Florida Panthers President & CEO Matthew Caldwell responds to Las Vegas being awarded the 2022 NHL Al-Star Weekend festivities the Panthers expected to host. DAVID SANTIAGO dsantiago@miamiherald.com
Florida Panthers president and CEO Matt Caldwell is leaving the organization to become the CEO of the Minnesota Timberwolves and Lynx, the Panthers announced Wednesday.
“This is a massive opportunity,” Caldwell told the Miami Herald in a phone interview shortly after the news was announced. “The NBA is a huge global platform. It’s a new ownership group that we know well. The Viola family has been unbelievably supportive. I’m ready for the next challenge.”
Caldwell has been with the Panthers since 2014, first as the team’s chief operating officer before being promoted to president and CEO two years later.
“Since joining the Panthers in 2014, Matt has led by example, serving our employees, clients, fans and the South Florida community with passion and professionalism. His determination drove our franchise turnaround and helped instill a culture of excellence, and now he is ready for his next challenge,” Panthers owner Vincent J. Viola said in a statement. “There are very few opportunities I would advise him to pursue, but working with Alex Rodriguez and Marc Lore on a global platform like the NBA is at the top of that list. It’s tremendously bittersweet for our family, but we recognize this is an exceptional opportunity and great next step in his career. Matt’s impact on our organization has been immeasurable and he leaves with our respect and gratitude.”
While Viola calls Caldwell’s impact “immeasurable,” there are some ways to measure Caldwell’s role in the Panthers’ rise to success as of late, which has resulted in three consecutive trips to the Stanley Cup Final and the franchise’s first two Stanley Cups.
The on-ice product is well seen, but Caldwell’s strategic work on the business side also helped make that a reality.
He played a pivotal role in building a front office team that is setting franchise records in ticket sales, TV viewership, and sponsorship revenue.
Caldwell’s leadership also ensured the franchise’s long-term presence in Broward County through arena lease negotiations along with the development of Panthers-operated facilities such as FTL War Memorial.
But what is Caldwell most proud of during his time with the Panthers?
“The fact that this has become a real hockey community,” Caldwell said. “You know, when we started, a lot of people didn’t take us serious. There was relocation rumors. There were attendance problems. But to see how Broward County in particular — our big partnership with them, their faith in us, and then all the fan base South Florida rallied behind us, we couldn’t have done this without them. They believed in our vision. It didn’t turn around right away — like anything in life that takes time — but to see kids wearing Panthers jerseys, the War Memorial and Ice Den packed with youth hockey, skating lessons, learn to play, all the community work we’ve done the years among us, program like that means so much to me because that’s changing lives and changing families. Obviously the Stanley Cups are amazing resume builders and have great experiences, but the long lasting impact of what hockey has meant to the local community is what I’m most proud of.”
And even though he’s leaving and there’s more turnover in the front office — two other departures have been reported recently in chief revenue officer Shawn Thornton and chief operating officer Bryce Hollweg — Caldwell believes the future is still bright for the Panthers. Michael Viola will oversee the transition process and lead the search for a new President of Business Operations.
“There’s strong ownership that’s fully dedicated,” Caldwell said. “We have the whole roster coming back. [President of hockey operations and general manager Bill] Zito, [head coach Paul] Maurice, the hockey staff is signed up long term. We built out a strong front office. ... The sign of a good leader is when he leaves things in a good place, and I didn’t do my job if I didn’t leave this in the right hands.”
This story will be updated.