The 2018–19 Florida Panthers season was the 25th season for the National Hockey League (NHL) franchise that was established on June 14, 1993. The Panthers were eliminated from playoff contention for the third year in a row for the first time since the 2012–13 season and the 2014–15 season on March 26, 2019, after losing 6–1 to the Montreal Canadiens. This was also the final season for Roberto Luongo, who announced his retirement on June 26, 2019, after playing 19 seasons in the NHL. This would be the last season in which the Panthers did not qualify for the Stanley Cup Playoffs until 2025-26.

Standings

Schedule and results

Preseason The preseason schedule was published on June 14, 2018. 2018 preseason game log: 3–4–0 (Home: 0–3–0; Road: 3–1–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Recap 1 September 17 Nashville 5–0 Florida Hutchinson 5,806 0–1–0 Recap 2 September 17 Nashville 5–3 Florida Montembeault 7,671 0–2–0 Recap 3 September 19 Florida 5–2 Montreal Luongo 19,691 1–2–0 Recap 4 September 22 Florida 4–3 Dallas OT Reimer — 2–2–0 Recap 5 September 25 Florida 3–2 Tampa Bay Reimer 11,485 3–2–0 Recap 6 September 27 Florida 2–6 Tampa Bay Luongo — 3–3–0 Recap 7 September 29 Tampa Bay 3–2 Florida Luongo 10,487 3–4–0 RecapNotes: Game was played at BOK Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Game was played at Amway Center in Orlando, Florida.

