Florida Panthers

Table of Contents

References & Edit History Quick Facts & Related Topics

Images

Florida Panthers

American hockey team

Written by Adam Augustyn

Fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last Updated: Jun 12, 2025 • Article History

Quick Facts

Awards And Honors:: Stanley Cup (2024)

Date:: 1993 - present

Areas Of Involvement:: ice hockey

Related People:: Joel Quenneville; Jaromir Jagr

See all related content

News •

Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce attend Game 4 of Stanley Cup Final between Panthers and Oilers • June 12, 2025, 10:42 PM ET (AP)

Oilers rally in 2nd period, go to 3rd tied 3-3 with Panthers in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final • June 12, 2025, 10:22 PM ET (AP)

Oilers' penalty woes and composure issues lead to blowout loss and put them in precarious spot • June 10, 2025, 5:00 PM ET (AP)

Brad Marchand embraces Panthers' rat-throwing tradition, which goes back 30 years • June 10, 2025, 3:08 PM ET (AP)

From a massive hit to a breakaway goal: Sam Bennett's unforgettable moment in the Stanley Cup Final • June 10, 2025, 12:21 AM ET (AP)

Florida Panthers, American professional ice hockey team based in Sunrise, Florida (near Fort Lauderdale), that plays in the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League (NHL). The Panthers won the Stanley Cup in 2024.

Early years

The team was founded in 1993 and took its name from the endangered Florida panther (Puma concolor couguar). Unlike most expansion teams, the Panthers were immediately competitive, coming within one win of qualifying for the playoffs in each of their first two seasons. In 1995–96 the team, led by the standout goaltending of John Vanbiesbrouck, earned a postseason berth and proceeded to upset two higher seeds in the Eastern Conference en route to the Stanley Cup finals, in which they were swept by the Colorado Avalanche. The Panthers returned to the playoffs the following season but were eliminated in the first round of the postseason.

Struggles

The team next qualified for the playoffs in 1999–2000, when it once again lost in its opening series. The Panthers then entered into a long postseason drought between 2000–01 and 2010–11 that saw the team finish between third and fifth place in its division over the span. In 2011–12 Florida rebounded to capture the first division title in franchise history, but it lost its opening playoff series to the New Jersey Devils. Amid these disappointments the team’s ownership changed multiple times, and the Panthers struggled in attract fans to fill its arena. During the following lockout-shortened season, the Panthers posted the worst record in the NHL (15–27–6). Florida rebounded to capture another division title in 2015–16, but the team was upset in the first round of the playoffs. The Panthers’ improvement turned out to be short-lived, as the team subsequently returned to posting middling records and finishing out of playoff contention. Florida did not qualify again for the playoffs until the 2020–21 season, which was shortened because of the COVID-19 pandemic, but the team lost in the first round.

Serena Williams poses with the Daphne Akhurst Trophy after winning the Women's Singles final against Venus Williams of the United States on day 13 of the 2017 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 28, 2017 in Melbourne, Australia. (tennis, sports)

Britannica Quiz

Great Moments in Sports Quiz

Stanley Cup finals and title

In 2021–22 Florida set franchise records with 58 wins and 122 points to capture the Presidents’ Trophy as the league’s best regular-season team. However, the team was swept out of the following playoffs in the second round. The Panthers again qualified for the postseason after the 2022–23 season, where they faced the Boston Bruins—which had set an NHL record with 65 wins during the regular season—in the first round. After falling behind in the series 3–1, the Panthers then went on one of the hottest streaks in NHL playoff history, winning the next three games to eliminate the Bruins and then losing just one more game over their next two postseason series to advance to the Stanley Cup finals. There, the team lost a five-game series to the Vegas Golden Knights.

The Panthers built on that strong playoff performance in the 2023–24 season and finished first in their division. In the postseason the team’s aggressive offense and smothering defense took the Panthers back to the Stanley Cup finals, where they faced the Edmonton Oilers. In a thrilling seven-game series Florida took a 3–0 lead before the Oilers stormed back with three victories of their own. In the deciding game seven the Panthers prevailed, winning the franchise’s first championship.

