The Florida Panthers, a professional ice hockey team situated in the Miami metropolitan area, compete in the National Hockey League as part of the Atlantic Division in the Eastern Conference. They initially played home games at Miami Arena before relocating to the Amerant Bank Arena in 1998, located in Sunrise, Florida and have since won three division championships alongside a conference championship and a Presidents' Trophy each. The Panthers also maintain affiliations with minor league teams such as the Charlotte Checkers of the American Hockey League (AHL) and the Florida Everblades of the ECHL. Moreover, as of 2024, the team boasts great talents such as Aleksander Barkov, Sam Bennett, Aaron Ekblad, Nick Cousins, Matthew Tkachuk, Vladimir Tarasenko and Kyle Okposo among others.
Debuting in the 1993–94 NHL season, the Panthers swiftly made an impact by setting a record for the most points by an expansion team in its inaugural season, a feat later surpassed by the Vegas Golden Knights in 2017–18. While they have appeared twice in the Stanley Cup Finals, first in 1996 (losing to the Colorado Avalanche) and then in 2023 (losing to the Vegas Golden Knights), playoff success was sporadic until recent years. From 1996 to 2020, the Panthers qualified for the Stanley Cup playoffs only five times, failing to win a playoff series in that duration. However, a resurgence began in the 2020–21 season with the team clinching their first playoff series (since 1997) in 2022.
Who is the Florida Panthers owned by?
The Florida Panthers are owned by Vincent J. Viola, who serves as the Chairman, Owner, and Governor of Sunrise Sports & Entertainment and the Florida Panthers in the National Hockey League (NHL). Additionally, Viola is a Brooklyn native and graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and New York Law School. He is also known for his role as Co-Founder and Chairman Emeritus of Virtu Financial. According to Forbes, Vincent Viola has an estimated net worth $390 million as of 2024.
Since purchasing the Panthers franchise in 2013, Viola has spearheaded initiatives to elevate the team's performance on the ice, as evidenced by their Presidents' Trophy win in 2021-22 and Prince of Wales Trophy win in 2022-23. Under his leadership, the Panthers Foundation has also expanded its mission to include support for veterans, education, conservation efforts, and youth hockey programs.
Remarkably, Viola also served as an infantry officer in the 101st Airborne Division and also served as the Chairman of the New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX) from 2001-04. Furthermore, he founded the Combating Terrorism Center at West Point and was the recipient of the Financial Innovation Award from the Museum of American Finance as the Co-Founder and Chairman Emeritus of Virtu Financial.
What conference are the Florida Panthers in?
The Florida Panthers are part of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League (NHL), where they compete against formidable opponents such as the Tampa Bay Lightning, Boston Bruins, Toronto Maple Leafs, and other notable teams.
In addition to their achievements on the ice, the Florida Panthers have garnered recognition through various awards and trophies in the National Hockey League (NHL). Notable among these accolades is the Prince of Wales Trophy, which the Panthers have claimed twice in their history, during the 1995–96 season and again in 2022–23. Individual player accomplishments have also contributed to the team's legacy, with Pavel Bure winning the Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy in consecutive seasons (1999–2000, 2000–01), the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy been claimed by Brian Campbell (2011–12) and Aleksander Barkov (2018–19). Other notable achievements include the Calder Memorial Trophy, earned by Jonathan Huberdeau (2012–13) and Aaron Ekblad (2014–15).
Jaromir Jagr's recognition with the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy in 2015–16 and Aleksander Barkov's achievement of the Frank J. Selke Trophy in 2020–21 further highlight the Panthers' contributions to the league's honors. Moreover, the team's outstanding performance in the regular season led to the prestigious Presidents' Trophy in the 2021–22 season.
Read more About Florida Panthers Playoff History
