Hockey.

Panthers head coach Paul Maurice is here to stay.

What happened on the ice on the night of June 24 was something that the Florida Panthers will never forget.

The Cats with another celebration of their greatest season ever.

Sam Reinhart scored the game-clinching goal in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final and now the Florida Panthers are keeping him home.

Sam Reinhart missed the Florida Panthers’ championship parade.

Paul Maurice was once the last player picked in the NHL draft. An afterthought, almost. He never made it to the league as a player. And there were many times when he wondered if his name would ever be on the Stanley Cup. Wonder no more.

The Panthers received a big honor on Saturday.

The Florida Panthers have promoted the man who built this current roster.

Florida Panthers general manager Bill Zito is a thinker and a problem solver.

The defending Stanley Cup champion Vegas Golden Knights acquired Tomas Hertl from San Jose in what so far stands as the biggest deal made on the final day of NHL trading.

Evan Rodrigues tied a career-best with four points, Aleksander Barkov scored a goal off a crazy rebound to break a third-period tie and the Florida Panthers beat the Dallas Stars 5-4 on Wednesday night.

The Florida Panthers have extended the contract of one of young, up-and-coming forwards.

The Florida Panthers are anticipating being without some players when this coming season opens, and general manager Bill Zito filled in the projected voids in free agency.

One of the best known Panthers players in on the move.

On Wednesday, the NHL announced the three finalists for the 2023 Jim Gregory General Manager of the Year Award.

The Florida Panthers are bound to get calls about Eetu Luostarinen ahead of the Trade Deadline.

The Florida Panthers made a move on Tuesday to solidify the team’s goaltending for years to come.

The newest bench boss of the Florida Panthers has been a head coach in the NHL for quite a while.

Just when you thought the Panthers were done making moves, they go and pull off one of the biggest trades the league has seen in years. Florida acquired Matthew Tkachuk from Calgary in exchange for Jonathan Huberdeau, MacKenzie Weegar, Cole Schwindt and a first-round pick.

The Florida Panthers could have maintained the status quo this summer after posting the NHL’s best record.

The Florida Panthers roster, and the entire NHL really, received a major shakeup with the news that Florid was trading for exciting young forward Matthew Tkchauk.

Matthew Tkachuk is being traded to the Florida Panthers, part of a blockbuster that sends Jonathan Huberdeau to the Calgary Flames in a swap of players who are each coming off the best season of their respective careers,.

The NHL’s annual free agency frenzy will begin on Wednesday at Noon ET.

It's an exciting time around the NHL as the new league year is fast approaching.

Florida Panthers GM Bill Zito introduced new head coach Paul Maurice during a press conference at FLA Live Arena on Thursday.

Paul Maurice’s journey toward becoming the new coach of the Florida Panthers included a fortuitous flick of the remote control, plus was aided by a college admissions department.

The Florida Panthers are going all in.

The Panthers have one of the deepest rosters in the NHL but they're looking for another big piece ahead of the playoffs.

The NHL will emerge from an extended holiday break with taxi squads and other roster revisions to guard against more disruptions to the season.

Episode 42 of the Chirping the Cats podcast takes a dive into the Florida Panthers 2021-22 Opening Night roster, breaking down the first set of expected lines and pairings put together by head coach Joel Quenneville.

On Sunday the Panthers acquired defenseman Olli Juolevi from the Vancouver Canucks in exchange for forward Juho Lammikko and defenseman Noah Juulsen.

Aleksander Barkov and the Florida Panthers have agreed on an $80 million, eight-year contract extension with an annual cap hit of $10 million.

Local 10 News has confirmed that Barkov and the Panthers have agreed on a maximum eight-year extension with an average annual value (AAV) of $10 million.

Panthers Captain Sasha Barkov is entering the final year of a 6-year deal that paid him an average annual value (AAV) of $5.9 million.

On Wednesday, Florida Panthers General Manager Bill Zito released the team's roster for its annual development camp, and also announced that the Panthers youngsters would be participating in a four-team tournament right after the camp concludes.

The former first overall pick and veteran of over 1,600 NHL games said it was "an easy decision" to sign with Florida.

Joe Thornton’s pursuit of the elusive Stanley Cup is bringing him to the Florida Panthers.

The Panthers made a massive splash at the NHL Draft, acquiring elite scoring forward Sam Renihart from the Buffalo Sabres.

On Episode 35 of the Chirping the Cats podcast, host David Dwork takes a look at the Panthers offseason, from a busy couple of days during the NHL Draft to a flurry of moves that saw general manager Bill Zito double down on a lot of the additions he made last offseason.

In addition to locking up gritty scoring forward Sam Bennett to a long-term contract, the Panthers also signed young defensemen Noah Juulsen and Lucas Carlsson to one-year, two-way deals on Monday.

