…Mike Vernon played for the Panthers?
You may have forgotten, but Calgary Flames legend - whose number was retired by the organization despite some bitter times - had a (brief) stint with the Florid Panthers close to 25 years ago.
After being acquired via trade by the Cats in December of 1999 when Trevor Kidd went down to injury, Vernon suited up for the Panthers for 34 games during the 1999-00 season.
In that small window of time with Florida, Vernon put together an 18-13-2 record — good enough to help lead the Panthers into the playoffs, a place the Cats had not been back to for two years. Despite being swept by the eventual cup-winning Devils, Vernon was solid for the Panthers that season, boasting a .919 SV% and 2.54 GAA. Right up there with impressive stats was him stopping 124 of 136 shots during the New Jersey series.
When the 2000 Expansion Draft welcomed the Columbus Blue Jackets and Minnesota Wild to the league, Florida brass had a tough decision to make: Protect Vernon, or keep the young Trevor Kidd (10 years Vernon’s junior) around? Florida went with Kidd and Vernon was selected by the Minnesota Wild, who quickly flipped him to Calgary where he would finish his career with the team he spent the first 11 seasons of his career with.
I definitely remember Vernon being nasty, but must admit that my memory is fuzzy when it comes to his time with Florida. It wasn’t until I was watching an old game a couple days ago that I (somewhat) remembered him in a leaping cat sweater.
Interesting to note that Vernon was selected to the HHOF in June of this year, making him one of seven former-Panthers to have this honor bestowed on them.
The other Panthers enshrined in Toronto’s famed HOF are: Roberto Luongo, Pavel Bure, Ed Belfour, Dino Ciccarelli, Igor Larionov and Joe Nieuwendyk. Some serious Cat talent in that group.
[Image from Florida Panthers Virtual Vault]
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Hope you’re having a great summer…Go Panthers!