the opposing team miserable. They forecheck, hit, talk, get under your skin, and make every playoff series personal. They also have approximately 47 players who look like they would happily participate in a scrum after the whistle. This team didn't become a champion by becoming prettier, they became a champion by becoming absolutely awful to play against.

The History You Need to Know

Florida's first major moment came unbelievably early. During the 1995-96 season, the Panthers qualified for the playoffs for the first time in franchise history. Before the season had even really gotten going, forward Scott Mellanby killed a rat in the locker room with his hockey stick before a game, then scored two goals that night. Goalie John Vanbiesbrouck joked that Mellanby had recorded a “rat trick” and fans ran with it. Plastic rats started appearing on the ice after Panthers goals, and suddenly one of the NHL's weirdest traditions was born.

That team then went on an unbelievable playoff run beating Boston, Philadelphia, and a Pittsburgh team led by Mario Lemieux and Jaromir Jagr. The Panthers reached the 1996 Stanley Cup Final in just their third season of existence, where they were swept by the Colorado Avalanche. Then, Florida didn't win another playoff series for 26 years.

Florida had talented players during those decades. Pavel Bure came through, Roberto Luongo became one of the best goalies in hockey, Olli Jokinen became captain, Jonathan Huberdeau, Aleksander Barkov, and Aaron Ekblad arrived, but the franchise just couldn’t turn individual talent into sustained playoff success. From 1997 through 2021, Florida made the playoffs only a handful of times and never escaped the first round, but things started changing.

Bill Zito became general manager in 2020 and began aggressively reshaping the roster. Florida started winning! The Panthers finally won a playoff series again in 2022, defeating Washington, but Tampa Bay swept them in Round 2, so Florida made an enormous decision.

In July 2022, Florida traded franchise star Jonathan Huberdeau, defenseman MacKenzie Weegar, a prospect and a first-round pick to Calgary for Matthew Tkachuk.  Florida barely made the 2023 playoffs, entering as a wild card, immediately facing the Bruins who had cemented themselves as one of the greatest regular season teams in NHL history. Boston went up 3-1, but Florida came back and won. Then Florida beat Toronto and swept Carolina, and suddenly they were back in the Stanley Cup Final for the first time since 1996. The Vegas Golden Knights beat them in five, but unlike 1996 this wasn't the end.

Florida returned the next season even better, beating Tampa Bay, Boston, the Presidents' Trophy-winning New York Rangers, and reached a second straight Stanley Cup Final. This time they faced the Edmonton Oilers where they went up 3-0, but Edmonton put up a fight taking the series to 7 games. Suddenly the Panthers were facing the possibility of becoming only the second team in NHL history to blow a 3-0 lead in the Stanley Cup Final. Regardless, Sam Reinhart scored the eventual Stanley Cup winning goal and after 31 years, the Panthers were Stanley Cup champions.

Then they did it again! Florida returned to the Final for a third consecutive season in 2025 after beating Tampa Bay, Toronto and Carolina. What was their reward? The Oilers, again! This time Florida won in six. Sam Reinhart scored four goals in the Cup clinching Game 6, and Sam Bennett won the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP after leading the postseason with 15 goals. The Panthers became the first team since the 2020-21 Tampa Bay Lightning to repeat as Stanley Cup champions. Florida was officially a dynasty level problem, but disaster was waiting in 2025-26.

The Panthers entered the season trying to become the first team since the early 1980s Islanders to win three consecutive Stanley Cups. Instead, their bodies gave out on them. Aleksander Barkov tore his ACL and MCL during training camp and missed the entire season, Matthew Tkachuk missed the first 47 games while recovering from surgery, Sam Reinhart missed 17, Brad Marchand missed 19, Anton Lundell missed 14, Niko Mikkola missed 14, and by the end of the season, Florida had lost an absurd 541 man games to injury.

After three consecutive Stanley Cup Finals, the Panthers' season ended in April, missing playoffs, but honestly? They probably needed this recovery to come back stronger.

The Icons

Aleksander Barkov

The captain.

Barkov might be the most important Panther ever when you consider both longevity and winning. Florida drafted him 2nd overall in 2013 and he gradually became the franchise's model player. He's elite offensively, but even better defensively. He’s basically the complete opposite personality of Matthew Tkachuk, which somehow makes the partnership work perfectly. Barkov became captain in 2018 and led Florida to both Stanley Cups. He was also the first Finnish born captain in NHL history to lift the Stanley Cup. Barkov holds Florida's franchise records in games, goals, assists and points.