The Florida Panthers have signed restricted free agent forward Sam Bennett to a $17.7 million, four-year contract.

Friday night was the opening round of the 2021 NHL Draft, and over the course of the evening the Florida Panthers took steps toward not only improving the team's long-term outlook, but its immediate future as well.

Between the Expansion Draft, free agency and the Entry Draft, it's been a busy summer for Panthers General Manager Bill Zito.

Florida Panthers General Manger Bill Zito hit the offseason ground running, making several moves Thursday that should positively impact the team for the foreseeable future.

Lundell, who will turn 20 in early October, is expected to take part in the Panthers training camp later this summer and compete for a spot on the Opening Night roster.

The reason this year was a success goes back to when Bill Zito was first introduced as the Panthers new GM last September.

Episode 33 of the Chirping the Cats podcast examines the moves made by Florida Panthers GM Bill Zito around the NHL Trade Deadline.

In Gusev, the Panthers are adding a dynamic forward looking for a fresh start after a two-season stint with the New Jersey Devils.

Montour is playing in his fifth season after being selected in the second round of the 2014 NHL Draft by Anaheim.

It appears that Panthers General Manager Bill Zito could be clearing up some salary cap space ahead of the Monday 3 p.m. trade deadline.

Spencer Knight poses for a portrait after being selected thirteenth overall by the Florida Panthers during the first round of the 2019 NHL Draft at Rogers Arena on June 21, 2019 in Vancouver, Canada. SUNRISE, Fla. – The Florida Panthers just took a big step in solidifying the franchise’s goaltending situation for years to come. On Wednesday, Florida signed 2019 first-round pick Spencer Knight to a three-year, entry-level contract. “We are thrilled to have agreed to terms on a contract with Spencer,” Panthers General Manager Bill Zito said in a statement released by the team. And of course, with Knight under contract, there is still a possibility that he could suit up for a Panthers game.

Aaron Ekblad of the Florida Panthers skates against the Tampa Bay Lightning at the BB&T Center on February 13, 2021 in Sunrise, Florida. SUNRISE, Fla. – The Florida Panthers are going to be without one of their most relied upon players for the remainder of the season. Defenseman Aaron Ekblad is expected to miss 12 weeks after having successful surgery to repair a fracture in his left leg, the team announced Monday. The 2014 first overall pick came down awkwardly and instantly began screaming in pain and grabbing for his left leg. Panthers head coach Joel Quenneville indicated as much after the game, saying he thought Ekblad would miss an “extensive” amount of time.

SUNRISE, Fla. – On Episode 32 of Chirping the Cats, host David Dwork is joined by Florida Panthers radio play-by-play voice Doug Plagens. Dave and Doug discuss into the current state of the team, how well the team has meshed both on and off the ice and give credit to first year general manager Bill Zito for bringing in players who instantly have fit into head coach Joel Quenneville’s systems. They also chat about Doug’s love for the game of baseball and his affinity for ballpark road trips, how he got started as a broadcaster and also the time-honored tradition of collecting sports cards, something both Doug and David have enjoyed doing for much of their lives. SUBSCRIBE TO THE CTC PODCAST - iOS | Android

Carter Verhaeghe of the Florida Panthers controls the puck during the game against the Columbus Blue Jackets at Nationwide Arena on January 26, 2021 in Columbus, Ohio. That’s what the Florida Panthers just pulled off, following Sunday’s 3-2 win over the Detroit Red Wings at Little Caesars Arena in the Motor City. It gave the Panthers a 5-0-1 record through the team’s first six games, which signifies the best six-game start to any new season in franchise history. It’s been clear from the beginning of training camp that there was something different about this version of the Panthers. He’s been part of two playoff teams, an Atlantic Division title and the best season in Panthers history, which included a franchise-best 12 game winning streak.

(Stu Forster/Pool via AP)The Latest on the effects of the coronavirus outbreak on sports around the world:___The seventh-ranked Arizona women’s basketball game at Washington scheduled for Friday has been postponed due to COVID-19 issues within the Huskies program. ___The Patriot League men’s basketball games between American and Lehigh scheduled for Saturday and Sunday have been postponed due to a positive COVID-19 test within the American men’s basketball program’s Tier 1 personnel. 3 UConn women's basketball team has had another game postponed because of coronavirus-related issues. The switch gives St. Pete promoters hope that more spectators will be permitted to attend the popular street festival as pandemic restrictions loosen. That move opened room on the schedule for St. Pete to request a later race date.

