Plagens is entering his tenth season with the Panthers
It's time for a Florida Panthers appreciation post.
Tuesday is National Radio Day, which gives us the perfect opportunity to heap some praise on Florida's longtime radio voice Doug Plagens.
Following a broadcasting career that included stops with the ECHL's Idaho Steelheads, AHL's Lake Erie Monsters and even the Arena Football League's Cleveland Gladiators, Plagens joined the Panthers in 2015 and has become an integral part of the team's local multimedia footprint.
In addition to what he does as Florida's play-by-play man, Plagens also co-hosts the Panthers official podcast Territory Talk and is active in the South Florida community, often being seen at different team events, most recently making a reading appearance at the Cats' Summer Reading Tour.
Perhaps coincidentally (or perhaps not), the Panthers have enjoyed more success during Plagens' tenure with the team than any other decade in franchise history.
They reached the postseason during his first season in 2015-16, which was only Florida's second playoff appearance since the year 2000, and they haven't missed the playoffs since 2019.
"My goal was always to be a play-by-play announcer at the NHL level, and to do it here in Florida has been every bit the dream come true I hoped it would be," Plagens told THN Florida Tuesday.
For those not keeping count, that’s six postseason appearances for the Panthers in Plagens nine seasons behind the mic.
Can you say "lifetime contract"?
Between his incredible talent and the pure joy and emotion that comes through his calls, it's no surprise why Plagens has become a beloved part of Panthers hockey.
"To see the team build to where it is now, and to share that experience with our great fans and the broadcast crew I work with every night has been an absolute thrill," he said.
On Tuesday, the team put together an excellent tribute video dedicated to Plagens for National Radio Day.
Check it out below:
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