Jeff Petry Excited to Join Florida Panthers, Get Another Shot at the Stanley Cup

Jeff Petry Excited to Join Florida Panthers, Get Another Shot at the Stanley Cup

Hi, good morning everyone. Thanks so much for joining us. We’re going to go ahead and open it up for questions. We will go first to George Richards of Florida Hockey. Now, George, go ahead. There we go. How you doing, man? Good to see you.
Good to see Yeah. Thank
uh first off uh welcome to South Florida. Uh wanted to get your thoughts on uh coming here. Uh first off, what do you think you can add to this team and why is are the Florida Panthers such an attractive place to for you to sign here um as a free agent? Yeah, I mean it’s uh it’s an exciting uh exciting place to to play and you see, you know, obviously what they’ve accomplished over the last few years and um for me when I when I got the call that uh there was interest um in me coming there, I saw, you know, Bennett and and Eblad and Marant resigning. Um so when when they called um it was a no-brainer. Um, you know, just the the group, you hear about the group. Um, you know, what they they do together on the ice, off the ice. Um, you know, you hear so many good things about it. And, um, you know, like I said, when when they had interest, uh, it was a no-brainer for me.
Yeah. And it seems like guys that come here melled into the group pretty easily, right? I mean, is that that what you’ve heard? Yeah. Yeah. And I’ I’ve heard that and, you know, I’ve heard uh, you know, from several people. It’s uh you’re not you’re not expected to be something that you’re not. It’s uh you know they and they want you to come in and and be the player you are, be the person you are, and and not try to do something that uh isn’t within your your characteristics. Thank you.
We’ll go next to Jessica Blac of Script Sports. Hey Jeff, welcome to the Florida Panthers. Um, just curious, you know, we obviously know this Florida Panthers identity is a structured defense, but they also have forwards like Sam Reinhardt, like Alexander Barov who are so committed to the defensive style of the game. Uh, just curious your thoughts on stepping into a system that the responsibility doesn’t just lie on the Blueliners, it really is such a team commitment to the defensive side of the game. Yeah, I mean I think that’s that’s huge is um you know being a a a group of five all over the ice. I think um you know when you’re when you’re all committed uh in the defensive zone, it uh it just gives you gets you the puck back quicker to to go play in the offensive zone. So like you said, there’s there’s a number of guys um that are are great defensively, but you know, also have the ability to put the puck in the net. So, it’s an exciting group to join and um yeah, I’m looking forward to it. We’ll go to Jameson Olive, Florida Panthers.com.
Hey Jeff, welcome to the Panthers. Um obviously you got a whole army of boys at home. Just one, how excited is the family to get to Florida? And two, there was that great viral video years ago, a boy at the Panthers game cheering on the Panthers when you were with the Canadians. Just has he said anything about the move yet? Obviously, he’s uh probably about nine now, but how excited is he for this move?
Yeah, they’re they’re all excited. there. You know, when we told them the news, it was uh, you know, they have their they all have their own responses and, you know, it’s a little bit uh, you know, sad move moving away from their their friends at school and their hockey teams and and things here, but um, you know, the more they thought about it and they’re they’re excited for you know, for the year uh, down in Florida and our oldest, like you said, is uh, you know, cheering for the Panthers was a Panthers fan when I was with Montreal and you know he’s really big into baseball and it clicked with him. He’s like there’s not going to be snow and I’m going to be able to play baseball outside year round and he’s like I’m ready. So he’s they’re all excited now and um you know for us now it’s uh the mad dash to to get down there um look for housing, look for schools and um get settled before uh we get started in September. We’ll go to Jordan McFersonson of the Miami Herald. Yeah. Hey Jeff, first off, welcome. Uh, two questions for you. First one, uh, just the desire for you to get back into the playoffs. I know the last time you were there was with Montreal in 21’s been a little bit for you. Just for you to come to a team that obviously has been one of the top teams in the league last year. Just how much of an extra boost is that to be with a team that will hope most likely help you get back into the postseason at this stage in your career? Yeah, I mean that that was a also an important uh you know part of my decision was um you know wanting to be wanting to be in the playoffs, wanting to compete um you know for a Stanley Cup again and you know that that feeling of you know being really close in in Montreal um and then you know losing in the final that was that was a tough feeling and um you know I always said before my before my career is over, I want to be able to to be in that position again and and be on a team that can that can compete for for a Stanley Cup. And I think, you know, coming to Florida, I think that gives me a very good opportunity to do that.
And then secondly, I know you ended up coming back and finishing out the regular season, but know you missed a bit of a time with injury. Just physically, how are you feeling? How’s everything going with you healthwise? Yeah, everything everything’s feeling feeling good and um you know it was something that I I tried to push through. Um you know, you never want to miss time with an injury and uh wanted to push through it and then ended up uh just taking the time off, getting it uh getting it feeling better. Came back at the end of the year um and then now um you know having the last couple months to to fully fully recover, fully um go through the rehab process. uh get everything feeling good for uh to make sure I’m ready for the start of September. We’ll go to Adam Leech and sign of the Suns Sentinel.
Hi Jeff. Uh like everyone else, uh welcome to South Florida. Um you over the last couple years, we’ve seen defenseman come in, guys like Nate Schmidt, uh guys like Oliver Ecman Larson, these veteran defenders come in, uh have good seasons. Just how much did that appeal to you that you know that you can the Panthers have been good at melding in veteran defensemen over the last few years? Yeah, I mean you definitely you consider all things and the track record of of players that you spoke about is uh you know it’s apparent and um you know I think I think it speaks to the group um that they have that uh you know you can bring a new player in um and they and they fit in and do well. I think it’s it speaks to um you know like I I spoke about earlier as not trying to be somebody you’re not and and just coming in and playing your game and be be surrounded by uh you know great players with a with a great structure and um I think uh you know that’s something that I I strongly considered and in making my decision and uh like I said looking forward to to getting started. We’ll go next to Alex Bombgardner of Five Reason Sports.
Hey Jeff, welcome to South Florida. Obviously, you played in the Atlantic for a lot of your career, so you saw these Panthers groups um quite often, but do you know anyone personally on the team, whether that’s, you know, former hockey teams or maybe an offseason workout?
Um well, new to the team, Seth Jones. Uh played Worlds with him a couple times. um played with them last most recently last uh last summer. Um so know him a little bit and then uh Kulakov came to Pittsburgh at the trade deadline when I was there. um you know, unfortunately he got injured early on uh after he was treated there, but I got to know him a bit and uh played a few few games with him there and um so there’s a handful of guys that I’ve crossed paths with, but uh you know, more of them are just, you know, from from playing against them on on various different teams. Any further questions for Jeff? All right. Well, thanks everyone for taking the time. Oh, sorry, Adam from the Sunset and I’ll take one last one. Go ahead.
Oh, good. Um, yeah. So, you mentioned earlier like the team culture and stuff. Just uh you know, did you get any fun reactions, any phone calls from uh from some of the guys on the team kind of welcoming welcoming you to the team?
Yeah. Yeah, I got a few calls um couple text messages from the guys and um you know was I think the one that sticks out is uh was Chucky. he texted me and said, you know, I glad to have you on the team. I hated playing against you and uh looking forward to to playing with you and having fun this year. So, um you know, a lot of guys reached out, which is uh which was nice to nice to see and nice to hear and um yeah, like I said, looking forward to getting down there and uh meeting everybody in person.
Okay, I like one more. George Richards, Florida hockey now. Last one. Thanks, guys.
Yeah, sorry. Uh yeah, Brad Marshant had said uh at the parade that he was glad he didn’t have to play these guys anymore. You’ve played the Florida Panthers a lot over the years being in the division. Um how have you seen this team obviously grow from, you know, not, you know, just being a click away and then turning into what they have what they are now?
Yeah, I mean I’m gonna mirror what he said. It’s uh I’m glad to to not have to fa face these guys. Um, you know, I think you you look at the structure of their game. Um, you know, you have that you have, um, you know, a talented group up front that can score goals. Um, but it’s also it’s not every team that, you know, your skilled players have the grit and the the physicality of of the group that uh that we have here. So, um, you know, I think it’s it’s always been a hard, uh, hard team to play against, and like you said, I think, uh, the structure and the talent, um, and the work ethic that these guys have, I think is, uh, you know, what’s driven them over the top, uh, and and put them in the position that they are. Thank you.
Truly appreciate everyone’s time. Thanks again. Have a great rest of your day. Thank you. Thanks, Jeff. You