Roberto Luongo

The goalie.

Before the Cups, before the Tkachuks, before this all became a powerhouse, there was Lu. Roberto Luongo spent 11 seasons with Florida across two different stints and became one of the greatest goaltenders in NHL history. He owns Florida's franchise records for goalie games played, wins and shutouts. In 2020, Florida retired his No. 1, making him the first Panthers player ever to have his number retired. He's also still part of the organization as an adviser, so Lu finally got his Stanley Cup ring, just from the front office!

Pavel Bure

The Russian Rocket.

Pavel Bure's Panthers tenure wasn't as long as his Vancouver chapter, but it was ridiculous. Florida acquired him in 1999 and immediately got one of the most exciting goal scorers in hockey. He won back to back Rocket Richard Trophies with the Panthers, even though Florida wasn't especially good around him, because Bure didn’t care, he simply scored.

Scott Mellanby

The original Panther.

More importantly…the rat guy! Mellanby was one of the emotional centers of the 1996 team and will forever be connected to the franchise because of the rat trick story. Without him, there would be no rats!

John Vanbiesbrouck

Beezer.

Vanbiesbrouck was the superstar behind Florida's improbable 1996 run. He posted a .932 save percentage during that postseason and helped drag a third year expansion franchise all the way to the Stanley Cup Final.

Olli Jokinen

Jokinen became the face of Florida during one of the franchise's least successful eras. He served as captain, produced consistently and remains one of the most recognizable Panthers from the 2000s. Unfortunately for him, Florida gave him very little playoff hockey to work with.

Jonathan Huberdeau

Before Matthew Tkachuk, Jonathan Huberdeau looked like he might become Florida's forever superstar. The Panthers drafted him third overall in 2011, he won the Calder Trophy, became one of the franchise's all time leading scorers, and exploded for 115 points in 2021-22. Then Florida traded him and that trade basically divided modern Panthers history into two chapters: B.T. and A.T. (Before Tkachuk and After Tkachuk).

Sergei Bobrovsky

Bob is absolutely an icon now. Bobrovsky became the goalie behind Florida's three consecutive Final appearances and both Stanley Cups. During the 2024 and 2025 championship runs combined, he went 32-15 in the playoffs. His Florida chapter ended in summer 2026 when he signed with Toronto, but with two Cups Bob is permanently part of Panthers history.

The Current Era

Florida missed the playoffs in 2026 and they could’ve decided the window was closing, instead, Bill Zito apparently chose violence by adding Brady Tkachuk. Now, both Tkachuk brothers are on the same team.

Florida acquired Brady from Ottawa on June 21, 2026 for an enormous package – three first-round picks and a second-round pick. Brady had spent his entire NHL career in Ottawa and had been the Senators' captain, now he's playing with Matthew, on the Panthers, a team already infamous for being irritating. I'm sure everyone else is thrilled!

Florida also changed its goalie as Sergei Bobrovsky left for Toronto in free agency. The Panthers acquired Jacob Markstrom from New Jersey and also added Akira Schmid. Additionally, they brought Radko Gudas back, added Lars Eller, Garnet Hathaway, and Alexander Petrovic. Basically, Florida responded to missing the playoffs by making itself even more unpleasant.

The Players You Need to Know

Aleksander Barkov

The captain & heartbeat.

Barkov is still the center of everything. He missed the entirety of last season after tearing his ACL and MCL, but his return changes the entire structure of the lineup. Florida without Barkov went 40-38-4, but Florida with a healthy Barkov won two consecutive Stanley Cups. Obviously there were approximately a million other factors involved, but still, his health might be the single biggest variable for the 2026-27 Panthers.

Matthew Tkachuk

The chaotic superstar.

Matthew Tkachuk changed this franchise. Florida acquired him in 2022 and almost immediately reached three consecutive Stanley Cup Finals. He's skilled enough to be a legitimate superstar while simultaneously being one of the most irritating people in the NHL to play against. He chirps, scores, starts fights, annoyingly chews his mouthguard, and somehow always appears in the middle of whatever nonsense is occurring. He missed more than half of last season while recovering from surgery, which was another major reason Florida never looked fully like itself, but now he's healthy and his younger brother is here. God help the Atlantic Division.

