Amidst Stanley Cup championship celebrations, the 2024 NHL draft and an ongoing free agency period, the Florida Panthers must already look ahead to their 2024-25 season, where the team will have a chance to defend its title as champions for the first time in franchise history.
The NHL announced Monday that Florida’s home opener and championship banner ceremony will take place on Oct. 8 against the Boston Bruins. On Tuesday, the rest of the Panthers’ regular-season schedule was revealed.
Postseason rematches
Florida’s first postseason rematch will be in its very first game against the Bruins. The Panthers took down Boston in six games in round two of the 2024 Stanley Cup playoffs.
Perhaps the most important playoff rematch will be on Dec. 16 when Florida travels to Canada to take on its Stanley Cup Final foes, the Edmonton Oilers. Florida will host the Oilers for the second and final matchup of the regular season on Feb. 27.
The Panthers will take on their in-state rival and first-round opponent, the Tampa Bay Lightning, on the road on Dec. 22 and again at home on Dec. 23. The New York Rangers host Florida for the first matchup since the 2024 Eastern Conference final on Oct. 24.
Road trips and homestands
The Panthers will play their longest homestand early on in the season. Florida will play six games at home Nov. 2-16. The team will also play two five-game stretches at home Dec. 23-Jan. 3 and Feb. 27 through March 8.
Immediately following the last five-game homestand is the longest road trip of Florida’s season. The Panthers will be on the road for six games between March 11-22.
The Panthers will rack up a large sum of travel miles when they head overseas to Nokia Arena in Florida captain Aleksander Barkov’s hometown of Tampere, Finland. Florida takes on the Dallas Stars in a doubleheader Nov. 1-2 as a part of the NHL’s Global Series.
Old friends, new foes
While Florida’s 2024 championship roster will never be forgotten, the Panthers had to say goodbye to multiple teammates in free agency and will meet with them again as opponents in the new season.
Fan-favorite Ryan Lomberg will certainly receive a warm welcome in Sunrise when the Panthers host the Calgary Flames on March 1. Lomberg left for the Flames on a 2-year deal worth $2 million per year in free agency. Florida will also host former defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson and the Toronto Maple Leafs on Nov. 27.
The Panthers will visit Seattle and Brandon Montour, who was given a 7-year, $50 million contract by the Kraken, on Dec. 10.
Speaking of new faces, Florida will take its first-ever trip to Utah to take on the Utah Hockey Club, as well as former defenseman Kevin Stenlund, on Jan. 8.
Full 2024-25 schedule
October
Oct. 8: vs. Boston Bruins, 7 p.m.
Oct. 10: at Ottawa Senators, 7 p.m.
Oct. 12: at Buffalo Sabres, 7 p.m.
Oct. 14: at Boston Bruins, 1 p.m.
Oct. 15: at Columbus Blue Jackets, 7 p.m.
Oct. 17: vs. Vancouver Canucks, 7 p.m.
Oct. 19: vs. Vegas Golden Knights, 6 p.m.
Oct. 22: vs. Minnesota Wild, 6:30 p.m.
Oct. 24: at New York Rangers, 7 p.m.
Oct. 26: at New York Islanders, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 28: at Buffalo Sabres, 7 p.m.
November
Nov. 1: at Dallas Stars (Global Series), 1 p.m.
Nov. 2: vs. Dallas Stars (Global Series), 11 a.m.
Nov. 7: vs. Nashville Predators, 7 p.m.
Nov. 9: vs. Philadelphia Flyers, 6 p.m.
Nov. 12: vs. New Jersey Devils, 7 p.m.
Nov. 14: vs. New Jersey Devils, 7 p.m.
Nov. 16: vs. Winnipeg Jets, 7 p.m.
Nov 19: at Winnipeg Jets, 8 p.m.
Nov. 21: at Chicago Blackhawks, 8:30 p.m.
Nov. 23: vs. Colorado Avalanche, 6:30 p.m.
Nov. 25: vs. Washington Capitals, 7 p.m.