Florida sought to defend its title in the 2024–25 season. The team again qualified for the playoffs, and for the third consecutive season, the Panthers reached the Stanley Cup finals.

Adam Augustyn The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica

National Hockey League

Table of Contents

Introduction References & Edit History Quick Facts & Related Topics

Images

National Hockey League

Also known as: NHL

Written and fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last Updated: May 7, 2025 • Article History

Quick Facts

Date:: 1917 - present

Areas Of Involvement:: ice hockey; professionalism; Stanley Cup

Related People:: Sidney Crosby; Alex Ovechkin; Wayne Gretzky; Jaromir Jagr; Martin Brodeur

See all related content

News •

Winnipeg's Connor Hellebuyck is 6th goalie in NHL history to win Hart and Vezina in the same year • June 12, 2025, 7:16 PM ET (AP)

Colorado's Cale Makar wins Norris Trophy as league's top defenseman for 2nd time in 4 seasons • June 11, 2025, 12:31 PM ET (AP)

Brad Marchand embraces Panthers' rat-throwing tradition, which goes back 30 years • June 10, 2025, 3:08 PM ET (AP)

A.J. Greer makes his Stanley Cup Final debut for the Florida Panthers in Game 3 • June 9, 2025, 8:43 PM ET (AP)

T.J. Oshie, US Olympic star in Sochi and Capitals Stanley Cup champion, announces he's retiring • June 9, 2025, 8:26 PM ET (AP)

National Hockey League (NHL), organization of professional ice hockey teams in North America, formed in 1917 by four Canadian teams, to which the first U.S. team, the Boston Bruins, was added in 1924. The National Hockey League (NHL) became the strongest league in North America and in 1926 took permanent possession of the Stanley Cup, a trophy representing world supremacy in ice hockey. Headquarters are in New York City.

League membership rose to 10, then dropped, and held steady at six from 1942 to 1967. (Those teams—the Bruins, Chicago Blackhawks, Detroit Red Wings, Montreal Canadiens, New York Rangers, and Toronto Maple Leafs—are referred to as the “Original Six,” and that era has been celebrated by the hockey press and fans for generations.) After various periods of expansion and reorganization, the NHL now consists of 32 teams in two conferences and four divisions.

Eastern Conference

Atlantic Division: Boston Bruins, Buffalo Sabres, Detroit Red Wings, Florida Panthers, Montreal Canadiens, Ottawa Senators, Tampa Bay Lightning, Toronto Maple Leafs
Metropolitan Division: Carolina Hurricanes, Columbus Blue Jackets, New Jersey Devils, New York Islanders, New York Rangers, Philadelphia Flyers, Pittsburgh Penguins, Washington Capitals

Western Conference

Central Division: Chicago Blackhawks, Colorado Avalanche, Dallas Stars, Minnesota Wild, Nashville Predators, St. Louis Blues, Utah Mammoth, Winnipeg Jets
Pacific Division: Anaheim Ducks, Calgary Flames, Edmonton Oilers, Los Angeles Kings, San Jose Sharks, Seattle Kraken, Vancouver Canucks, Vegas Golden Knights

At the end of the league’s regular season, eight teams from each conference—the top three teams in each division and two wild-card teams with the best remaining records, regardless of divisional affiliation—qualify for the playoffs. The champions of each conference then compete in a best-of-seven series for possession of the Stanley Cup.

The table provides a list of Stanley Cup champions.