Brady Tkachuk

The new problem.

Florida didn’t acquire Brady to improve the roster. Brady had 59 points in 60 games for Ottawa last season and remains one of the NHL's premier power forwards, because like his brother, he hits, fights, scores, drives the net, generates shots, pisses off the right people, and gets under everyone's skin. 

Sam Reinhart

The goal scorer.

Sam Reinhart became one of the most important offensive players in Florida history after he was acquired from Buffalo. He scored 57 goals during the 2023-24 championship season and scored the Stanley Cup winning goal in Game 7. Then in 2025 he scored four times in the Cup clinching Game 6. Despite Florida's injury ravaged 2025-26 season, Reinhart still led the team with 61 points, making it three straight seasons leading the Panthers in scoring.

Sam Bennett

The playoff demon.

Sam Bennett might have found the most perfect team/player combination imaginable. Calgary drafted him 4th overall in 2014, but it never completely worked until Florida acquired him in 2021. Suddenly everything was perfect. He was physical, aggressive, emotional, and annoying which is exactly what Florida wanted. His real reputation comes from the postseason as he led the 2025 playoffs with 15 goals and won the Conn Smythe Trophy.

Brad Marchand

Wait, he's still here?

Yes! Florida acquired Brad Marchand from Boston at the 2025 trade deadline, then he helped them win another Stanley Cup, so Florida kept him. This situation makes me laugh because Marchand had spent his entire career being the exact type of player Florida was becoming. He fits here disturbingly well.

Carter Verhaeghe

Mr. Clutch.

Verhaeghe came to Florida as a relatively low profile free agent signing in 2020, but now he's one of the greatest playoff goal scorers in franchise history. He scored the overtime winner that eliminated Boston in Game 7 in 2023, scored constantly during the Panthers' playoff runs, and opened the scoring in Florida's Cup clinching Game 7 in 2024.

Gustav Forsling

The waiver claim that became elite.

One of the funniest parts of Florida's roster construction is that one of its best defensemen was literally claimed off waivers. Florida grabbed Gustav Forsling in 2021, now he's one of the league's best shutdown defensemen. He's fast, reliable, excellent in transition, and allows Florida's entire aggressive system to function because he can recover when everyone else decides to cause chaos.

Seth Jones

The veteran star defenseman.

Florida acquired Seth Jones from Chicago during the 2024-25 season and immediately added another huge piece to an already stacked roster. He brings skating, offense and heavy minutes to the Panthers' blue line and was part of the 2025 championship team.

Jacob Markstrom

Bob's replacement.

Replacing Sergei Bobrovsky isn’t a small assignment, but Florida acquired Markstrom from New Jersey in July 2026 for Evan Rodrigues, Jesper Boqvist and Ben Steeves. There's also a fun full-circle element considering Florida originally drafted Markstrom 31st overall in 2008, and he spent his first NHL seasons with the Panthers. More than a decade later, he's back, and now he's being asked to backstop a team trying to win another Cup. No pressure!

The Rivalries

Tampa Bay Lightning

The Battle of Florida.

For years, people outside Florida didn't really take this rivalry seriously, then both teams became elite and everything changed. The Lightning won Stanley Cups in 2020 and 2021, Florida became increasingly competitive, and they started meeting in the playoffs. The games got nasty, the fanbases got louder, and eventually state bragging rights became legitimate NHL bragging rights. Tampa eliminated Florida in 2021 & 2022. Florida finally got revenge in 2024, eliminating the Lightning on the way to its first Cup. Then Florida did it again in 2025 on the way to its second. And yes, everyone hates everyone.

Boston Bruins

This rivalry basically exploded because Florida repeatedly destroyed Boston's emotional wellbeing. The 2023 Bruins were historically good having 135 points, marking the best regular season in NHL history at the time. They went up 3-1 against Florida and lost in game 7 overtime. Florida then eliminated Boston again in 2024, this time in six games. There was fighting, suspensions, Brad Marchand drama, Sam Bennett drama, and genuine hatred. Then, because sports are hilarious, Florida acquired Brad Marchand.