New Florida Panthers defenseman Jeff Petry meets the media on Thursday, July 3, 2025, after signing an one-year deal when free agency opened.

Petry comes to the Panthers after spending the past two seasons with the Detroit Red Wings.

The Panthers beat the Edmonton Oilers 5-1 in Game 6 of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final on June 17; it was the second straight year the Panthers beat the Oilers for the Cup.

Florida also re-signed Aaron Ekblad, Sam Bennett and Brad Marchand.

The Panthers Have Done It Again, Repeat as Cup Champs: https://floridahockeynow.com/florida-panthers-repeat-stanley-cup-champions-2025/

How Brad Marchand Joined the Florida Panthers: https://floridahockeynow.com/brad-marchand-joins-florida-panthers-how-it-happened-nhl-trade-bruins/

2024 Stanley Cup Champions Honored at the White House: https://floridahockeynow.com/stanley-cup-champion-florida-panthers-honored-at-white-house/

Florida Panthers, Tampa Bay Lightning Bringing Hockey Outdoors – In Florida: https://floridahockeynow.com/nhl-outdoor-hockey-miami-tampa-florida-panthers-lightning/

The Florida Panthers Get Their Rings. They’re Spectacular: https://floridahockeynow.com/florida-panthers-get-stanley-cup-championship-rings-theyre-spectacular/

The Florida Panthers Are Stanley Cup Champions: https://floridahockeynow.com/can-you-believe-it-florida-panthers-are-stanley-cup-champs/

Tuesday, the Panthers led 2-0 in the first off goals from Sam Reinhart and Matthew Tkachuk.

Reinhart made it 3-0 with his second of the game before he got his hat trick — and then a fourth goal.

Sam Bennett won the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP.

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Video Courtesy Florida Panthers / Panther Vision / Zoom