The 2007–08 Florida Panthers season began on October 4, 2007, with a game at Madison Square Garden against the New York Rangers. It was the Panthers' 14th season in the National Hockey League (NHL). The Panthers failed to qualify for the playoffs for the seventh consecutive season for the first time in franchise history.
The 2007 NHL entry draft took place in Columbus, Ohio, on June 22–23. For a complete list of Panthers' draft picks, see below.
Regular season The Panthers tied the Montreal Canadiens for the fewest shorthanded goals allowed with just three.
Divisional standings
Conference standings
Schedule and results
| 1 || October 4 || Florida || 2 – 5 || NY Rangers || || Vokoun || 18,200 || 0–1–0 || 0 ||
| 2 || October 6 || New Jersey || 4 – 1 || Florida || || Vokoun || 19,250 || 0–2–0 || 0 ||
| 3 || October 10 || Florida || 1 – 2 || Tampa Bay || || Anderson || 18,540 || 0–3–0 || 0 ||
| 4 || October 11 || New Jersey || 0 – 3 || Florida || || Vokoun || 10,847 || 1–3–0 || 2 ||
| 5 || October 13 || Tampa Bay || 4 – 6 || Florida || || Vokoun || 15,801 || 2–3–0 || 4 ||
| 6 || October 16 || Florida || 2 – 1 || Montreal || SO || Vokoun || 21,273 || 3–3–0 || 6 ||
| 7 || October 18 || Florida || 2 – 3 || Toronto || || Anderson || 19,349 || 3–4–0 || 6 ||
| 8 || October 20 || Florida || 1 – 4 || Ottawa || || Vokoun || 19,904 || 3–5–0 || 6 ||
| 9 || October 24 || Philadelphia || 3 – 4 || Florida || || Vokoun || 12,856 || 4–5–0 || 8 ||
| 10 || October 26 || Buffalo || 4 – 2 || Florida || || Vokoun || 15,842 || 4–6–0 || 8 ||
| 11 || October 27 || Florida || 3 – 4 || Nashville || || Vokoun || 15,767 || 4–7–0 || 8 ||
| 12 || October 31 || Carolina || 2 – 4 || Florida || || Vokoun || 10,063 || 5–7–0 || 10 ||
| 13 || November 2 || Florida || 4 – 2 || Buffalo || || Vokoun || 18,690 || 6–7–0 || 12 ||
| 14 || November 3 || Florida || 2 – 4 || Carolina || || Vokoun || 17,547 || 6–8–0 || 12 ||
| 15 || November 5 || Tampa Bay || 3 – 4 || Florida || || Vokoun || 10,149 || 7–8–0 || 14 ||
| 16 || November 7 || Florida || 1 – 3 || Tampa Bay || || Vokoun || 16,526 || 7–9–0 || 14 ||
| 17 || November 9 || Atlanta || 4 – 1 || Florida || || Vokoun || 14,268 || 7–10–0 || 14 ||
| 18 || November 12 || Carolina || 4 – 3 || Florida || || Vokoun || 12,715 || 7–11–0 || 14 ||
| 19 || November 13 || Florida || 2 – 3 || Atlanta || OT || Anderson || 12,599 || 7–11–1 || 15 ||
| 20 || November 15 || Washington || 1 – 2 || Florida || || Vokoun || 12,101 || 8–11–1 || 17 ||
| 21 || November 17 || Florida || 1 – 2 || Carolina || || Vokoun || 16,962 || 8–12–1 || 17 ||
| 22 || November 19 || Florida || 4 – 3 || Washington || || Vokoun || 13,411 || 9–12–1 || 19 ||
| 23 || November 21 || Florida || 5 – 2 || Columbus || || Vokoun || 13,326 || 10–12–1 || 21 ||
| 24 || November 23 || NY Rangers || 2 – 3 || Florida || SO || Vokoun || 19,250 || 11–12–1 || 23 ||
| 25 || November 28 || Florida || 2 – 1 || Washington || SO || Vokoun || 10,526 || 12–12–1 || 25 ||
| 26 || November 29 || Boston || 4 – 3 || Florida || || Anderson || 14,926 || 12–13–1 || 25 ||
