2007 Florida Panthers

With few offensive weapons, the Florida Panthers were overmatched in the Eastern Conference this season, mustering only 38 wins and 85 points. They were thus unable to get a spot in the NHL playoffs. Captain Olli Jokinen once again served as the Panthers’ linchpin, leading the team in goals, assists, and points. Defenseman Jay Bouwmeester was an important contributor, leading the NHL in total ice time. Despite a lot of struggle with inconsistency, this Panther team set team records both for consecutive wins and total road wins. While this team needs a lot of help, the desire to contend is there – with some reinforcements, we can look forward to a more consistently exciting product on the BankAtlantic Center next season.

Though the 2006-07 season was somewhat disappointing for the Florida Panthers, who finished a lackluster 4th place in the Southeast Division, GM Jacques Martin is determined to improve things for 2007-08. Adding Tomas Vokoun, Richard Zednik, and Radek Dvorak puts the team in an excellent position for a run at the playoffs – but the Panthers will need your support now more than ever. Get your tickets to BankAtlantic Center and watch the Florida Panthers battle their way to the playoffs in 2007-2008!

The Florida Panthers collected 83 points in their inaugural season of 1993-94, the most ever for an NHL expansion team. Under the direction of head coach Doug Maclean, they reached the Stanley Cup Finals in 1996, their third year in the league.

The Panthers, whose home venue is the BankAtlantic Center (previously Office Depot Center), were founded as an NHL expansion franchise in 1993 by H. Wayne Huizenga, the owner of the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League (NFL). William A. Torrey, who had been general manager of the New York Islanders for twenty years, became the Panthers' first president, and Roger Neilson was hired as the team's first head coach.

Florida set expansion team records for most wins and points in the 1993-94 season. Goalie John Vanbiesbrouck, acquired from the New York Rangers, grounded the team's defense; right wing Scott Mellanby, formerly of the Edmonton Oilers, led the offense. Center Brian Skrudland was team captain. Vanbiesbrouck and right wing Bob Kudelski both represented the Panthers in the 1994 NHL All-Star Game.

At the end of the Panthers' second season, Neilson was replaced as head coach by Doug Maclean, formerly of the Detroit Red Wings and the Washington Capitals. In the 1995-96 season the Panthers qualified for the playoffs for the first time. Ed Jovanovski led all first-year NHL defensemen in goals scored. In the 1996 playoffs Florida defeated the Boston Bruins, the Philadelphia Flyers, and the Pittsburgh Penguins to reach the Stanley Cup Finals. The Panthers then lost four straight games to the Colorado Avalanche in the championship round. In 1999 the Panthers acquired center Pavel Bure from the Vancouver Canucks; as part of the trade Jovanovski went to the Canucks.