Regular season The regular season schedule was released on June 21, 2018. 2018–19 game logOctober: 2–4–3 (Home: 0–2–1; Road: 2–2–2) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 1 October 6 Florida 1–2 Tampa Bay SO Reimer 19,092 0–0–1 1 Recap 2 October 11 Columbus 5–4 Florida Reimer 14,394 0–1–1 1 Recap 3 October 13 Vancouver 3–2 Florida Reimer 11,953 0–2–1 1 Recap 4 October 16 Florida 5–6 Philadelphia SO Hutchinson 19,038 0–2–2 2 Recap 5 October 19 Florida 6–5 Washington SO Hutchinson 18,506 1–2–2 4 Recap 6 October 20 Detroit 4–3 Florida OT Hutchinson 14,534 1–2–3 5 Recap 7 October 23 Florida 2–5 NY Rangers Hutchinson 17,016 1–3–3 5 Recap 8 October 24 Florida 3–2 NY Islanders OT Reimer 9,743 2–3–3 7 Recap 9 October 27 Florida 2–3 New Jersey Reimer 15,927 2–4–3 7 RecapNovember: 8–6–1 (Home: 5–2–1; Road: 3–4–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 10 November 1 Winnipeg 4–2 Florida Reimer 13,490 2–5–3 7 Recap 11 November 2 Florida 4–2 Winnipeg Luongo 13,490 3–5–3 9 Recap 12 November 8 Edmonton 1–4 Florida Luongo 11,484 4–5–3 11 Recap 13 November 10 NY Islanders 2–4 Florida Luongo 11,947 5–5–3 13 Recap 14 November 11 Ottawa 1–5 Florida Reimer 11,192 6–5–3 15 Recap 15 November 13 Florida 2–1 Philadelphia Luongo 19,147 7–5–3 17 Recap 16 November 15 Florida 3–7 Columbus Luongo 14,872 7–6–3 17 Recap 17 November 17 Florida 2–4 NY Rangers Luongo 18,006 7–7–3 17 Recap 18 November 19 Florida 7–5 Ottawa Reimer 11,750 8–7–3 19 Recap 19 November 21 Florida 3–7 Tampa Bay Luongo 19,092 8–8–3 19 Recap 20 November 23 Florida 1–4 Carolina Reimer 13,226 8–9–3 19 Recap 21 November 24 Chicago 5–4 Florida OT Reimer 14,283 8–9–4 20 Recap 22 November 26 New Jersey 3–4 Florida OT Reimer 9,456 9–9–4 22 Recap 23 November 28 Anaheim 3–2 Florida Reimer 9,078 9–10–4 22 Recap 24 November 30 Buffalo 2–3 Florida OT Reimer 12,179 10–10–4 24 RecapDecember: 7–5–2 (Home: 3–2–2; Road: 4–3–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 25 December 1 Tampa Bay 5–4 Florida OT Reimer 12,361 10–10–5 25 Recap 26 December 4 Boston 0–5 Florida Luongo 12,058 11–10–5 27 Recap 27 December 6 Colorado 5–2 Florida Luongo 10,077 11–11–5 27 Recap 28 December 8 NY Rangers 5–4 Florida SO Luongo 15,295 11–11–6 28 Recap 29 December 11 Florida 3–4 St. Louis Luongo 16,255 11–12–6 28 Recap 30 December 13 Florida 1–5 Minnesota Reimer 18,714 11–13–6 28 Recap 31 December 15 Toronto 3–4 Florida OT Luongo 14,177 12–13–6 30 Recap 32 December 18 Florida 5–2 Buffalo Luongo 17,602 13–13–6 32 Recap 33 December 20 Florida 1–6 Toronto Luongo 19,329 13–14–6 32 Recap 34 December 22 Florida 2–1 Detroit Luongo 19,515 14–14–6 34 Recap 35 December 23 Florida 6–3 Chicago Reimer 21,789 15–14–6 36 Recap 36 December 28 Montreal 5–3 Florida Luongo 19,512 15–15–6 36 Recap 37 December 29 Philadelphia 1–2 Florida Reimer 15,737 16–15–6 38 Recap 38 December 31 Florida 4–3 Detroit SO Reimer 19,515 17–15–6 40 Recap January: 3–5–2 (Home: 2–0–1; Road: 1–5–1) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 39 January 3 Florida 3–4 Buffalo Luongo 18,551 17–16–6 40 Recap 40 January 5 Columbus 4–3 Florida OT Reimer 15,213 17–16–7 41 Recap 41 January 8 Florida 1–5 Pittsburgh Luongo 18,526 17–17–7 41 Recap 42 January 10 Florida 3–4 Edmonton SO Reimer 18,347 17–17–8 42 Recap 43 January 11 Florida 3–4 Calgary Luongo 18,579 17–18–8 42 Recap 44 January 13 Florida 1–5 Vancouver Luongo 18,610 17–19–8 42 Recap 45 January 15 Florida 1–5 Montreal Reimer 20,576 17–20–8 42 Recap 46 January 18 Toronto 1–3 Florida Luongo 16,741 18–20–8 44 Recap 47 January 19 Florida 4–2 Nashville Reimer 17,716 19–20–8 46 Recap 48 January 21 San Jose 2–6 Florida Luongo 14,014 20–20–8 48 RecapFebruary: 8–5–2 (Home: 6–5–0; Road: 2–0–2) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 49 February 1 Nashville 4–1 Florida Luongo 13,158 20–21–8 48 Recap 50 February 2 Vegas 1–3 Florida Reimer 15,202 21–21–8 50 Recap 51 February 5 St. Louis 3–2 Florida Reimer 10,243 21–22–8 50 Recap 52 February 7 Pittsburgh 2–3 Florida OT Luongo 14,712 22–22–8 52 Recap 53 February 9 Florida 5–4 Washington OT Luongo 18,506 23–22–8 54 Recap 54 February 10 Tampa Bay 5–2 Florida Reimer 13,566 23–23–8 54 Recap 55 February 12 Dallas 3–0 Florida Luongo 9,472 23–24–8 54 Recap 56 February 14 Calgary 2–3 Florida SO Reimer 10,198 24–24–8 56 Recap 57 February 17 Montreal 3–6 Florida Reimer 16,212 25–24–8 58 Recap 58 February 19 Buffalo 2–4 Florida Reimer 10,340 26–24–8 60 Recap 59 February 21 Carolina 4–3 Florida Reimer 10,750 26–25–8 60 Recap 60 February 23 Los Angeles 1–6 Florida Luongo 14,290 27–25–8 62 Recap 61 February 25 Florida 4–3 Colorado OT Luongo 14,338 28–25–8 64 Recap 62 February 26 Florida 3–4 Arizona SO Luongo 11,912 28–25–9 65 Recap 63 February 28 Florida 5–6 Vegas SO Luongo 18,281 28–25–10 66 RecapMarch: 7–7–2 (Home: 3–2–1; Road: 4–5–1) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 64 March 2 Carolina 4–3 Florida OT Montembeault 13,923 28–25–11 67 Recap 65 March 3 Ottawa 3–2 Florida Luongo 11,752 28–26–11 67 Recap 66 March 5 Florida 2–3 Pittsburgh OT Luongo 18,484 28–26–12 68 Recap 67 March 7 Florida 3–4 Boston Luongo 17,565 28–27–12 68 Recap 68 March 8 Minnesota 2–6 Florida Montembeault 12,388 29–27–12 70 Recap 69 March 10 Detroit 1–6 Florida Montembeault 15,238 30–27–12 72 Recap 70 March 14 Florida 4–2 San Jose Montembeault 17,388 31–27–12 74 Recap 71 March 16 Florida 4–3 Los Angeles Montembeault 18,022 32–27–12 76 Recap 72 March 17 Florida 2–3 Anaheim Montembeault 16,523 32–28–12 76 Recap 73 March 19 Florida 2–4 Dallas Montembeault 17,654 32–29–12 76 Recap 74 March 21 Arizona 2–4 Florida Luongo 12,576 33–29–12 78 Recap 75 March 23 Boston 7–3 Florida Montembeault 17,129 33–30–12 78 Recap 76 March 25 Florida 5–7 Toronto Luongo 19,125 33–31–12 78 Recap 77 March 26 Florida 1–6 Montreal Reimer 21,029 33–32–12 78 Recap 78 March 28 Florida 5–2 Ottawa Luongo 14,230 34–32–12 80 Recap 79 March 30 Florida 4–1 Boston Luongo 17,565 35–32–12 82 Recap April: 1–0–2 (Home: 1–0–2; Road: 0–0–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 80 April 1 Washington 3–5 Florida Luongo 14,376 36–32–12 84 Recap 81 April 4 NY Islanders 2–1 Florida SO Montembeault 13,775 36–32–13 85 Recap 82 April 6 New Jersey 4–3 Florida OT Luongo 15,259 36–32–14 86 Recap Legend:

