The Florida 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,[3] a disparity that commentators said raised questions about the NHL's disciplinary consistency.[4] 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.[4] 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.[4][5]
Continued controversy hit the Panthers again on December 15, 2025, following an illegal elbow hit to the head by Panthers defenseman Seth Jones on Lightning forward Brandon Hagel.[6] Jones was not penalized on the play, nor was he given supplementary discipline, an outcome that left current mainstream NHL broadcast members like Ray Ferraro confused.[7]
Updated to game(s) played on March 4, 2026. Source: National Hockey League[8] Rules for classification: 1) Fewer number of games played (GP, only during regular season); 2) Greater number of regulation wins (RW); 3) Greater number of wins in regulation and overtime, excluding shootout wins (ROW); 4) Greater number of total wins, including shootouts (W); 5) Greater number of points earned in head-to-head play; if teams played an uneven number of head-to-head games, the result of the first game on the home ice of the team with the extra home game is discarded; 6) Greater goal differential (GD); 7) Greater number of goals scored (GF)
Updated to game(s) played on March 4, 2026. Source: National Hockey League[9] Rules for classification: 1) Fewer number of games played (GP, only during regular season); 2) Greater number of regulation wins (RW); 3) Greater number of wins in regulation and overtime, excluding shootout wins (ROW); 4) Greater number of total wins, including shootouts (W); 5) Greater number of points earned in head-to-head play; if teams played an uneven number of head-to-head games, the result of the first game on the home ice of the team with the extra home game is discarded; 6) Greater goal differential (GD); 7) Greater number of goals scored (GF)
Schedule and results
Preseason
The preseason schedule was published on June 24, 2025.[10]
2025 preseason game log: 3–4–0 (Home: 2–0–0; Road: 1–4–0)
↑The Calgary Flames' fourth-round pick went to the Florida Panthers as the result of a trade on July 22, 2022, that sent Jonathan Huberdeau, Cole Schwindt, MacKenzie Weegar and a conditional first-round pick in 2025 to Calgary in exchange for Matthew Tkachuk and this pick (being conditional at the time of the trade).[113] The condition – Florida will receive a fourth-round pick in 2025 if Calgary receives Florida's first-round pick in 2025[113] – was converted when the Panthers qualified for the 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs on April 5, 2025.
↑The Boston Bruins' seventh-round pick went to Florida as the result of a trade on June 28, 2025, that sent a sixth-round pick in 2026 to Chicago in exchange for this pick.[82]
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