In 33 seasons, the Florida Panthers have developed a handful of meaningful rivalries across the NHL, especially in the Atlantic Division, which welcomed the club from the abandoned Southeast Division after the 2012-13 lockout.
Interestingly, the Panthers were the second-to-last Southeast Division champions, winning their first-ever divisional title in 2011-12. Meanwhile, in the Atlantic Division, Florida has three divisional wins, including 2015-16, 2021-22, and 2023-24, the same year the franchise won its first Stanley Cup.
As one of two teams in Florida and one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference, it wouldn’t surprise anyone to see the Panthers have developed some intense rivalries up and down the Eastern Seaboard. Today, we rank the best and worst rivalries in the Atlantic Division.
7. Buffalo Sabres
Throughout 122 regular meetings, the Panthers have a comfortable win-loss record against the Buffalo Sabres at 61-49-4-8, good for a .500 win percentage. Thus far, these two clubs have never met in the Stanley Cup playoffs, robbing them of a chance to further their rivalry with a great seven-game series.
Notable players to play for Florida and Buffalo include Rob Niedermayer, Brian Campbell, Eric Staal, Craig Anderson, and Sam Reinhart.
6. Detroit Red Wings
As one of four Original Six franchises in the Atlantic Division, the Panthers didn’t play the Detroit Red Wings much in their early years, as they were a member of the Western Conference. However, after a shuffle to the East in 2013, the two clubs became more acquainted. Overall, in only 77 meetings, Florida has almost doubled up Detroit with a 43-22-5-7 record, good for a .558 win percentage.
Notable players to play for the Panthers and Red Wings include Dino Ciccarelli, Mike Vernon, James Reimer, Ray Whitney, and Igor Larionov.
5. Montreal Canadiens
Although the Panthers and Montreal Canadiens have been in the Eastern Conference for more than three decades, they have never crossed paths in the playoffs. Unlike their cross-state rivals, the Lightning, who defeated the Canadiens for the Stanley Cup in 2021, Florida hasn’t had the chance to take their rivalry with the NHL’s most successful team to the next level. Through 121 meetings, the Panthers are ahead, 58-43-6-14, equaling a .479 win percentage.
Notable players to play for Florida and Montreal include Sam Montembeault, Jose Theodore, Jeff Petry, Alex Kovalev, Tomas Vokoun, and Bill Lindsay.
4. Ottawa Senators*
The Ottawa Senators may currently rank fourth on this list, but the asterisk means that this should change in short order. In June 2026, the Panthers acquired their captain, Brady Tkachuk, to play alongside his brother Matthew, giving this rather uninteresting rivalry new meaning. Just like so many other teams on this list, Ottawa and Florida have never met in the Stanley Cup playoffs, but the Senators have always been a difficult team in the regular season. In 120 meetings, the Panthers are only 57-55-3-5, securing a .475 win percentage.
Notable players to play for the Panthers and Senators include Brady Tkachuk, Jody Hull, Cory Stillman, Nick Cousins, and Mike Hoffman.
3. Toronto Maple Leafs
Like the Red Wings, the Toronto Maple Leafs were a Western Conference team when the Panthers began playing in 1993, and didn’t relocate to the East until 1999. These two clubs didn’t meet in the playoffs until 2023 and again in 2025. Florida won the first series in five games, but were taken to the limit in the second meeting, winning in Game 7 before capturing their second consecutive Stanley Cup title. In 110 meetings, the Panthers maintain a lead thanks to a 50-44-7-9 record, good enough for a .454 win percentage.
Notable players to play for the Panthers and Maple Leafs include Sergei Bobrovsky, Robert Svehla, Bryan McCabe, Ed Belfour, Anthony Stolarz, and Tom Fitzgerald.
2. Boston Bruins
Outside of some entertaining regular-season contests over the years, Florida had met Boston three times in the postseason, going 3-0, including their first-ever series win en route to the Stanley Cup Final in 1996. Moreover, in 2022-23, when the Bruins produced the greatest statistical campaign in NHL history, the Panthers defeated them in Game 7 of the opening round to end their legendary season. In 121 matchups, the Bruins hold the advantage, with Florida posting a 49-53-6-13 record, a .404 win percentage.
Notable players to play for Florida and Boston include Brad Marchand, Jaromir Jagr, Joe Thornton, Tim Thomas, Nathan Horton, and Shawn Thornton.
1. Tampa Bay Lightning
The Panthers play only roughly 251 miles away from their fiercest rival, the Tampa Bay Lightning. Throughout their respective histories, the two teams have battled 165 times in the regular season, with the Panthers producing an 80-56-10-19 record and a .484 win percentage. In the playoffs, where the Panthers and Lightning have combined to win five Stanley Cup titles for the State of Florida, they remain tied at 2-2. Tampa Bay took the first two meetings in 2021 and 2022, with the Panthers returning the favor in 2024 and 2025.
Notable players to play for the Panthers and Lightning include Dan Boyle, Carter Verhaeghe, Jussi Jokinen, Radko Gudas, and Mark Fitzpatrick.
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