The Stanley Cup
season	winner	runner-up	games
*Though Victoria defeated Quebec in challenge games, Victoria's win was not officially recognized.
**Series called because of flu epidemic.
1892–93	Montreal Amateur Athletic Association
1893–94	Montreal Amateur Athletic Association
1894–95	Montreal Victorias
1895–96	Winnipeg Victorias (Feb.)
1895–96	Montreal Victorias (Dec.)
1896–97	Montreal Victorias
1897–98	Montreal Victorias
1898–99	Montreal Shamrocks
1899–1900	Montreal Shamrocks
1900–01	Winnipeg Victorias
1901–02	Montreal Amateur Athletic Association
1902–03	Ottawa Silver Seven
1903–04	Ottawa Silver Seven
1904–05	Ottawa Silver Seven
1905–06	Montreal Wanderers
1906–07	Kenora Thistles (Jan.)
1906–07	Montreal Wanderers (March)
1907–08	Montreal Wanderers
1908–09	Ottawa Senators
1909–10	Montreal Wanderers
1910–11	Ottawa Senators
1911–12	Quebec Bulldogs
1912–13*	Quebec Bulldogs
1913–14	Toronto Blueshirts
1914–15	Vancouver Millionaires
1915–16	Montreal Canadiens
1916–17	Seattle Metropolitans
1917–18	Toronto Arenas	Vancouver Millionaires	3–2
1918–19	no decision**
1919–20	Ottawa Senators	Seattle Metropolitans	3–2
1920–21	Ottawa Senators	Vancouver Millionaires	3–2
1921–22	Toronto St. Pats	Vancouver Millionaires	3–2
1922–23	Ottawa Senators	Edmonton	2–0
1923–24	Montreal Canadiens	Calgary	2–0
1924–25	Victoria Cougars	Montreal Canadiens	3–1
1925–26	Montreal Maroons	Victoria Cougars	3–1
1926–27	Ottawa Senators	Boston Bruins	2–0
1927–28	New York Rangers	Montreal Maroons	3–2
1928–29	Boston Bruins	New York Rangers	2–0
1929–30	Montreal Canadiens	Boston Bruins	2–0
1930–31	Montreal Canadiens	Chicago Black Hawks	3–2
1931–32	Toronto Maple Leafs	New York Rangers	3–0
1932–33	New York Rangers	Toronto Maple Leafs	3–1
1933–34	Chicago Black Hawks	Detroit Red Wings	3–1
1934–35	Montreal Maroons	Toronto Maple Leafs	3–0
1935–36	Detroit Red Wings	Toronto Maple Leafs	3–1
1936–37	Detroit Red Wings	New York Rangers	3–2
1937–38	Chicago Black Hawks	Toronto Maple Leafs	3–1
1938–39	Boston Bruins	Toronto Maple Leafs	4–1
1939–40	New York Rangers	Toronto Maple Leafs	4–2
1940–41	Boston Bruins	Detroit Red Wings	4–0
1941–42	Toronto Maple Leafs	Detroit Red Wings	4–3
1942–43	Detroit Red Wings	Boston Bruins	4–0
1943–44	Montreal Canadiens	Chicago Black Hawks	4–0
1944–45	Toronto Maple Leafs	Detroit Red Wings	4–3
1945–46	Montreal Canadiens	Boston Bruins	4–1
1946–47	Toronto Maple Leafs	Montreal Canadiens	4–2
1947–48	Toronto Maple Leafs	Detroit Red Wings	4–0
1948–49	Toronto Maple Leafs	Detroit Red Wings	4–0
1949–50	Detroit Red Wings	New York Rangers	4–3
1950–51	Toronto Maple Leafs	Montreal Canadiens	4–1
1951–52	Detroit Red Wings	Montreal Canadiens	4–0
1952–53	Montreal Canadiens	Boston Bruins	4–1
1953–54	Detroit Red Wings	Montreal Canadiens	4–3
1954–55	Detroit Red Wings	Montreal Canadiens	4–3
1955–56	Montreal Canadiens	Detroit Red Wings	4–1
1956–57	Montreal Canadiens	Boston Bruins	4–1
1957–58	Montreal Canadiens	Boston Bruins	4–2
1958–59	Montreal Canadiens	Toronto Maple Leafs	4–1
1959–60	Montreal Canadiens	Toronto Maple Leafs	4–0
1960–61	Chicago Black Hawks	Detroit Red Wings	4–2
