2008–09 Florida Panthers season

The 2008–09 Florida Panthers season was the 15th season for the franchise in the National Hockey League (NHL). The 2008–09 season was also the eighth consecutive season in which the Panthers did not make the Stanley Cup playoffs, finishing level on points with the qualifying Montreal Canadiens, but suffering from an inferior head-to-head record (1–3), the decisive tiebreaker, causing them to fall one point out of the last playoff spot.

2008–09 Florida Panthers
Division	3rd Southeast
Conference	9th Eastern
2008–09 record	41–30–11
Home record	22–12–7
Road record	19–18–4
Goals for	234
Goals against	231
Team information
General manager	Jacques Martin
Coach	Peter DeBoer
Captain	Vacant
Alternate captains	Bryan Allen Bryan McCabe Cory Stillman Stephen Weiss
Arena	BankAtlantic Center
Average attendance	15,531
Team leaders
Goals	David Booth (31)
Assists	Stephen Weiss (47)
Points	Stephen Weiss (61)
Penalty minutes	Nick Boynton (91)
Plus/minus	Stephen Weiss (+19)
Wins	Tomas Vokoun (26)
Goals against average	Tomas Vokoun (2.49)
← 2007–08 2009–10 →

On June 14, 2008, the Panthers named Peter DeBoer head coach and signed him to a multi-year contract.^[1] Former head coach Jacques Martin had resigned from the position but retained his position as general manager.

Preseason

The Florida Panthers played seven preseason exhibition games before the start of the regular season. The team went on a road trip across North America to play six games on six consecutive nights, winning only the first two games. The trip included the first-ever NHL game played on Prince Edward Island, against the New York Islanders. After one final preseason game at home, the Panthers finished the preseason with a 3–2–2 record.

Regular season

Divisional standings

Southeast Division

		GP	W	L	OTL	GF	GA	Pts
1	y – Washington Capitals	82	50	24	8	272	245	108
2	Carolina Hurricanes	82	45	30	7	239	226	97
3	Florida Panthers	82	41	30	11	234	231	93
4	Atlanta Thrashers	82	35	41	6	257	280	76
5	Tampa Bay Lightning	82	24	40	18	210	279	66

Conference standings

Eastern Conference

R		Div	GP	W	L	OTL	GF	GA	Pts
1	z – Boston Bruins	NE	82	53	19	10	274	196	116
2	y – Washington Capitals	SE	82	50	24	8	272	245	108
3	y – New Jersey Devils	AT	82	51	27	4	244	209	106
4	Pittsburgh Penguins	AT	82	45	28	9	264	239	99
5	Philadelphia Flyers	AT	82	44	27	11	264	238	99
6	Carolina Hurricanes	SE	82	45	30	7	239	226	97
7	New York Rangers	AT	82	43	30	9	210	218	95
8	Montreal Canadiens	NE	82	41	30	11	249	247	93
8.5
9	Florida Panthers	SE	82	41	30	11	234	231	93
10	Buffalo Sabres	NE	82	41	32	9	250	234	91
11	Ottawa Senators	NE	82	36	35	11	217	237	83
12	Toronto Maple Leafs	NE	82	34	35	13	250	293	81
13	Atlanta Thrashers	SE	82	35	41	6	257	280	76
14	Tampa Bay Lightning	SE	82	24	40	18	210	279	66
15	New York Islanders	AT	82	26	47	9	201	279	61

bold – qualified for playoffs, y – division winner, z – placed first in conference (and division)

