Revisiting Every Panthers Player to Win an Individual NHL Award – The Hockey Writers –

Throughout their franchise history, the Florida Panthers have produced a variety of individual award winners who celebrated successful seasons across the spectrum of awards. A Panther has won the Masterton, Calder, Conn Smythe, Selke, Lady Byng, and Rocket Richard, and each award-winning season will get a proper retrospective. At the same time, we look ahead to see whether the organization can add more to the trophy case. Is this the year a Hart Trophy finds its way to South Florida?

Jaromir Jagr (2015-16) – Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy

The Bill Masterton Award is awarded to the player who best exemplifies perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to hockey. The 2015-16 recipient of this award came from the Florida Panthers. For his play that season the award was given to 43 year old right winger Jaromir Jagr. That season, he played in 79 games and had 27 goals and 39 assists for 66 points. He finished with 48 penalty minutes and a plus-23 rating. He also played in six playoff games and had zero goals and two assists across that stretch.

Jonathan Huberdeau (2012-13) – Calder Memorial Trophy

The 2012-13 Calder Trophy winner is awarded to the rookie of the year. In 2012-13, it went to a Florida Panther for the first time, and it went to the third-overall pick in the 2011 draft, Jonathan Huberdeau. In a shortened season in which he played all 48 games, he finished with 14 goals and 17 assists for 31 points, adding 18 penalty minutes and a minus-15 rating. He had a productive rookie season and went on to have a lengthy successful run with the club until they eventually moved him in a deal to Calgary, getting the team Matthew Tkachuk.

Aaron Ekblad (2014-15) – Calder Memorial Trophy

The second Calder Trophy winning season in the organization’s history came in the 2014-15 season with Defencemen Aaron Ekblad capturing it for his play. As a rookie, playing high end minutes on the right side, he appeared in 81 of 82 games. On the offensive end of things he finished with 12 goals and 27 assists for a total of 39 points. He even provided a bit of physicality with 32 penalty minutes and finished as a plus 12. As a defenseman, having that type of offensive production while being so heavily relied upon certainly called for winning the Calder that season.

Sam Bennett (2024-25) – Conn Smythe Trophy

The Conn Smythe Trophy is awarded to the most valuable player of a given playoff run, and in the 2024-25 playoff campaign that award went to a Florida Panther for the first time. Sam Bennett received it, and across his 23 playoff games, he registered 15 goals and seven assists for 22 points. He also brought a physical presence and finished with 48 penalty minutes during his playoff run.

Aleksander Barkov (2020-21) – Frank J Selke Trophy

Throughout Panthers franchise history only one player has won the Frank J Selke Trophy, Aleksander Barkov holds claim to that award on three separate occasions. The first of which came for his play during the 2020-21 season. That was a 56-game season in which he played 50 games and contributed offensively with 26 goals and 32 assists for 58 points. He finished that campaign with a plus-12 rating and 14 penalty minutes.

He averaged 20:56 of time on ice per game across his regular season. He posted a 54.9% success rate in the face-off dot and was able to block 37 shots and force 39 takeaways. His defensive and offensive success helped him capture the his first in the category.

Aleksander Barkov (2023-24) – Frank J Selke Trophy

The Finnish captain Alex Barkov took claim to another individual award in the 2023-24 season, driven by his standout two-way play. During his season, he appeared in 73 games and finished with 23 goals and 57 assists for 80 points. He posted a plus-33 rating and 24 penalty minutes. He averaged 19:38 of time on ice per game and recorded a 57.3% success rate in the face-off dot and was also able to contribute 50 blocked shots, 104 hits, and 61 takeaways. He was instrumental in shutting down opponents’ top lines and added offensive value, securing his second Selke Trophy.

Aleksander Barkov (2024-25) – Frank J Selke Trophy

Alex Barkov was able to claim the award for his play during the 2024-25 season. In his run, he appeared in 67 games and had 20 goals and 51 assists for 71 total points. He finished the season with a plus-one rating and 16 penalty minutes. He averaged 20:15 of time on ice per game and was at 56.5% success in the face-off dot. He blocked 54 shots and registered 87 hits as well as 34 takeaways. He had yet another standout defensive season and was key in shutting down other teams’ top opponents on the route to being selected as the best defensive forward.

Brian Campbell (2011-12) – Lady Byng Memorial Trophy

The Lady Byng Award goes to the player who best combines sportsmanship, gentlemanly conduct, and high-standard playing ability, and in 2011-12 it went to a Florida Panther for the first time: defenseman Brian Campbell. That season, he played all 82 games and had four goals and 49 assists for 53 points. He finished with a minus-nine rating and only six penalty minutes, which was a key part of his Lady Byng-winning campaign, beating out Jordan Eberle and Matt Moulson.

Aleksander Barkov (2018-19) – Lady Byng Memorial Trophy

Alex Barkov was the second Lady Byng winner in organization history. In his Lady Byng-winning campaign in 2018-19, he played all 82 games with 35 goals and 61 assists for 96 points. He finished with a minus-3 and with eight penalty minutes across his plenty of ice time. His lack of infractions, plus his success and demeanor, led him to win the Lady Byng, beating out Ryan O’Reilly and Sean Monahan.

Pavel Bure (1999-00) – Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy

The Rocket Richard Trophy goes to the NHL’s league leader in goals in a given season, and for a two-season run, one player dominated this award and gave the Panthers their only two in franchise history. Pavel Bure, acquired from the Canucks, acquired from the Canucks won the award in the 1999-00 and 2000-01 seasons. In his first Rocket Richard campaign, he appeared in 74 games and scored 58 goals and 36 assists for 94 points. The 58 goal total places him second all time in the Panthers record books for a single season goal total. He was also able to finish out the campaign with 16 penalty minutes and a plus 25 rating. During that season he also appeared in four playoff games and finished with one goal and three assists.

Pavel Bure (2000-01) – Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy

The highest goal total in Panthers history and his second Rocket Richard Trophy win in the 2000-01 campaign. In 82 games that season, he registered 59 goals and 33 assists for a 92 point total. His 59 goal mark is good for the Panthers single season record. On the season he also finished with 58 Penalty Minutes and a minus two.

Potential Panthers Award Winners This Season

Alex Barkov has had a variety of individual awards come his way, but the Hart has still eluded him. If the Panthers can have the prominent level of team success many project for them this season he, as the number one center, captain and leader could have that in store. Not mention his offensive production and renowned defensive ability, certainly offers a real possibility for him to secure a Hart Trophy. 

With the chance for team success, another potential first-time Panthers award could go to new acquisition Jakob Markstrom as a potential Vezina Trophy winner. With the winning environment the Panthers could provide, plus his projected workload and high-end statistical season, he could have a shot.

The next potential first-time award for the organization would be Head Coach Paul Maurice and his ability to secure the franchise’s first Jack Adams Award. Continued winning as a franchise, along with his reputation as a veteran coach and his never having won the award, could make this a franchise-first.

With all the individual award wins across Panthers history, there’s still a handful of awards they have not held the honor of winning yet. This gives them a real chance to win some first-time franchise awards this season.