1961–62	Toronto Maple Leafs	Chicago Black Hawks	4–2
1962–63	Toronto Maple Leafs	Detroit Red Wings	4–1
1963–64	Toronto Maple Leafs	Detroit Red Wings	4–3
1964–65	Montreal Canadiens	Chicago Black Hawks	4–3
1965–66	Montreal Canadiens	Detroit Red Wings	4–2
1966–67	Toronto Maple Leafs	Montreal Canadiens	4–2
1967–68	Montreal Canadiens	St. Louis Blues	4–0
1968–69	Montreal Canadiens	St. Louis Blues	4–0
1969–70	Boston Bruins	St. Louis Blues	4–0
1970–71	Montreal Canadiens	Chicago Black Hawks	4–3
1971–72	Boston Bruins	New York Rangers	4–2
1972–73	Montreal Canadiens	Chicago Black Hawks	4–2
1973–74	Philadelphia Flyers	Boston Bruins	4–2
1974–75	Philadelphia Flyers	Buffalo Sabres	4–2
1975–76	Montreal Canadiens	Philadelphia Flyers	4–0
1976–77	Montreal Canadiens	Boston Bruins	4–0
1977–78	Montreal Canadiens	Boston Bruins	4–2
1978–79	Montreal Canadiens	New York Rangers	4–1
1979–80	New York Islanders	Philadelphia Flyers	4–2
1980–81	New York Islanders	Minnesota North Stars	4–1
1981–82	New York Islanders	Vancouver Canucks	4–0
1982–83	New York Islanders	Edmonton Oilers	4–0
1983–84	Edmonton Oilers	New York Islanders	4–1
1984–85	Edmonton Oilers	Philadelphia Flyers	4–1
1985–86	Montreal Canadiens	Calgary Flames	4–1
1986–87	Edmonton Oilers	Philadelphia Flyers	4–3
1987–88	Edmonton Oilers	Boston Bruins	4–0
1988–89	Calgary Flames	Montreal Canadiens	4–2
1989–90	Edmonton Oilers	Boston Bruins	4–1
1990–91	Pittsburgh Penguins	Minnesota North Stars	4–2
1991–92	Pittsburgh Penguins	Chicago Blackhawks	4–0
1992–93	Montreal Canadiens	Los Angeles Kings	4–1
1993–94	New York Rangers	Vancouver Canucks	4–3
1994–95	New Jersey Devils	Detroit Red Wings	4–0
1995–96	Colorado Avalanche	Florida Panthers	4–0
1996–97	Detroit Red Wings	Philadelphia Flyers	4–0
1997–98	Detroit Red Wings	Washington Capitals	4–0
1998–99	Dallas Stars	Buffalo Sabres	4–2
1999–2000	New Jersey Devils	Dallas Stars	4–2
2000–01	Colorado Avalanche	New Jersey Devils	4–3
2001–02	Detroit Red Wings	Carolina Hurricanes	4–1
2002–03	New Jersey Devils	Anaheim Mighty Ducks	4–3
2003–04	Tampa Bay Lightning	Calgary Flames	4–3
2004–05	canceled due to labour dispute
2005–06	Carolina Hurricanes	Edmonton Oilers	4–3
2006–07	Anaheim Ducks	Ottawa Senators	4–1
2007–08	Detroit Red Wings	Pittsburgh Penguins	4–2
2008–09	Pittsburgh Penguins	Detroit Red Wings	4–3
2009–10	Chicago Blackhawks	Philadelphia Flyers	4–2
2010–11	Boston Bruins	Vancouver Canucks	4–3
2011–12	Los Angeles Kings	New Jersey Devils	4–2
2012–13	Chicago Blackhawks	Boston Bruins	4–2
2013–14	Los Angeles Kings	New York Rangers	4–1
2014–15	Chicago Blackhawks	Tampa Bay Lightning	4–2
2015–16	Pittsburgh Penguins	San Jose Sharks	4–2
2016–17	Pittsburgh Penguins	Nashville Predators	4–2
2017–18	Washington Capitals	Vegas Golden Knights	4–1
2018–19	St. Louis Blues	Boston Bruins	4–3
2019–20	Tampa Bay Lightning	Dallas Stars	4–2
2020–21	Tampa Bay Lightning	Montreal Canadiens	4–1
2021–22	Colorado Avalanche	Tampa Bay Lightning	4–2
2022–23	Vegas Golden Knights	Florida Panthers	4–1
2023–24	Florida Panthers	Edmonton Oilers	4–3

The Editors of Encyclopaedia BritannicaThis article was most recently revised and updated by Will Gosner.