| 27 || December 1 || Washington || 2 – 1 || Florida || || Vokoun || 14,333 || 12–14–1 || 25 ||
| 28 || December 5 || Ottawa || 5 – 4 || Florida || || Anderson || 11,289 || 12–15–1 || 25 ||
| 29 || December 7 || NY Islanders || 0 – 3 || Florida || || Vokoun || 14,502 || 13–15–1 || 27 ||
| 30 || December 11 || Calgary || 2 – 1 || Florida || SO || Vokoun || 12,499 || 13–15–2 || 28 ||
| 31 || December 13 || Florida || 1 – 0 || St. Louis || || Vokoun || 14,088 || 14–15–2 || 30 ||
| 32 || December 15 || Florida || 2 – 5 || Detroit || || Vokoun || 20,066 || 14–16–2 || 30 ||
| 33 || December 16 || Florida || 3 – 1 || Chicago || || Vokoun || 12,926 || 15–16–2 || 32 ||
| 34 || December 18 || Florida || 3 – 2 || Montreal || || Vokoun || 21,273 || 16–16–2 || 34 ||
| 35 || December 20 || Carolina || 4 – 5 || Florida || || Vokoun || 15,061 || 17–16–2 || 36 ||
| 36 || December 22 || Toronto || 2 – 1 || Florida || OT || Vokoun || 18,500 || 17–16–3 || 37 ||
| 37 || December 27 || Florida || 5 – 3 || Atlanta || || Vokoun || 16,080 || 18–16–3 || 39 ||
| 38 || December 28 || Montreal || 5 – 1 || Florida || || Vokoun || 19,838 || 18–17–3 || 39 ||
| 39 || December 30 || Philadelphia || 1 – 0 || Florida || || Vokoun || 18,767 || 18–18–3 || 39 ||
| 40 || January 2 || Florida || 2 – 3 || New Jersey || || Vokoun || 14,124 || 18–19–3 || 39 ||
| 41 || January 3 || Florida || 4 – 3 || NY Islanders || OT || Anderson || 11,428 || 19–19–3 || 41 ||
| 42 || January 5 || Florida || 0 – 3 || Pittsburgh || || Vokoun || 17,090 || 19–20–3 || 41 ||
| 43 || January 8 || Pittsburgh || 3 – 1 || Florida || || Vokoun || 17,086 || 19–21–3 || 41 ||
| 44 || January 10 || Florida || 3 – 2 || Atlanta || SO || Vokoun || 14,805 || 20–21–3 || 43 ||
| 45 || January 12 || Tampa Bay || 5 – 3 || Florida || || Vokoun || 16,578 || 20–22–3 || 43 ||
| 46 || January 13 || Colorado || 4 – 3 || Florida || SO || Vokoun || 13,854 || 20–22–4 || 44 ||
| 47 || January 16 || Florida || 3 – 5 || Philadelphia || || Vokoun || 19,207 || 20–23–4 || 44 ||
| 48 || January 18 || Florida || 2 – 1 || New Jersey || || Anderson || 15,203 || 21–23–4 || 46 ||
| 49 || January 19 || Florida || 3 – 5 || Washington || || Vokoun || 16,973 || 21–24–4 || 46 ||
| 50 || January 22 || Ottawa || 3 – 5 || Florida || || Vokoun || 12,794 || 22–24–4 || 48 ||
| 51 || January 24 || Edmonton || 4 – 3 || Florida || SO || Vokoun || 12,322 || 22–24–5 || 49 ||
| 52 || January 30 || Buffalo || 1 – 0 || Florida || || Vokoun || 14,024 || 22–25–5 || 49 ||
| 53 || February 1 || Vancouver || 3 – 4 || Florida || SO || Vokoun || 17,523 || 23–25–5 || 51 ||
| 54 || February 2 || Florida || 3 – 2 || Tampa Bay || || Vokoun || 19,977 || 24–25–5 || 53 ||
| 55 || February 5 || Florida || 8 – 0 || Toronto || || Vokoun || 19,430 || 25–25–5 || 55 ||
| 56 || February 7 || Florida || 4 – 5 || Ottawa || || Vokoun || 19,435 || 25–26–5 || 55 ||
| 57 || February 9 || Florida || 6 – 3 || Boston || || Vokoun || 19,893 || 26–26–5 || 57 ||
| 58 || February 10 || Florida || 3 – 5 || Buffalo || || Anderson || 18,690 || 26–27–5 || 57 ||
