Florida Panthers

The Florida Panthers are a National Hockey League (NHL) team, based in Miami, Florida and playing in the suburb of Sunrise.

Franchise history

Blockbuster Video magnate Wayne Huizenga was awarded an NHL franchise for his native Miami in 1992. The team played at the Miami Arena, and its first major stars were New York Rangers goalie castoff John Vanbiesbrouck, rookie Rob Niedermayer, and Scott Mellanby, who scored 30 goals. They had one of the most successful first seasons of any expansion team, finishing one point below .500 and narrowly missing out on the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

Related Topics:
Blockbuster Video - Wayne Huizenga - 1992 - Miami Arena - New York Rangers - Goalie - John Vanbiesbrouck - Rob Niedermayer - Scott Mellanby

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After missing another close brush with the playoffs in 1994-95, coach Roger Neilson was fired and replaced by Doug MacLean. They then acquired Ray Sheppard from the San Jose Sharks on the trade deadline in 1996 and they looked towards the playoffs for the first time.

Related Topics:
1994-95 - Roger Neilson - Doug MacLean - Ray Sheppard - San Jose Sharks - 1996

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The 1996 playoffs were a dream for the Panthers. They upset the Boston Bruins, Philadelphia Flyers and Pittsburgh Penguins to reach the Stanley Cup finals. South Florida was euphoric. Against Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, series comebacks were part of the astonishment.

Related Topics:
Boston Bruins - Philadelphia Flyers - Pittsburgh Penguins - Stanley Cup

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It came to an end in the Stanley Cup finals though. Their opponents, the Colorado Avalanche, would sweep the Panthers on Uwe Krupp's third-overtime goal in game 4. The next season, a team ravaged by injuries would lose to the New York Rangers on the first round. More injuries caused the team to have their worst record to that point in 1997-98.

Related Topics:
Colorado Avalanche - Uwe Krupp - New York Rangers - 1997-98

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The Panthers moved into the National Car Rental Center (now known as BankAtlantic Center) in 1998, the new arena being the result of bickering and threatening to move the team. In 1999, they acquired Pavel Bure (the "Russian Rocket"), in a blockbuster trade with the Vancouver Canucks. They would reach the playoffs again in 2000 riding on his 58 goals, losing in the first round to the eventual Stanley Cup Champion New Jersey Devils.

Related Topics:
BankAtlantic Center - 1999 - Pavel Bure - Vancouver Canucks - 2000 - New Jersey Devils

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The team slumped in the 2000-01 NHL season despite a 59 goal season from Bure. The following season, 2001-02, the Panthers would have their worst record ever. Bure struggled despite being reunited with his brother Valeri, and was traded to the New York Rangers on the 2002 trading deadline.

Related Topics:
2000-01 NHL season - 2001-02 - Valeri - New York Rangers

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