Players in the Roster Expectations group are guys who are the most likely to be on the Panthers roster at some point this season, if not the whole way. It will be a big disappointment, and kind of shocking to be honest, if Tippett is not on the Panthers roster straight out of training camp. Stillman may have had a leg up on guys like Chase Priskie and Brady Keeper last summer but expect more of an open competition for that seventh defenseman spot during training camp. Samuel Montembeault –Monty will enter training camp as the third goalie in line, behind Sergei Bobrovsky and Chris Driedger, following a very up-and-down 2019-20 season. Eetu Loustarinen – After coming to the Panthers from Carolina in the Vincent Trocheck trade, Loustarinen opened some eyes during the bubble training camp and postseason in Toronto.

Anthony Duclair of the Ottawa Senators skates against the Detroit Red Wings at Little Caesars Arena on January 10, 2020 in Detroit, Michigan. Florida signed speedy winger Anthony Duclair to a one-year deal, adding some scoring pop to the Panthers forward ranks. The contract is reportedly worth $1.7 million, which sure seems like a bargain for a guy who has averaged 21 goals over the past two seasons. “He possesses tremendous speed and goal scoring ability and earned an opportunity to be named an NHL All-Star last season. The Blue Jackets signed Duclair during the summer of 2018 to a prove-it deal, and he responded by flashing the skills he’s continued developing, but on a much more consistent basis.

Today the team named former NHL tough guy Shane Churla as Director of Amateur Scouting. “Shane is an experienced and talented addition for our organization in the scouting department,” Zito said in a statement released by the team. Shane Churla of the Montreal Canadiens and Rick Dudley of the Carolina Hurricanes attend the first round of the 2018 NHL Draft at American Airlines Center on June 22, 2018 in Dallas, Texas. (Getty Images)For the past seven seasons, Churla has worked with the Montreal Canadiens scouting department. He spent the past four as Director of Amateur Scouting, and three as Chief of Amateur Scouting.

SUNRISE, Fla. – Florida Panthers first year General Manager Bill Zito has made another addition to his front office. On Tuesday the team announced the hiring of Brett Peterson, naming him Assistant General Manager. “I’m very excited for this opportunity with the Panthers and with Bill’s growing front office team,” Peterson said in a statement released by the team. “There are many who can excel in one of those disciplines, but few who excel in all three.”According to the Panthers, Peterson will have an active role in the Florida Panthers Foundation’s community-based programs. In their release, the Panthers indicated that you would have an active role in the Florida Panthers Foundations and in community-based programs.

SUNRISE, Fla. – MacKenzie Weegar wanted to stay in South Florida. Bill Zito wanted to keep Weegar in a Florida Panthers sweater. Zito and the Panthers have signed Weegar, a restricted free agent, to a three-year contract extension, avoiding an arbitration hearing scheduled for Sunday, Nov. 8. Aaron Ekblad and MacKenzie Weegar of the Florida Panthers. (Getty Images)“I think he’s a wonderful player,” Zito said of Weegar when speaking to the media in early October.

“I’ve said this on a number of different occasions, but it was sort of baptism by fire,” Zito said Wednesday. When I asked how the process of moving from Ohio to South Florida was going, Zito responded by laughing and asking if he could crash on my couch. Zito basically said that he had no specific updates to share, and that the situation in general was fluid. So, it’s a constant process.”Here is the rest of our discussion:Things have quieted down in terms of free agency, but there are still some extremely solid players that don’t have contracts yet for next season. Can you say whether Miller was on the Panthers draft board of potential selections, or was he not under consideration?

SUNRISE, Fla. – Bill Zito has kept extremely busy during the two months that have passed since he was hired by the Florida Panthers to be the team’s general manager. Paul Krepelka has been hired as Florida’s Assistant General Manager, and Tom Bark was hired as Assistant to the General Manager. The familiarity with the Checkers franchise will surely make the transition smoother for both Krepelka and the Charlotte front office. “Paul and Tom are crucial additions to our Hockey Operations Staff,” Zito said in a statement released by the team. Krepelka and Bark join a growing group of new faces in the Panthers front office that have been hired by Zito over the past couple months.

SUNRISE, Fla. – I’ve been listening to you, Panthers fans. When new Panthers General Manager Bill Zito was active at the beginning of the month, there was more than enough love and excitement to go around. A handful of tough, skilled guys in their mid-to-late 20s on cheap, short-term deals? It makes sense that Zito wants to build his own team, and lets not twist that into something that’s about his ego. That’s why you make a change at the top, and why that person makes changes to those around him.

