after an impressive year as a backup in minnesota, théodore signed a two-year, $3 million contract with the florida panthers on july 1, 2011, to replace tomáš vokoun as florida's starting goaltender. on december 8, 2011, théodore played in his 600th regular season nhl game, against the boston bruins. he recorded 22 wins during the season, as he helped the panthers return to the playoffs for the first time since 2000. despite having home ice advantage in the first round, the panthers would lose game 7 to the new jersey devils in double overtime, 3–2, with théodore stopping 33 of 36 shots. he would spend one more year as florida's starter, which was cut short by injury, and then he was not retained by the club in the summer of 2013.