AT – Atlantic Division, NE – Northeast Division, SE – Southeast Division

Schedule and results

2008–09 Game Log
October: 4–5–0 (Home: 3–2–0; Road: 1–3–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts 1 October 10 Florida 4 - 6 Carolina Vokoun 18,680 0-1-0 0 2 October 11 Atlanta 2 - 3 Florida OT Vokoun 18,401 1-1-0 2 3 October 16 Minnesota 6 - 2 Florida Vokoun 12,106 1-2-0 2 4 October 18 NY Islanders 0 - 2 Florida Vokoun 16,087 2-2-0 4 5 October 20 Florida 1 - 3 Montreal Vokoun 21,273 2-3-0 4 6 October 22 Florida 3 - 1 Ottawa Anderson 18,952 3-3-0 6 7 October 24 San Jose 3 - 4 Florida Vokoun 15,232 4-3-0 8 8 October 25 Florida 0 - 4 St. Louis Anderson 19,150 4-4-0 8 9 October 30 Ottawa 2 - 1 Florida Vokoun 13,567 4-5-0 8
November: 5–6–3 (Home: 2–1–2; Road: 3–5–1) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts 10 November 1 Florida 2 - 3 Nashville SO Anderson 14,909 4-5-1 9 11 November 2 Florida 3 - 5 Atlanta Vokoun 10,584 4-6-1 9 12 November 6 Florida 2 - 3 Los Angeles Vokoun 11,267 4-7-1 9 13 November 8 Florida 1 - 4 Phoenix Vokoun 14,807 4-8-1 9 14 November 9 Florida 3 - 1 Anaheim Anderson 16,951 5-8-1 11 15 November 12 Tampa Bay 0 - 4 Florida Anderson 12,104 6-8-1 13 16 November 14 Detroit 3 - 2 Florida Vokoun 18,637 6-9-1 13 17 November 18 Florida 4 - 3 Tampa Bay SO Vokoun 16,176 7-9-1 15 18 November 20 Florida 1 - 3 New Jersey Vokoun 14,291 7-10-1 15 19 November 21 Florida 2 - 4 Boston Vokoun 16,878 7-11-1 15 20 November 24 Carolina 2 - 3 Florida Vokoun 11,117 8-11-1 17 21 November 26 New Jersey 3 - 2 Florida OT Anderson 14,932 8-11-2 18 22 November 28 NY Rangers 4 - 3 Florida SO Anderson 18,106 8-11-3 19 23 November 30 Florida 4 - 0 NY Rangers Anderson 18,200 9-11-3 21
December: 7–5–2 (Home: 3–2–1; Road: 4–3–1) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts 24 December 2 Florida 5 - 3 Washington Anderson 16,792 10-11-3 23 25 December 4 Buffalo 1 - 2 Florida Anderson 13,123 11-11-3 25 26 December 6 Boston 4 - 0 Florida Anderson 16,213 11-12-3 25 27 December 8 Florida 4 - 3 Ottawa OT Anderson 17,947 12-12-3 27 28 December 11 Florida 2 - 0 Edmonton Anderson 16,839 13-12-3 29 29 December 12 Florida 3 - 2 Calgary SO Vokoun 19,289 14-12-3 31 30 December 14 Florida 3 - 5 Vancouver Anderson 18,630 14-13-3 31 31 December 18 Florida 1 - 2 Carolina OT Vokoun 14,533 14-13-4 32 32 December 21 Colorado 0 - 3 Florida Vokoun 16,132 15-13-4 34 33 December 23 Nashville 0 - 3 Florida Vokoun 14,703 16-13-4 36 34 December 26 Tampa Bay 4 - 3 Florida SO Vokoun 16,961 16-13-5 37 35 December 27 Florida 4 - 6 Tampa Bay Vokoun 18,226 16-14-5 37 36 December 29 Montreal 5 - 2 Florida Anderson 20,741 16-15-5 37 37 December 31 Florida 2 - 4 NY Islanders Vokoun 12,211 16-16-5 37
