Ed Jovanovski was selected first overall by the Panthers in the 1994 NHL Entry Draft. He was awarded the Babe Pratt Trophy as the team's best defenceman three consecutive years before being traded to the Vancouver Canucks in a seven-player deal involving Pavel Bure.
Bill Torrey served as president of the Florida Panthers from their inception in 1993 until his retirement in 2001, acquiring young talent that included Rob Niedermayer, Ed Jovanovski, Radek Dvorak, and Rhett Warrener. On October 23, 2010, the Panthers honored Torrey by retiring the number 93 and raising a banner in his honor to the rafters. The 93 represents the year (1993) when the Panthers franchise was incorporated into the NHL.
In 1999-2000, his first full season as a Panther, Pavel Bure led the league in goal-scoring to capture his first of two consecutive Rocket Richard Trophies with a 58-goal season. It marked the second time Bure led the league in goal scoring, but his first Rocket Richard Trophy as the award had been introduced the previous season.
On October 9, 2016, Derek MacKenzie was named the ninth captain in Panthers' history, replacing Willie Mitchell. On September 17, 2018, MacKenzie was removed as captain and replaced by Aleksander Barkov. After playing only one game that season, he retired in the offseason and was named an assistant coach for the Panthers on June 4, 2019.
On February 10, 2008, in game against the Buffalo Sabres, Zednik survived a gruesome and life-threatening injury when the skate of teammate Olli Jokinen accidentally sliced his carotid artery. Zednik missed the remainder of the season, but eventually recovered and was able to resume his career.
On November 26, 1997, the Panthers defeated the Boston Bruins at home by a score of 10-5. Veteran forward Ray Sheppard had a hat trick in the game.
Mark Parrish made his debut with the Panthers in 1998-99 and established himself as an effective power forward, scoring 24 goals in his rookie campaign, including 5 game-winners.
On February 18, 2019, Florida center Aleksander Barkov scored one of the best goals of the season in a 6-3 win against the Montreal Canadiens. With Canadiens defenseman Victor Mete hanging on his back, Barkov managed to put the puck through his legs and loft it over Carey Price for the goal.
Ray Whitney was given the nickname "The Wizard" for his passing and playmaking skills. In 1997-98, he scored 32 goals for the Panthers on 156 shots for a shooting percentage of 20.5%.
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