Edmonton Oilers

Two consecutive Stanley Cup Finals will do it. Florida beat Edmonton in 2024, then did it again in 2025. The first one was especially brutal since Edmonton came back from down 3-0, forced game 7, got within 1 goal, but still watched the Panthers lift its first Stanley Cup. Then the Oilers spent an entire year wanting revenge only to lose to Florida again. Edmonton is forever attached to the greatest era in Panthers history.

Toronto Maple Leafs

Florida and Toronto have developed some serious Atlantic Division/postseason tension. Florida eliminated Toronto in 2023 during its Cinderella run. Then the teams met again in 2025 and Toronto went up 2-0 in the series, but Florida came back and eventually walked into Toronto for Game 7 and won 6-1, and now, because hockey enjoys comedy, Sergei Bobrovsky plays for Toronto.

Vegas Golden Knights

This is more scar tissue than active rivalry as Vegas beat Florida in the 2023 Stanley Cup Final. The Golden Knights won in five games, denying Florida its first championship, but that loss is important because it directly preceded the Panthers' back to back Cups. The Panthers basically learned how close they were and came back angrier.

The Fanbase

Panthers fans have had one of the weirdest experiences in hockey. Imagine following a team that reaches the Stanley Cup Final in Year 3, then barely does anything for two decades, then becomes a Presidents' Trophy winner, then loses. Then they become a Cinderella team only to lose in the Final, but then they win the Cup twice in a row, and then miss playoffs entirely. Well, that last part I can relate to as a Kings fan .Now, we have to discuss the rats. Plastic rats are the Panthers' signature tradition. They trace back to Scott Mellanby's literal locker-room rat incident in 1995. During the original Rat Trick era, fans started throwing plastic rats onto the ice after Florida goals. There were so many that the NHL eventually changed enforcement around objects being thrown on the ice. Today, Panthers fans generally save the rats for after wins, particularly in the playoffs.

The Retired Numbers

Florida has three retired numbers, but only one belongs to a former player.

No. 1 — Roberto Luongo

The first player in Panthers history to have his jersey retired. Florida raised No. 1 in 2020 in honor of the franchise's greatest longtime goaltender.

No. 37 — Wayne Huizenga

Florida retired No. 37 to honor founding owner Wayne Huizenga. 

No. 93 — Bill Torrey

The Panthers retired No. 93 to honor longtime executive Bill Torrey, one of the most influential figures in the franchise's creation and early years. Again, 93 references the franchise's inaugural year.

The Team Identity

Florida's current identity might be one of the clearest in the NHL. They want to be difficult, not just talented. Difficult. They forecheck relentlessly, finish hits, crowd the net, defend aggressively, irritate you after whistles, make stars fight for every inch of space, and when the opposing team finally loses its temper? Florida is usually perfectly comfortable there.

Bill Zito has built the roster around players who fit that personality – Matthew Tkachuk, Sam Bennett, Brad Marchand, and now Brady Tkachuk. Then you combine that with Barkov's intelligence, Reinhart's finishing, Verhaeghe's clutch scoring, Forsling's skating and elite defense and you understand why the Panthers became champions.

This new season will be fascinating because last season didn't really prove that the window closed, it just proved that winning three straight Stanley Cups is physically brutal. Now, the captain is back, Matthew is healthy, Brady has arrived, the goalie has changed, the roster has been refreshed, and everyone finally got a summer without playing until mid June which could be very bad news for everybody else.

Why You Should Watch Them

You should watch the Florida Panthers because they’re one of the NHL's current villains. They have two Stanley Cups, two Tkachuks, a captain who might be the best defensive forward of his generation, a Conn Smythe winner in Sam Bennett, a clutch scorer in Sam Reinhart. Also, Brad Marchand somehow wearing a Panthers jersey? Crazy, but not as crazy as the plastic rats. This is a team with one of the league’s best rivalries with Tampa, two straight Cup Final victories over Edmonton, and an organization that apparently saw missing the playoffs and responded with bringing another Tkachuk.

Most importantly, Florida's story isn't really “can they become champions?” anymore, because they already did, twice. The issue here is whether last season was the end of their run or simply the year an exhausted, injured dynasty finally had to stop and recover. Because if Barkov is healthy, Matthew Tkachuk is healthy, Brady Tkachuk fits the way everyone expects, Markstrom holds up in net and the rest of the core looks like itself again, the Panthers are coming to take their throne back.