January: 7–2–3 (Home: 4–1–2; Road: 3–1–1) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts 38 January 3 Florida 6 - 1 Pittsburgh Anderson 17,042 17-16-5 39 39 January 4 Florida 5 - 6 Montreal SO Anderson 21,273 17-16-6 40 40 January 6 Florida 4 - 2 Toronto Vokoun 19,197 18-16-6 42 41 January 8 Carolina 2 - 4 Florida Vokoun 10,323 19-16-6 44 42 January 10 Atlanta 4 - 8 Florida Vokoun 14,323 20-16-6 46 43 January 16 Philadelphia 3 - 2 Florida SO Vokoun 17,827 20-16-7 47 44 January 17 Florida 4 - 3 Tampa Bay Vokoun 17,217 21-16-7 49 45 January 19 Buffalo 3 - 2 Florida SO Vokoun 12,480 21-16-8 50 46 January 21 Dallas 4 - 1 Florida Vokoun 11,200 21-17-8 50 47 January 27 Philadelphia 2 - 3 Florida Vokoun 13,904 22-17-8 52 48 January 29 Montreal 1 - 5 Florida Vokoun 16,334 23-17-8 54 49 January 31 Florida 1 - 3 NY Islanders Vokoun 13,336 23-18-8 54
February: 8–5–0 (Home: 5–2–0; Road: 3–3–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts 50 February 3 Florida 4 - 3 Toronto OT Anderson 19,095 24-18-8 56 51 February 5 NY Islanders 2 - 3 Florida Vokoun 14,206 25-18-8 58 52 February 7 Florida 1 - 3 Washington Vokoun 18,277 25-19-8 58 53 February 10 Toronto 4 - 5 Florida OT Vokoun 13,764 26-19-8 60 54 February 12 Florida 5 - 0 Carolina Vokoun 18,680 27-19-8 62 55 February 13 NY Rangers 1 - 2 Florida SO Vokoun 17,042 28-19-8 64 56 February 15 Washington 4 - 2 Florida Vokoun 17,279 28-20-8 64 57 February 17 New Jersey 0 - 4 Florida Vokoun 14,514 29-20-8 66 58 February 19 Chicago 4 - 0 Florida Vokoun 16,133 29-21-8 66 59 February 21 Boston 0 - 2 Florida Vokoun 19,343 30-21-8 68 60 February 24 Florida 1 - 6 Boston Anderson 16,781 30-22-8 68 61 February 26 Florida 2 - 1 NY Rangers Anderson 18,200 31-22-8 70 62 February 28 Florida 2 - 7 New Jersey Anderson 16,256 31-23-8 70
March: 7–5–3 (Home: 3–3–2; Road: 4–2–1) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts 63 March 1 Florida 6 - 2 Washington Anderson 18,277 32-23-8 72 64 March 3 Florida 4 - 3 Atlanta Vokoun 10,329 33-23-8 74 65 March 5 Pittsburgh 4 - 1 Florida Vokoun 18,933 33-24-8 74 66 March 7 St. Louis 3 - 5 Florida Vokoun 17,591 34-24-8 76 67 March 10 Florida 3 - 4 Pittsburgh SO Vokoun 17,132 34-24-9 77 68 March 12 Florida 1 - 3 Buffalo Vokoun 18,690 34-25-9 77 69 March 14 Tampa Bay 4 - 3 Florida SO Vokoun 17,734 34-25-10 78 70 March 17 Washington 3 - 0 Florida Vokoun 14,650 34-26-10 78 71 March 19 Toronto 1 - 3 Florida Vokoun 15,467 35-26-10 80 72 March 21 Columbus 3 - 1 Florida Vokoun 17,032 35-27-10 80 73 March 23 Carolina 3 - 2 Florida OT Vokoun 14,304 35-27-11 81 74 March 25 Florida 3 - 5 Buffalo Vokoun 18,690 35-28-11 81 75 March 26 Florida 4 - 2 Philadelphia Anderson 19,631 36-28-11 83 76 March 28 Florida 6 - 3 Dallas Anderson 18,532 37-28-11 85 77 March 31 Ottawa 2 - 5 Florida Anderson 15,247 38-28-11 87
April: 3–2–0 (Home: 2–1–0; Road: 1–1–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts 78 April 3 Atlanta 3 - 1 Florida Anderson 15,945 38-29-11 87 79 April 5 Pittsburgh 2 - 4 Florida Vokoun 18,232 39-29-11 89 80 April 7 Florida 1 - 2 Philadelphia Vokoun 19,637 39-30-11 89 81 April 9 Florida 3 - 2 Atlanta Vokoun 15,738 40-30-11 91 82 April 11 Washington 4 - 7 Florida Vokoun 18,527 41-30-11 93 Legend:   Win (2 points)   Loss (0 points)   Overtime/shootout loss (1 point)

