The 2025–26 Florida Panthers season was the 32nd season for the National Hockey League (NHL) franchise that was established in 1993. The Panthers entered the season as the two-time defending Stanley Cup champions having defeated the Edmonton Oilers in six games in the 2025 Stanley Cup Final.
The Panthers were the subject of criticism after a violent preseason brawl with the Tampa Bay Lightning that resulted in heavy fines and suspensions for Tampa Bay but only a minimal fine for Panthers player A. J. Greer, a disparity that commentators said raised questions about the NHL's disciplinary consistency. The Guardian reported that the episode revived concerns that the league's disciplinary system may favour certain clubs because of personal and institutional connections within NHL administration. The article also highlighted scrutiny of team owner Vincent Viola and minority owner Douglas Cifu over political associations, and a politically-charged social media exchange by Cifu that later resulted in his suspension by the NHL.
The Panthers struggled throughout the season with injuries to key players, including captain Aleksander Barkov missing the entire season after suffering a knee injury in the preseason, and were eliminated from playoff contention on April 4, for the first time since the 2018–19 season, following a loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins, becoming the first defending champion to miss the playoffs since the 2014–15 Los Angeles Kings, and also became the first two-time defending champion to miss the playoffs since the 1969–70 Montreal Canadiens. Coincidentally; the Panthers happened to miss the playoffs outright after three straight trips to the Stanley Cup Final similar to how the Kansas City Chiefs of the NFL missed the playoffs after three straight Super Bowl appearances themselves, marking a rare occurrence of such a circumstance across the sports leagues.
Standings
Divisional standings
Conference standings
Schedule and results
Preseason The preseason schedule was published on June 24, 2025. 2025 preseason game log: 3–4–0 (Home: 2–0–0; Road: 1–4–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Recap 1 September 21 Florida 0–5 Nashville Bussi 5,496 0–1–0 2 September 21 Florida 3–5 Nashville Black 17,059 0–2–0 3 September 24 Florida 4–2 Carolina Tarasov 18,299 1–2–0 4 September 29 Carolina 3–4 Florida OT Bobrovsky 15,895 2–2–0 5 September 30 Florida 2–3 Tampa Bay Bussi 15,334 2–3–0 6 October 2 Florida 2–5 Tampa Bay Tarasov 13,200 2–4–0 7 October 4 Tampa Bay 0–7 Florida Bobrovsky 17,862 3–4–0 Notes: Indicates split-squad. Played at Kia Center in Orlando, Florida.
Regular season The regular season schedule was published on July 16, 2025. 2025–26 game logOctober: 5–5–1 (Home: 4–1–1; Road: 1–4–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 1 October 7 Chicago 2–3 Florida Bobrovsky 19,655 1–0–0 2 2 October 9 Philadelphia 1–2 Florida Bobrovsky 19,431 2–0–0 4 3 October 11 Ottawa 2–6 Florida Bobrovsky 19,704 3–0–0 6 4 October 13 Florida 2–5 Philadelphia Tarasov 19,421 3–1–0 6 5 October 15 Florida 1–4 Detroit Bobrovsky 18,655 3–2–0 6 6 October 16 Florida 1–3 New Jersey Tarasov 16,514 3–3–0 6 7 October 18 Florida 0–3 Buffalo Bobrovsky 16,015 3–4–0 6 8 October 21 Florida 4–3 Boston Bobrovsky 17,850 4–4–0 8 9 October 23 Pittsburgh 5–3 Florida Bobrovsky 19,373 4–5–0 8 10 October 25 Vegas 0–3 Florida Bobrovsky 19,558 5–5–0 10 11 October 28 Anaheim 3–2 Florida SO Tarasov 19,274 5–5–1 11 November: 7–6–0 (Home: 4–4–0; Road: 3–2–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 12 November 1 Dallas 3–4 Florida SO Bobrovsky 19,386 6–5–1 13 13 November 4 Florida 3–7 Anaheim Bobrovsky 14,514 6–6–1 13 14 November 6 Florida 5–2 Los Angeles Bobrovsky 16,909 7–6–1 15 15 November 8 Florida 1–3 San Jose Tarasov 15,895 7–7–1 15 16 November 10 Florida 3–2 Vegas Bobrovsky 