The Florida Panthers are an NHL team based in the Miami metropolitan area. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference. The team started at Miami Arena and moved to Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise in 1998. They are the southernmost team in the NHL. Since 1996, their games have aired locally on Bally Sports Florida. They are affiliated with the Charlotte Checkers (AHL) and Florida Everblades (ECHL).
The Panthers joined the NHL in the 1993–94 season and set a points record for an expansion team. They reached the Stanley Cup Finals in 1996 and 2023 but lost both times. Between 1996 and 2020, they only made five playoff appearances and didn’t win a series. Their playoff success returned in 2022 when they won a series for the first time in 26 years. They advanced to the Finals again in 2023.
Who is the Florida Panthers owned by?
The Florida Panthers are owned by Vincent J. Viola, who became the team owner in 2013. He is also Chairman and Governor of Sunrise Sports & Entertainment and Chairman of the Florida Panthers Foundation. Viola is a U.S. Military Academy at West Point graduate and served as an infantry officer in the 101st Airborne Division. He is also a graduate of New York Law School, as per the official website of the NHL.
Viola co-founded Virtu Financial and was Chairman of the New York Mercantile Exchange from 2001 to 2004. He helped reopen NYMEX after the 9/11 attacks and founded the Combating Terrorism Center at West Point.
Since acquiring the Panthers, Viola has led major team success, including the 2021–22 Presidents’ Trophy, the 2022–23 and 2023–24 Prince of Wales Trophies, and the franchise’s first Stanley Cup in 2023–24. He has also invested in hockey growth across South Florida through community programs and the Baptist Health IcePlex.
Read more: Florida Panthers Stanley Cup Wins
What conference are the Panthers in?
The Florida Panthers are in the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League (NHL). They joined the NHL as an expansion team in the 1993–94 season and have been in the Eastern Conference since their inception.
The Florida Panthers' 30-year wait for a Stanley Cup ended in 2024 when they triumphed over the Edmonton Oilers in a historic Game 7, winning 2-1. This victory secured their first-ever Stanley Cup, following a dramatic series where they initially led 3-0 but faced a near-collapse, ultimately managing to win the crucial Game 7 to deny the Oilers and Connor McDavid his first title. This victory marked the Panthers' third appearance in the Stanley Cup Finals, following losses to the Colorado Avalanche in 1996 and the Vegas Golden Knights in 2023.
Read more: Florida Panthers Playoff History
FAQ's On Florida Panthers
A. Bill Zito is the general manager.
A. Paul Maurice is the head coach.
A. Aleksander Barkov is the team captain.
A. Their affiliates are the Charlotte Checkers (AHL) and the Savannah Ghost Pirates (ECHL).
A. The Florida Panthers have won 1 Stanley Cup in the 2023–24 season.
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