SUNRISE, Fla. – Episode 25 of the Chirping the Cats podcast is all about the handful of new additions made by the Florida Panthers during the first week of free agency. We hear from new Panthers players Markus Nutivaara, Radko Gudas, Carter Verhaeghe, Alexander Wennberg and Vinny Hinostroza, as well as general manager Bill Zito, as they talk about the process of a crazy offseason that landed each of them in South Florida. SUBSCRIBE TO THE CTC PODCAST - iOS | Android1:20 Markus Nutivaara4:35 Radko Gudas9:05 Carter Verhaeghe13:05 Alexander Wennberg18:35 Vinny Hinostroza

SUNRISE, Fla. – The first six hours of the NHL’s free agency signing period were quite busy for the Florida Panthers. When the signing period opened at noon on Friday, Zito was one of the first GM’s to make a move. He’s a leader, he plays the game the right way, (and he’s) a very smart defender. We’re thrilled to have those guys on board.”Do you think teams are taking a cue from Tampa Bay after they were swept by Columbus in 2019 and adding some toughness to their skill? I think he’s ready to do that, and I think he’s excited.”Do you expect to add any goaltending depth?

Florida and new general manager Bill Zito can only hope this year’s pick will someday compare to the Panthers' selection of Sasha Barkov in 2013. Tuesday night, Zito used the 12th overall pick of the 2020 NHL Draft on 19-year-old Anton Lundell from Espoo, Finland. In 85 games with HIFK over the past three seasons, Lundell has 49 points (20-29-49) and a plus-16 rating. At the conclusion of the season we’ll evaluate and see where he is.”Helsinki’s final regular season game is scheduled for March 30. Here is what he had to say:What does it feel like being drafted into the NHL by the Florida Panthers?

Following Wednesday’s frenzy of speculation after reports of a trade between the Florida Panthers and Pittsburgh Penguins, and subsequent potential breakdown of said trade, the two sides have finally dotted the T’s and crossed the I’s. Florida officially acquired forward Patric Hornqvist on Thursday, sending the Penguins defenseman Mike Matheson and forward Colton Sceviour. Florida Panthers defenseman Mike Matheson plays against the Nashville Predators during an NHL preseason game Monday, Sept. 16, 2019. Sceviour heading to Pittsburgh in the deal is a little frosting on the Pens' cake for taking on Matheson’s contract. They also take on veteran forward Patrick Hornqvist, his strong scoring ability, two Stanley Cups and nearly 770 games of NHL experience.

According to NHL Network’s Kevin Weekes, the Panthers are trading defenseman Mike Matheson to the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for forward Patric Hornqvist. Hornqvist has split his career evenly between Nashville, which drafted him, and Pittsburgh, where he’s excelled during the past six seasons. Patric Hornqvist of the Pittsburgh Penguins celebrates after scoring a goal against the Dallas Stars at PPG PAINTS Arena on March 11, 2018. Over the past seven seasons, Hornqvist has scored 22, 25, 22, 21, 29, 18 and 17 goals, respectively. Hornqvist has played in 770 NHL games with Nashville and Pittsburgh, accumulating 480 points (238-242-480), 149 of which have come on the power play.

SUNRISE, Fla. – On Episode 23 of Chirping the Cats, host David Dwork dives into new Florida Panthers general manager Bill Zito with a few people who know him well. Alison Lukan and Aaron Portzline, who cover the Columbus Blue Jackets for the Athletic, provide insight into Zito from a journalist’s perspective, and then Blue Jackets GM Jarmo Kekalainen discusses why his close friend and now-former colleague is the best man for the Panthers job. SUBSCRIBE TO THE CTC PODCAST - iOS | Android0:30 – Panthers hire Bill Zito, who has a businessman reputation but is a hockey guy at heart1:30 – Bill Zito and Jarmo Kekalainen’s relationship2:10 – What kind of executive have the Panthers hired? 4:25 – Interview with Alison Lukan22:30 – Interview with Aaron Portzline42:05 – Interview with Jarmo Kekalainen

He spent over a decade learning the ropes in the NHL, including five years as the assistant general manager for the St. Louis Blues, before returning to Finland and becoming GM for SM-Liiga powerhouse Jokerit Helsinki. Davidsons first big addition after becoming president of the Columbus Blue Jackets was asking Kekalainen to be the teams general manager. New Florida Panthers general manager Bill Zito is introduced by team president Matthew Caldwell at a press conference on September 2, 2020 at the BB&T Center in Sunrise, Florida. Hes coached in hockey, hes played Division One college hockey, played in Europe, hes been involved with Team USA, hes done it all. He will do everything in his power to do a good job for the Florida Panthers.

SUNRISE, Fla. They searched high and low, near and far, but the Florida Panthers may have found their guy. Sportsnets Elliotte Friedman was the first to report that Columbus Blue Jackets assistant general manager Bill Zito will be hired as Floridas new GM. Zito, 55, was hired as the Blue Jackets assistant GM in 2013 and was named general manager of their AHL club two years later. Before joining Columbus, Zito co-founded Acme World Sports and spent two decades working as a player agent. The Blue Jackets have enjoyed consistent success under the watchful eyes of Zito and general manager Jarmo Kekalainen.