Before ever playing a game for the Canucks, Ference was traded on January 17, 1999 along with Pavel Bure, Bret Hedican and third-round selection in the 2000 NHL Entry Draft (Robert Fried) to the Florida Panthers for Dave Gagner, Ed Jovanovski, Mike Brown, Kevin Weekes and a first-round selection in the 2000 NHL Entry Draft (Nathan Smith).