Note: Game was played at Hartwall Arena in Helsinki, Finland.

Player statistics As of April 6, 2019

Skaters Regular season Player 82 35 61 96 −3 8 82 30 62 92 −14 40 82 36 34 70 −24 30 82 28 42 70 −6 8 82 9 53 62 −17 50 81 24 15 39 −10 38 82 13 24 37 1 47 55 10 24 34 −9 54 75 8 19 27 −24 44 75 12 9 21 −6 47 ‡ 46 8 10 18 −9 18 50 8 10 18 −14 4 50 7 9 16 −10 14 59 5 10 15 −2 15 64 4 11 15 −3 64 42 7 5 12 −8 16 ‡ 32 5 7 12 2 16 70 1 10 11 −1 26 31 3 7 10 0 8 † 33 2 8 10 −2 4 ‡ 32 0 8 8 −3 12 19 4 3 7 −5 6 40 0 6 6 −7 6 †‡ 10 1 3 4 −6 2 ‡ 24 1 2 3 −2 30 19 1 1 2 −2 8 37 1 1 2 −3 28 2 1 0 1 1 0 ‡ 26 0 1 1 −8 24 †‡ 1 0 0 0 −1 2 7 0 0 0 −2 5 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 −3 0 1 0 0 0 0 2 1 0 0 0 1 0

Goaltenders Regular season Player 43 40 2,346:38 18 16 5 122 3.12 1,205 .899 1 0 1 0 36 29 1,805:11 13 12 5 93 3.09 929 .900 0 0 0 0 11 10 591:24 4 3 2 30 3.04 282 .894 0 0 1 0 ‡ 4 3 201:14 1 1 2 14 4.17 87 .839 0 0 0 0 †Denotes player spent time with another team before joining the Panthers. Stats reflect time with the Panthers only. ‡Denotes player was traded mid-season. Stats reflect time with the Panthers only.Bold/italics denotes franchise record.

