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).

Ference spent nearly four years in the Panthers organization before being traded to the Phoenix Coyotes on March 8, 2003, for Darcy Hordichuk and a second-round selection in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft.

He was on the move again at the end of the season, signing a one-year contract as an unrestricted free agent on July 26, 2006, with the Calgary Flames.

After Ference's contract with the Flames ended he was signed by the Detroit Red Wings and spent a year with their AHL affiliate, the Grand Rapids Griffins.

Ference was offered a 1-year deal from Anyang Halla of Asia League Ice Hockey in summer of 2008, but did not sign as his wife was pregnant.