The Athletic stirred debate across NHL social media on Saturday after naming Tampa Bay Lightning star Nikita Kucherov the biggest on-ice villain in Florida Panthers history. While Kucherov certainly has a strong case, he has more playoff points against Florida than any player; is he really the franchise's greatest nemesis?
Every good story needs a villain. Does every NHL team need one, too?
— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) July 25, 2026
Whether it’s a rival who is despised for physical play, controversial hits, relentless agitating or competitive success, many players have found themselves loathed in certain cities.
Our NHL staff picks a… pic.twitter.com/qZj8S0CpBm
Statistically speaking, the game’s greatest goal scorer, Alex Ovechkin, has the most points all-time against the franchise, with 45 goals and 92 points. Hence, during the regular season, there’s an argument that he’s the biggest villain. However, the Washington Capitals and Panthers have never met in the playoffs since Ovechkin’s debut in 2005, so he’s never tallied a point in the postseason against his former Southeast Division rival.
Surprisingly, Kucherov isn't even Tampa Bay's all-time leading scorer against Florida. That distinction belongs to Hall of Famer Martin St. Louis, who recorded 32 goals and 73 points against the Panthers, narrowly ahead of Vincent Lecavalier's 28 goals and 72 points.
As mentioned, Kucherov has the most playoff points ever against Florida, compiling five goals and 29 points in only 20 games, which is slightly ahead of Victor Hedman (21) and Steven Stamkos (18). Considering the importance of playoff games, it makes sense that The Athletic would give the crown to Kucherov for his performances in the postseason. Although Kucherov has scored only five playoff goals against Florida, his 24 assists have made him the driving force behind many of Tampa Bay's biggest postseason moments against the Panthers.
Additionally, other future Hall of Fame players like Sidney Crosby and Jaromir Jagr spent long portions of their careers with the Pittsburgh Penguins and have put up some significant regular-season point totals. For instance, no one has scored more game-winners versus Florida than Jagr, who has 10.
Current Panthers forward Brad Marchand also gave Florida plenty of headaches during his years with the Boston Bruins, recording 12 playoff points in 11 games and another 47 points in 53 regular-season contests.
When discussing rivals from the Northeast, how can Florida fans forget that agitators like Rob Ray racked up 194 penalty minutes in only 37 games, and Darcy Tucker, who had 149 in 45 games? Moreover, Evander Kane, as a member of the Atlanta Thrashers, found himself in the box for 143 minutes over 38 games, slightly ahead of the legendary Zdeno Chara, who had 142 in 78 games.
Between the pipes, the NHL’s all-time wins leader, Martin Brodeur, tormented the organization during his 21-year run with the New Jersey Devils, producing a 41-16-7-2 record in 66 regular-season games. In the playoffs, he went 8-2, eliminating the Panthers twice in his career.
In the end, this debate may never have a definitive answer. Panthers fans from different eras will argue that the biggest on-ice villain is Brodeur, Jagr, Ovechkin, Stamkos, or Kucherov. Although The Athletic has made its choice, whether Kucherov truly deserves the title is a question that won't be answered anytime soon.
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