Transactions The Panthers have been involved in the following transactions during the 2018–19 season.

Trades Date Details Ref To Nashville Predators3rd-round pick in 2019To Florida Panthers3rd-round pick in 2018 To Toronto Maple LeafsMichael HutchinsonTo Florida Panthers5th-round pick in 2020 To Edmonton OilersAlex PetrovicTo Florida PanthersChris WidemanConditional 3rd-round pick in 2019 To Pittsburgh PenguinsNick BjugstadJared McCannTo Florida PanthersDerick BrassardRiley Sheahan2nd-round pick in 20194th-round pick in 2019MIN 4th-round pick in 2019 To San Jose SharksFuture considerationsTo Florida PanthersVincent Praplan To Carolina HurricanesFuture considerationsTo Florida PanthersCliff Pu To Colorado AvalancheDerick BrassardConditional 6th-round pick in 2020To Florida Panthers3rd-round pick in 2020 To Pittsburgh PenguinsChris WidemanTo Florida PanthersJean-Sebastien Dea To Winnipeg JetsBogdan KiselevichTo Florida Panthers7th-round pick in 2021

Free agents Date Player Team Contract term Ref Connor Brickley to Nashville Predators 1-year Alexandre Grenier to Laval Rocket (AHL) 1-year Michael Hutchinson from Winnipeg Jets 1-year Harri Sateri to Detroit Red Wings 1-year Jacob MacDonald from Binghamton Devils (AHL) 2-year Paul Thompson from Vegas Golden Knights 2-year Curtis Valk to Barys Astana (KHL) 1-year Ed Wittchow to KooKoo (Liiga) 1-year Julian Melchiori from Winnipeg Jets 1-year Troy Brouwer from Calgary Flames 1-year Gregory Chase to Wichita Thunder (ECHL) 1-year Chris Driedger from Springfield Thunderbirds (AHL) 1-year Brady Keeper from Maine Black Bears (Hockey East) 2-year Ludvig Bystrom to Oulun Kärpät (Liiga) 2-year Henrik Haapala to Jokerit (Liiga) 2-year Vincent Praplan to SC Bern (NL) 4-year Rodrigo Abols from Örebro HK (SHL) 2-year

Waivers Date Player Team Ref Micheal Haley to San Jose Sharks

Contract terminations Date Player Via Ref

Retirement Date Player Ref Radim Vrbata

Signings Date Player Contract term Ref Frank Vatrano 1-year Jared McCann 2-year Alex Petrovic 1-year MacKenzie Weegar 1-year Frank Vatrano 3-year Serron Noel 3-year Ryan Bednard 2-year Chris Driedger 2-year Aleksi Heponiemi 3-year

Draft picks

Below are the Florida Panthers' selections at the 2018 NHL entry draft, which was held on June 22 and 23, 2018, at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas.

Round # Player Pos Nationality College/Junior/Club team (League)115 Grigori Denisenko LW Loko Yaroslavl (MHL)2341 Serron Noel RW Oshawa Generals (OHL)3892 Logan Hutsko RW Boston College (Hockey East)6170 Justin Schutz LW Red Bull Hockey Akademie (Czech U18)7201 Cole Krygier D Lincoln Stars (USHL)72073 Santtu Kinnunen D Pelicans U20 (Nuorten SM-liiga) Notes: The Arizona Coyotes' second-round pick went to the Florida Panthers as the result of a trade on August 25, 2016, that sent Dave Bolland and Lawson Crouse to Arizona in exchange for a third-round pick in 2017 and this pick (being conditional at the time of the trade).