17,812 8–7–1 17 17 November 13 Washington 3–6 Florida Tarasov 19,650 9–7–1 19 18 November 15 Tampa Bay 3–1 Florida Bobrovsky 19,894 9–8–1 19 19 November 17 Vancouver 5–8 Florida Bobrovsky 19,260 10–8–1 21 20 November 20 New Jersey 0–1 Florida Bobrovsky 19,473 11–8–1 23 21 November 22 Edmonton 6–3 Florida Bobrovsky 19,534 11–9–1 23 22 November 24 Florida 8–3 Nashville Tarasov 17,431 12–9–1 25 23 November 26 Philadelphia 4–2 Florida Bobrovsky 19,729 12–10–1 25 24 November 28 Calgary 5–3 Florida Tarasov 19,664 12–11–1 25 December: 9–4–2 (Home: 5–3–2; Road: 4–1–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 25 December 2 Toronto 4–1 Florida Bobrovsky 19,268 12–12–1 25 26 December 4 Nashville 2–1 Florida OT Bobrovsky 19,340 12–12–2 26 27 December 6 Columbus 6–7 Florida OT Bobrovsky 19,269 13–12–2 28 28 December 7 NY Islanders 1–4 Florida Tarasov 19,334 14–12–2 30 29 December 10 Florida 4–3 Utah Bobrovsky 12,478 15–12–2 32 30 December 11 Florida 2–6 Colorado Tarasov 18,112 15–13–2 32 31 December 13 Florida 4–0 Dallas Bobrovsky 18,532 16–13–2 34 32 December 15 Florida 5–2 Tampa Bay Bobrovsky 19,092 17–13–2 36 33 December 17 Los Angeles 2–3 Florida Tarasov 19,612 18–13–2 38 34 December 19 Carolina 3–4 Florida SO Bobrovsky 19,217 19–13–2 40 35 December 20 St. Louis 6–2 Florida Tarasov 19,081 19–14–2 40 36 December 23 Florida 5–2 Carolina Bobrovsky 18,318 20–14–2 42 37 December 27 Tampa Bay 4–2 Florida Bobrovsky 19,651 20–15–2 42 38 December 29 Washington 3–5 Florida Bobrovsky 19,421 21–15–2 44 39 December 30 Montreal 3–2 Florida OT Tarasov 19,646 21–15–3 45 January: 7–8–0 (Home: 1–4–0; Road: 6–4–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 40 January 2 NY Rangers 5–1 Florida Bobrovsky 36,153 (outdoors) 21–16–3 45 41 January 4 Colorado 1–2 Florida Tarasov 19,654 22–16–3 47 42 January 6 Florida 1–4 Toronto Bobrovsky 18,911 22–17–3 47 43 January 8 Florida 2–6 Montreal Bobrovsky 20,962 22–18–3 47 44 January 10 Florida 3–2 Ottawa Bobrovsky 17,085 23–18–3 49 45 January 12 Florida 4–3 Buffalo Bobrovsky 16,343 24–18–3 51 46 January 16 Florida 1–9 Carolina Bobrovsky 18,319 24–19–3 51 47 January 17 Florida 5–2 Washington Tarasov 18,347 25–19–3 53 48 January 19 San Jose 4–1 Florida Bobrovsky 19,191 25–20–3 53 49 January 22 Florida 2–1 Winnipeg SO Tarasov 14,106 26–20–3 54 50 January 24 Florida 4–3 Minnesota OT Bobrovsky 19,103 27–20–3 57 51 January 25 Florida 5–1 Chicago Tarasov 19,313 28–20–3 59 52 January 27 Utah 4–3 Florida Bobrovsky 20,073 28–21–3 59 53 January 29 Florida 4–5 St. Louis Tarasov 18,096 28–22–3 59 54 January 31 Winnipeg 2–1 Florida Bobrovsky 19,895 28–23–3 59 February: 2–3–0 (Home: 2–2–0; Road: 0–1–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 55 February 2 Buffalo 5–3 Florida Bobrovsky 19,474 28–24–3 59 56 February 4 Boston 4–5 Florida SO Bobrovsky 18,843 29–24–3 61 57 February 5 Florida 1–6 Tampa Bay Tarasov 19,092 29–25–3 61 58 February 26 Toronto 1–5 Florida Bobrovsky 19,372 30–25–3 63 59 February 27 Buffalo 3–2 Florida Tarasov 19,783 30–26–3 63 March: 6–9–0 (Home: 4–1–0; Road: 2–8–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 60 March 1 Florida 4–5 NY Islanders Bobrovsky 17,255 30–27–3 63 61 March 3 Florida 1–5 New Jersey Bobrovsky 15,080 30–28–3 63 62 March 5 Florida 2–4 Columbus Tarasov 16,669 30–29–3 63 63 March 6 Florida 3–1 Detroit Bobrovsky 19,515 31–29–3 65 64 March 10 Detroit 3–4 Florida Tarasov 19,528 32–29–3 67 65 March 12 Columbus 1–2 Florida OT Bobrovsky 18,686 33–29–3 69 66 March 15 Florida 2–6 Seattle Tarasov 17,151 33–30–3 69 67 March 17 Florida 2–5 Vancouver Bobrovsky 18,355 33–31–3 69 68 March 19 Florida 4–0 Edmonton Bobrovsky 18,347 34–31–3 71 69 March 20 Florida 1–4 Calgary Tarasov 18,272 34–32–3 71 70 March 24 Seattle 4–5 Florida SO Bobrovsky 19,043 35–32–3 73 71 March 26 Minnesota 3–2 Florida Tarasov 18,979 35–33–3 73 72 March 28 