Playoffs

The Panthers failed to make the playoffs for the eighth consecutive season. They last made the playoffs in 2000.

Player statistics

Skaters

Regular season Player GP G A Pts +/− PIM Stephen Weiss 78 14 47 61 +18 22 David Booth 72 31 29 60 +10 38 Cory Stillman 63 17 32 49 +1 37 Nathan Horton 67 22 23 45 -5 48 Michael Frolik 79 21 24 45 +9 22 Jay Bouwmeester 82 15 27 42 -2 68 Bryan McCabe 69 15 24 39 -1 41 Radek Dvorak 81 15 21 36 0 42 Keith Ballard 82 6 28 34 +14 72 Richard Zednik 70 17 16 33 +2 46 Gregory Campbell 77 13 19 32 0 76 Ville Peltonen 79 12 19 31 +6 31 Nick Boynton 68 5 16 21 +7 91 Brett McLean 80 7 12 19 -11 29 Kamil Kreps 66 4 15 19 +3 18 Karlis Skrastins 80 4 14 18 +9 30 Jassen Cullimore 68 2 8 10 -10 37 Rostislav Olesz 37 4 5 9 -5 8 Anthony Stewart 59 2 5 7 -6 34 Nick Tarnasky† 34 1 5 6 -2 33 Noah Welch‡ 23 1 1 2 -5 11 Shawn Matthias 16 0 2 2 -3 2 Michal Repik 5 2 0 2 +1 2 Bryan Allen 2 0 1 1 +2 0 Steve Eminger† 9 1 0 1 +1 6 Cory Murphy‡ 7 0 1 1 -1 2 Wade Belak‡ 15 0 0 0 0 25 Janis Sprukts 1 0 0 0 0 0 Kenndal McArdle 3 0 0 0 -1 2 Tanner Glass 3 0 0 0 0 7 Jason Garrison 1 0 0 0 0 0

Goaltenders

Regular season
Player GP Min W L OT GA GAA SA SV Sv% SO Tomas Vokoun 59 3324 26 23 6 138 2.49 1855 1717 .926 6 Craig Anderson 31 1635 15 7 5 74 2.71 977 903 .924 3

^†Denotes player spent time with another team before joining Panthers. Stats reflect time with Panthers only.
^‡Traded mid-season
Bold/italics denotes franchise record

Note:

Pos = Position; GPI = Games played in; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes; +/- = Plus/minus; PPG = Power-play goals; SHG = Short-handed goals; GWG = Game-winning goals

Min, TOI = Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T,T/OT = Ties; OTL = Overtime losses; GA = Goals-against; GAA = Goals-against average; SO = Shutouts; SA = Shots against; SV = Shots saved; SV% = Save percentage;

Awards and records

Records

Milestones

Regular Season
Player	Milestone	Reached
Jason Garrison	1st NHL Game	October 25, 2008
Jay Bouwmeester	400th NHL Game	November 2, 2008
Kamil Kreps	100th NHL Game	November 2, 2008
Tomas Vokoun	500th NHL Game	March 7, 2009

Transactions

Trades

June 20, 2008	To Florida Panthers Nick Boynton Keith Ballard 2nd-round pick in 2008 – Jared Staal	To Phoenix Coyotes Olli Jokinen
September 2, 2008	To Florida Panthers Bryan McCabe[2] 4th round pick in 2009	To Toronto Maple Leafs Mike Van Ryn
November 27, 2008	To Florida Panthers Nick Tarnasky	To Nashville Predators Wade Belak
March 4, 2009	To Florida Panthers Steve Eminger	To Tampa Bay Lightning Noah Welch 3rd-round pick in 2009 – Andrej Nestrasil

Free agents

Player Former team Contract Terms

Player New team

Claimed from waivers

Player Former team Date claimed off waivers

Draft picks

Florida's picks at the 2008 NHL entry draft in Ottawa • Ontario.

Round	#	Player	Position	Nationality	College/Junior/Club team (League)
2	31 (from Tampa Bay)	Jacob Markstrom	(G)	Sweden	Brynäs IF (Sweden Jr.)
2	46 (Nashville via Phoenix)	Colby Robak	(D)	Canada	Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL)
3	80 (from Colorado)	Adam Comrie	(D)	Canada	Saginaw Spirit (OHL)
4	100	AJ Jenks	(LW)	United States	Plymouth Whalers (OHL)
7	190	Matthew Bartkowski	(D)	United States	Lincoln Stars (USHL)

See also

• 2008–09 NHL season

Farm teams

The Florida Panthers maintain affiliations with two minor league teams, the Rochester Americans and the Florida Everblades.