Nov. 27: vs. Toronto Maple Leafs, 7:30 p.m.
Nov. 29: at Carolina Hurricanes, 3 p.m.
Nov. 30: vs. Carolina Hurricanes, 4 p.m.
December
Dec. 3: at Pittsburgh Penguins, 7 p.m.
Dec. 5: at Philadelphia Flyers, 7 p.m.
Dec. 7: vs. San Jose Sharks, 6 p.m.
Dec. 10: at Seattle Kraken, 10 p.m.
Dec. 12: at Vancouver Canucks, 10 p.m.
Dec. 14: at Calgary Flames, 10 p.m.
Dec. 16: at Edmonton Oilers, 8:30 p.m.
Dec. 18: at Minnesota Wild, 9:30 p.m.
Dec. 20: vs. St. Louis Blues, 7 p.m.
Dec 22: at Tampa Bay Lightning, 5 p.m.
Dec 23: vs. Tampa Bay Lightning, 7 p.m.
Dec. 28: vs. Montreal Canadiens, 1 p.m.
Dec. 30: vs. New York Rangers, 7 p.m.
January
Jan. 2: vs. Carolina Hurricanes, 7 p.m.
Jan. 3: vs. Pittsburgh Penguins, 7 p.m.
Jan. 6: at Colorado Avalanche, 9 p.m.
Jan. 8: at Utah Hockey Club, 10 p.m.
Jan. 11: vs. Boston Bruins, 1 p.m.
Jan. 13: at Philadelphia Flyers, 7 p.m.
Jan. 14: at New Jersey Devils, 7 p.m.
Jan. 16: vs. Detroit Red Wings, 7 p.m.
Jan. 18: vs. Anaheim Ducks, 6 p.m.
Jan. 21: at Anaheim Ducks, 10 p.m.
Jan. 22: at Los Angeles Kings, 10 p.m.
Jan. 25: at San Jose Sharks, 10 p.m.
Jan. 26: at Vegas Golden Knights, 8 p.m.
Jan. 29: vs. Los Angeles Kings, 7 p.m.
February
Feb. 1: vs. Chicago Blackhawks, 1 p.m.
Feb. 2: vs. New York Islanders, 6 p.m.
Feb. 4: at Washington Capitals, 7 p.m.
Feb. 6: at St. Louis Blues, 8 p.m.
Feb. 8: vs. Ottawa Senators, 8 p.m.
Feb. 22: vs. Seattle Kraken, 6 p.m.
Feb. 25: at Nashville Predators, 8 p.m.
Feb. 27: vs. Edmonton Oilers, 7 p.m.
March
March 1: vs. Calgary Flames, 3 p.m.
March 3: vs. Tampa Bay Lightning, 7 p.m.
March 6: vs. Columbus Blue Jackets, 7 p.m.
March 8: vs. Buffalo Sabres, 6 p.m.
March 11: at Boston Bruins, 7 p.m.
March 13: at Toronto Maple Leafs, 7 p.m.
March 15: at Montreal Canadiens, 7 p.m.
March 16: at New York Islanders, 7:30 p.m.
March 20: at Columbus Blue Jackets, 7 p.m.
March 22: at Washington Capitals, 5 p.m.
March 23: vs. Pittsburgh Penguins, 6 p.m.
March 28: vs. Utah Hockey Club, 7 p.m.
March 30: vs. Montreal Canadiens, 1 p.m.
April
April 1: at Montreal Canadiens, 7 p.m.
April 2: at Toronto Maple Leafs, 7:30 p.m.
April 5: at Ottawa Senators, 2 p.m.
April 6: at Detroit Red Wings, 5:30 p.m.
April 8: vs. Toronto Maple Leafs, 7 p.m.
April 10: vs. Detroit Red Wings, 7 p.m.
April 12: vs. Buffalo Sabres, 6 p.m.
April 14: vs. New York Rangers, 7 p.m.
April 15: at Tampa Bay Lightning, 7 p.m.