| 59 || February 13 || Montreal || 2 – 1 || Florida || OT || Vokoun || 17,100 || 26–27–6 || 58 ||
| 60 || February 15 || Washington || 2 – 4 || Florida || || Vokoun || 16,202 || 27–27–6 || 60 ||
| 61 || February 16 || Florida || 4 – 5 || Carolina || || Vokoun || 17,737 || 27–28–6 || 60 ||
| 62 || February 19 || Florida || 2 – 2 || Pittsburgh || || Vokoun || 17,075 || 27–29–6 || 60 ||
| 63 || February 21 || Boston || 5 – 4 || Florida || SO || Vokoun || 14,992 || 27–29–7 || 61 ||
| 64 || February 23 || Florida || 2 – 1 || Philadelphia || OT || Anderson || 19,629 || 28–29–7 || 63 ||
| 65 || February 24 || Florida || 0 – 5 || NY Rangers || ||Anderson|| 17,645 || 28–30–7 || 63 ||
| 66 || February 27 || Toronto || 4 – 3 || Florida || SO || Vokoun || 14,457 || 28–30–8 || 64 ||
| 67 || February 29 || Minnesota || 3 – 2 || Florida || || Vokoun || 17,897 ||28–31–8 || 64 ||
| 68 || March 2 || Florida || 1 – 0 || NY Islanders || || Anderson || 15,314 || 29–31–8 || 66 ||
| 69 || March 4 || Florida || 1 – 0 || Boston || OT || Anderson || 16,478 || 30–31–8 || 68 ||
| 70 || March 6 || Pittsburgh || 2 – 5 || Florida || || Anderson || 17,012 || 31–31–8 || 70 ||
| 71 || March 8 || Atlanta || 2 – 3 || Florida || OT || Vokoun || 16,614 || 32–31–8 || 72 ||
| 72 || March 12 || NY Islanders || 2 – 4 || Florida || || Vokoun || 15,233 || 33–31–8 || 74 ||
| 73 || March 14 || NY Rangers || 2 – 3 || Florida || || Vokoun || 19,321 || 34–31–8 || 76 ||
| 74 || March 16 || Atlanta || 1 – 3 || Florida || || Vokoun || 15,704 || 35–31–8 || 78 ||
| 75 || March 20 || Carolina || 2 – 1 || Florida || SO || Vokoun || 18,546 || 35–31–9 || 79 ||
| 76 || March 22 || Tampa Bay || 2 – 4 || Florida || || Vokoun || 18,502 || 36–31–9 || 81 ||
| 77 || March 25 || Florida || 1 – 3 || Tampa Bay || || Vokoun || 16,110 || 36–32–9 || 81 ||
| 78 || March 27 || Atlanta || 3 – 2 || Florida || || Vokoun || 17,301 || 36–33–9 || 81 ||
| 79 || March 29 || Washington || 3 – 2 || Florida || || Vokoun || 17,832 || 36–34–9 || 81 ||
| 80 || April 1 || Florida || 3 – 2 || Atlanta || || Anderson || 15,453 || 37–34–9 || 83 ||
| 81 || April 4 || Florida || 4 – 3 || Carolina || || Anderson || 18,680 || 38–34–9 || 85 ||
| 82 || April 5 || Florida || 1 – 3 || Washington || || Anderson || 18,277 || 38–35–9 || 85 ||
Legend:
Player statistics
Skaters
Regular season Player GP G A Pts PIM Olli Jokinen 82 34 37 71 67 Nathan Horton 82 27 35 62 85 Stephen Weiss 74 13 29 42 40 David Booth 73 22 18 40 40Jay Bouwmeester 82 15 22 37 72 Richard Zednik 54 15 11 26 43 Rostislav Olesz 56 14 12 26 16 Kamil Kreps 76 8 17 25 29 Steve Montador 73 8 15 23 73 Jozef Stumpel 52 7 13 20 10
Goaltenders
Regular season Player GP Min W L OT GA SO SV% GAA Tomas Vokoun 69 4031 30 29 8 180 4 .919 2.63 Craig Anderson 17 935 8 6 1 35 2 .935 2.25
Awards and records
Records On October 24, Olli Jokinen scored two goals against the Philadelphia Flyers to surpass Scott Mellanby on the franchise's all-time goal-scoring (158) and points (355) lists.