Florida 2–5 NY Islanders Tarasov 17,225 35–34–3 73 73 March 29 Florida 1–3 NY Rangers Bobrovsky 17,244 35–35–3 73 74 March 31 Ottawa 3–6 Florida Tarasov 17,672 36–35–3 75 April: 4–3–1 (Home: 3–0–0; Road: 1–3–1) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 75 April 2 Boston 1–2 Florida Bobrovsky 19,823 37–35–3 77 76 April 4 Florida 4–9 Pittsburgh Bobrovsky 18,336 37–36–3 77 77 April 5 Florida 2–5 Pittsburgh Tarasov 17,028 37–37–3 77 78 April 7 Florida 3–4 Montreal SO Tarasov 20,962 37–37–4 78 79 April 9 Florida 1–5 Ottawa Bobrovsky 17,483 37–38–4 78 80 April 11 Florida 6–2 Toronto Tarasov 18,327 38–38–4 80 81 April 13 NY Rangers 2–3 Florida Tarasov 19,707 39–38–4 82 82 April 15 Detroit 1–8 Florida Tarasov 19,403 40–38–4 84 Legend:
Milestones Regular seasonPlayerMilestoneReachedPaul Maurice2,000 NHL Games CoachedMarch 24, 2026
Records
Player statistics Skaters Regular season Player 64 29 32 61 10 76 26 32 58 82 77 25 30 55 32 52 27 27 54 38 64 18 26 44 34 31 13 21 34 48 73 11 22 33 +4 32 78 17 15 32 +14 113 77 12 20 32 30 52 7 25 32 18 69 11 20 31 38 80 2 26 28 51 72 4 22 26 55 54 5 10 15 30 73 4 9 13 16 68 3 8 11 47 62 4 6 10 47 37 4 5 9 26 † 15 6 2 8 +4 2 † 17 3 5 8 16 ‡ 58 0 8 8 22 † 40 0 8 8 63 29 5 2 7 +2 2 18 2 4 6 2 19 3 2 5 4 21 2 2 4 4 19 2 2 4 +1 2 10 0 3 3 +2 7 4 0 3 3 +4 0 3 0 2 2 +3 4 12 1 0 1 6 4 0 1 1 +2 0 4 0 1 1 0 19 0 0 0 10 19 0 0 0 4 6 0 0 0 2
Goaltenders Regular season Player 52 51 3009:39 27 23 1 154 3.07 1250 .877 4 0 2 9 33 31 1905:40 13 15 3 97 3.05 925 .895 0 0 0 0
Transactions The Panthers have been involved in the following transactions during the 2025–26 season.
Key:
Contract is entry-level. Contract initially takes effect in the 2026–27 season.
Trades
Date Details Ref June 28, 2025 To Chicago Blackhawks7th-round pick in 2026 To Florida PanthersBOS 7th-round pick in 2025 (#197 overall) March 5, 2026 To Minnesota WildJeff Petry To Florida Panthersconditional 5th-round pick in 2026or 7th-round pick in 2026 March 6, 2026 To Minnesota WildFuture considerations To Florida PanthersVinnie Hinostroza June 13, 2026 To Pittsburgh PenguinsOliver Okuliar To Florida PanthersEmil Pieniniemi June 21, 2026 To Seattle KrakenMackie Samoskevich To Florida PanthersTBL 1st-round pick in 2026conditionalFlorida will receive the better of Columbus' or Winnipeg's second-round pick in 2027. CBJ 2nd-round pick in 2027or WPG 2nd-round pick in 2027 June 21, 2026 To Ottawa Senators1st-round pick in 2026TBL 1st-round pick in 20262nd-round pick in 2027conditionalOttawa will receive Florida's 1st-round pick in 2029 if it is outside of the top-10; otherwise, Ottawa will receive Florida's first-round pick in 2030. 1st-round pick in 2029or 1st-round pick in 2030 To Florida PanthersBrady Tkachuk June 25, 2026 To Philadelphia Flyers5th-round pick in 20264th-round pick in 2027 To Florida PanthersGarnet Hathaway*Philadelphia retained 50% of Hathaway's contract.6th-round pick in 2026
Players acquired Date Player Former team Term Via Ref Brandon Bussi Boston Bruins 1-year Free agency Nolan Foote New Jersey Devils 1-year Free agency Jeff Petry Detroit Red Wings 1-year Free agency Jack Studnicka Los Angeles Kings 1-year Free agency Luke Kunin Columbus Blue Jackets 1-year Free agency Cole Schwindt Vegas Golden Knights Waivers Noah Gregor San Jose Sharks 1-year Free agency Donovan Sebrango Ottawa Senators Waivers Cole Reinhardt Vegas Golden Knights Waivers
Players lost Date Player New team Term Via Ref Rasmus Asplund HC Davos (NL) 2-year Free agency Kaapo Kahkonen Montreal Canadiens 1-year Free agency Nate Schmidt Utah Mammoth 3-year Free agency Nico Sturm Minnesota Wild 2-year Free agency Vitek Vanecek Utah Mammoth 1-year Free agency Jaycob Megna Vegas Golden Knights 2-year Free agency Matt Kiersted Minnesota Wild 2-year Free agency Zac Dalpe Retirement Brandon Bussi Carolina Hurricanes Waivers
Signings