Brooklyn-born Vincent “Vinny” Viola — the CEO of Virtu Financial and a former chairman of the New York Mercantile Exchange — is in exclusive talks to buy the Florida Panthers hockey team, The Post has learned.
Viola, who lives in Manhattan and West Palm Beach, Fla., plans to be “very involved” in the team, along with his three sons.
His youngest, Travis, 25, is a big Panthers fan, said a source close to the talks.
While both sides are working to hammer out a deal within the next two weeks, nothing has been finalized.
Nevertheless, Viola is already trying to retain what he considers key personnel and is in talks with Panthers CEO Michael Yormark about a new contract, the source said.
He also plans to keep the team in its Sunrise, Fla., home despite poor attendance.
Viola, who is a Rangers fan, often goes to Florida Panthers games with his kids.
“He thinks he can turn the franchise into a winning team,” he source said.
Viola was overseas and unavailable for comment.
The Post exclusively reported on Tuesday that the National Hockey League was close to finding a buyer for the money-losing team.
Miami sports show host Andy Slater identified the suitor as Viola.
Viola has taken a chance at sports ownership before. He teamed with developer Bruce Ratner in 2004 to buy the New Jersey Nets but no longer owns an interest in the now-Brooklyn-based basketball team.
Viola’s high-frequency trading firm, Virtu, was among the bidders for Knight Capital last year after a trading glitch nearly sank the trading firm.