Florida Panthers: Derek MacKenzie Will Retire at the End of the Season

Not only is the 2018-19 campaign Derek MacKenzie’s 16th NHL season, but it will also be his last in the league with the Florida Panthers.

Arriving in South Florida on July 1, 2014, Derek MacKenzie was presented as a Florida Panther on a three-year deal. The intention of the signing was to add a gritty, veteran who would show the young core the ropes.

In his first season with the Panthers (2014-15), MacKenzie produced 5G, 6A, and 11 points while playing on the bottom line. Additionally, he was also placed on the penalty kill, relied upon heavily to kill the opponent’s man advantage.

And in that same year with the Cats, MacKenzie was apart of a young team who missed out on the playoffs by seven points. It happened to be a big leap in a year’s span, with the 2013-14 Panthers placing second last.

During the following year with the Panthers (2015-16), MacKenzie upped his point production, finishing the year with 6G, 7A, and 13 points in 64 games. This was not only MacKenzie’s most memorable year with the team, but it was also the best season in Panthers history.

The Cats wrapped up the year as the Atlantic Division winners, booking their ticket in the playoffs where they would meet the New York Islanders in the first round.

While the Panthers fell to the Islanders in six games, the club had a lot to look forward to in Mackenzie’s third season. The Cats stocked up in free agency, ready to defend their crown as Atlantic Division winners.

Florida was one of the busiest teams during that summer, bringing in Keith Yandle, Jason Demers, Mark Pysyk, James Reimer, Jonathan Marchessault, and Jared McCann as additions to complement the young core.

And, that wasn’t all! Forward Derek MacKenzie was also named the ninth captain in Panthers history, signaling a new era in Sunrise, Florida.

With a team young up the middle, stacked on the blue line with good experience guarding the crease, the Panthers were now considered favorites to make a run in the East for Lord Stanley. But unfortunately, things didn’t play out that way…

Injuries kept Jonathan Huberdeau and Aleksander Barkov out for several months which prevented the Cats from making the postseason. On top of that, other injuries occurred to Nick Bjugstad, Aaron Ekblad, and Jussi Jokinen which made the season even more forgettable, leading up to Gerard Gallant’s dismissal.

For Derek’s sake, while 2016-17 hadn’t been the season he and his team were hoping for, it happened to be the best season for MacKenzie individually, where the then 36-year-old competed in 82 games while recording 6G, 10A, and 16 points.

MacKenzie and his group would attempt to rebound the following year, ultimately failing to book a spot in the playoffs for the second consecutive season, falling one point shy of the last wild-card spot behind the New Jersey Devils.

With a newly recouped group on the way for the Cats, management and MacKenzie agreed that it would be best if he passed the captaincy over to Aleksander Barkov.

The time was now to pass over the baton to the next generation, but fans across the organization will always remain grateful for MacKenzie’s commitment during his time as captain for the Florida Panthers.

To date, MacKenzie has played with the Atlanta Thrashers, Columbus Blue Jackets, and Florida Panthers through his 15 years in the league. In a total of 610 career NHL games, the Canadian native has posted 51G, 74A, and 125 points thus far.

Be sure to catch Saturday’s night game as the Panthers look to kick off their season with a win, while MacKenzie will play in his last season opener with the Florida Panthers.