Milestones Regular Season Player Milestone Reached Cory Murphy 1st NHL Game October 4, 2007 Cory Murphy 1st NHL Goal1st NHL Point October 6, 2007 Bryan Allen 300th NHL Game October 6, 2007 Cory Murphy 1st NHL Assist October 11, 2007 Stefan Meyer 1st NHL Game October 24, 2007 Ville Peltonen 100th NHL Point October 26, 2007 Olli Jokinen 400th NHL Point October 27, 2007 Radek Dvorak 300th NHL PIM November 2, 2007 Tanner Glass 1st NHL Game November 12, 2007
Transactions The Panthers have been involved in the following transactions during the 2007–08 season.
Trades June 13, 2007 To Florida Panthers 2nd-round pick in either 2007 or 2008 – Jacob Markstrom To Tampa Bay Lightning Chris Gratton June 22, 2007 To Florida Panthers Tomas Vokoun To Nashville Predators 1st-round pick in 2008 – Josh Bailey 2nd-round pick in 2007 – Nick Spaling conditional 2nd-round pick – Aaron Ness February 26, 2008 To Florida Panthers Wade Belak To Toronto Maple Leafs 5th-round pick in 2008 – Jerome Flaake February 26, 2008 To Florida Panthers Karlis Skrastins 3rd-round pick in 2008 – Adam Comrie To Colorado Avalanche Ruslan Salei February 26, 2008 To Florida Panthers Chad Kilger To Toronto Maple Leafs 3rd-round pick in 2008 – James Livingston
Free agents Player Former team Contract Terms Richard Zednik New York Islanders 2 years, $3.25 million Brett McLean Colorado Avalanche 3 years, $5.1 million Radek Dvorak St. Louis Blues 2 years, $3.1 million Player New team Martin Gelinas Nashville Predators Alexei Semenov San Jose Sharks Alex Auld Phoenix Coyotes
Draft picks Florida's picks at the 2007 NHL entry draft in Columbus, Ohio.2006 NHL Entry Draft Results nhl.com The Panthers had the 10th overall pick.
Round # Player Nationality College/Junior/Club team (League) 1 10 Keaton Ellerby (D) Kamloops Blazers (WHL) 2 40 Michal Repik (RW) Vancouver Giants (WHL) 3 71 Evgeny Dadonov (RW) Traktor Chelyabinsk (RSL) 4 101 Matt Rust (C) U.S. National Team Development Program (NAHL) 5 131 John Lee (D) Moorhead High School (USHS-MN) 6 181 Corey Syvret (D) Guelph Storm (OHL) 7 191 Ryan Wilson (LW) Cambridge Winterhawks (MWJHL) 7 202 Sergei Gaiduchenko (G) Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (RSL)
Farm teams
American Hockey League Florida has an affiliation agreement with the Rochester Americans for this season.
ECHL The Florida Everblades remained the Panthers' ECHL affiliate that season.
References
Player stats: Florida Panthers player stats on espn.com Game log: Florida Panthers game log on espn.com Team standings: NHL standings on espn.com