ESTERO, Fla.— The Florida Everblades announced that the team has entered into a multi-year affiliation agreement with the National Hockey League’s Florida Panthers. The Everblades will serve as a developmental affiliate for the Panthers and their primary developmental affiliate, the American Hockey League’s Charlotte Checkers, starting with the 2022-23 season.
“We are thrilled to have the Florida Panthers as our new NHL affiliate,” Brush said. “Florida’s General Manager Bill Zito and Assistant General Manager Brett Peterson have done an outstanding job and we are looking forward to becoming an integral part of the development of players for the Panthers and Charlotte Checkers.”
"We are pleased to announce a new affiliation with the Florida Everblades," saidBrett Peterson, Assistant General Manager of the Florida Panthers. “We wish to thank the Swamp Rabbits for two great seasons and look forward to beginning a new partnership just down the road in Estero, Fla. We look forward to the development of our young players in Florida and many opportunities together with this new pipeline plan.”
Founded in 1993, the Panthers won the organization’s first-ever Presidents’ Trophy in 2021-22, after capturing a third division championship. In addition to posting the NHL’s top record in 2021-22, the Panthers have advanced to the postseason each of the last three seasons. Winners of the Atlantic Division in 2015-16 and 2021-22, the Panthers also won the Southeast Division in 2011-12. The Panthers previously won the NHL’s Eastern Conference Championship and a spot in the Stanley Cup Finals in 1995-96.
The Everblades and Panthers have been affiliated previously, with the Sunshine State clubs partnering in the 2001-02 season, as well as from 2005-07 and 2008-10. During each of those stretches, the Everblades were entered into affiliation agreements with both the Panthers and the Carolina Hurricanes.
Originally founded in 1998, the Everblades will be celebrating the organization’s 25th season in 2022-23. Owned by David Hoffmann and the Hoffmann Family of Companies, the Everblades won the 2022 Kelly Cup championship after posting a 42-20-10 regular-season record and then winning 16 of 20 games in the playoffs. The Kelly Cup was the Everblades’ second in clubhistory, having previously hoisted the cup in 2012. Additionally, the Everblades have won five conference championships, eight division championships and four Brabham Cups, awarded to the ECHL’s team with the top regular-season record. In 24 seasons, the Everblades have qualified for the Kelly Cup Playoffs every year but one, and 39 former Everblades players have advanced to play in the NHL.
The Everblades have been affiliated with the Nashville Predators the past three seasons, compiling a 127-52-24 regular-season record, good for a .685 winning percentage under the guidance of head coach Brad Ralph. The ECHL’s all-time coaching leader in postseason victories (63), Ralph will be behind the Everblades’ bench for his seventh season in 2022-23.
“We are incredibly grateful to the Predators for their support over the past three seasons,” Brush said. “The mutually beneficial relationship played a key role in winning our second Kelly Cup championship, and we cannot thank the Predators enough for being such a great partner with the Everblades.”
En route to three straight playoff appearances for the first time in franchise history, the Panthers have posted a 130-58-19 record over that span. The 2021-22 Presidents’ Cup winners won a franchise-best 58 games last season and collected 122 points over 82 games.
The Panthers have been part of a development model that has seen a multitude of players advance to the NHL from the ECHL since the League’s inception in 1988. In total, 727 ECHL alumni have gone on to play in the NHL, including 29 who made their debut in 2021-22. Of those players, 63 have played for the Panthers. Over the years, five Everblades alumni have suited up for the Panthers, including David Brine, Ty Jones, Drew Larman, Martin Lojek and Kenndal McArdle.
As a seasoned hockey enthusiast with a profound understanding of the intricate dynamics of professional hockey affiliations and player development, I bring forth a wealth of knowledge to dissect and elaborate on the multi-year affiliation agreement between the Florida Everblades and the National Hockey League's Florida Panthers.
The announcement signifies a strategic partnership, with the Everblades serving as a developmental affiliate for the Panthers and their primary developmental affiliate, the Charlotte Checkers of the American Hockey League (AHL), starting from the 2022-23 season. The depth of this collaboration is emphasized by the Everblades' integral role in nurturing players for both the Panthers and the Charlotte Checkers.
This affiliation is not the first between the Everblades and the Panthers. The teams were previously affiliated in the 2001-02 season, as well as from 2005-07 and 2008-10. During those periods, the Everblades had affiliation agreements with both the Panthers and the Carolina Hurricanes.
The Panthers, founded in 1993, achieved significant milestones, winning their first-ever Presidents' Trophy in the 2021-22 season. They boast a strong track record, having advanced to the postseason in each of the last three seasons and winning division championships in 2015-16 and 2021-22. The Panthers also clinched the Southeast Division in 2011-12 and reached the Stanley Cup Finals in 1995-96.
The Everblades, founded in 1998, are set to celebrate their 25th season in 2022-23. Under the ownership of David Hoffmann and the Hoffmann Family of Companies, the Everblades secured the Kelly Cup championship in 2022, marking their second title in club history. They have a remarkable record, having qualified for the Kelly Cup Playoffs every season but one, and have produced 39 players who advanced to play in the NHL.
Notably, the Everblades have concluded a successful three-season affiliation with the Nashville Predators, resulting in a mutually beneficial relationship that played a crucial role in winning their second Kelly Cup championship.
The Panthers' commitment to player development is evident in their extensive history of advancing players from the ECHL to the NHL. With 727 ECHL alumni making the leap to the NHL, including 29 debuting in the 2021-22 season, the Panthers have been at the forefront of fostering talent. Five Everblades alumni, including David Brine, Ty Jones, Drew Larman, Martin Lojek, and Kenndal McArdle, have donned the Panthers' jersey over the years.
In conclusion, this multi-year affiliation agreement between the Florida Everblades and the Florida Panthers not only cements their partnership but also underscores the commitment to player development, creating a pipeline for emerging talent to ascend through the ranks of professional hockey.
