NHL
When was the last time the Florida Panthers won the last Stanley Cup?
The Panthers and the Oilers are battling out one of the best NHL finals of the last years with Florida being one game away from winning it all.
The Florida Panthers have been chasing the ultimate prize in professional ice hockey—the Stanley Cup. Despite their relatively short history in the NHL, the Panthers have made significant strides and come tantalizingly close to lifting the coveted trophy, but have yet to win it and maybe this year will be their moment. The series against the Oilers is 3-2 at the moment in favor of Florida.
The Panthers joined the NHL as an expansion team in the 1993-94 season. Under coach Roger Neilson, they quickly established themselves as a competitive force. In just their third season, they reached the Stanley Cup Final—an impressive feat for a young franchise.
The Florida Panthers: A Quest for the Elusive Stanley Cup
In 1996, the Panthers embarked on an improbable playoff run. Led by captain Scott Mellanby, goalie John Vanbiesbrouck, and winger Ray Sheppard, they defeated the Boston Bruins, Philadelphia Flyers, and Pittsburgh Penguins to reach the finals. Facing the Colorado Avalanche, they fought valiantly but ultimately fell short, losing in four games.
Fast forward to 2023. The Panthers surprised everyone with a remarkable postseason performance. Behind the stellar play of goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky and the offensive contributions of Aleksander Barkov and Jonathan Huberdeau, they upset higher-seeded teams. Their journey to the finals captured fans’ hearts, but once again, they couldn’t clinch the Cup, losing to the Vegas Golden Knights.
Despite the near misses, the Panthers remain committed to building a championship-caliber team. Their young core that shows promise. With savvy management and passionate fans, the future looks bright in South Florida.