The Florida Panthers are gearing up for the 2026-27 NHL season, and with a few key additions and departures, they're looking to make a run for the Stanley Cup. The team's recent moves have been both strategic and intriguing, with a focus on bolstering their offensive and defensive capabilities. Here's a breakdown of the Panthers' offseason activities and what they might mean for the upcoming season.
Key Acquisitions
Brady Tkachuk: The Panthers acquired Brady Tkachuk from the Ottawa Senators in a trade that sent the No. 9 and No. 25 picks in the 2026 NHL Draft, a conditional first-round pick in 2029, and a second-round pick in 2027. Tkachuk, a 26-year-old forward, brings a wealth of talent to the team. With 59 points (22 goals, 37 assists) in 60 games last season, he's a strong candidate to join his older brother, Matthew, on the top line. His ability to create scoring opportunities and his advanced statistical performance make him a valuable asset.
Jacob Markstrom: Markstrom, a 36-year-old goaltender, returns to the Panthers after a successful stint with the New Jersey Devils. He replaces the legendary Sergei Bobrovsky, who signed with the Toronto Maple Leafs. Markstrom's 23-19-1 record, 3.07 goals-against average, and .883 save percentage in 44 games last season make him a reliable option between the pipes.
Garnet Hathaway: Hathaway, a 34-year-old forward, adds depth to the Panthers' forward corps. He had three points (one goal, two assists) in 66 games last season and will provide a veteran presence on the team.
Akira Schmid: Schmid, a 26-year-old goaltender, was acquired from the Vegas Golden Knights in a trade for a third-round pick in the 2028 NHL Draft. His 16-10-6 record, 2.59 goals-against average, and .893 save percentage in 34 games last season make him a promising backup option.
Radko Gudas: Gudas, a 36-year-old defenseman, signed a six-year contract with the Panthers after his rights were traded from the Anaheim Ducks. He brings experience and a strong defensive presence to the team.
Lars Eller: Eller, a 37-year-old forward, signed a one-year contract with the Panthers. He had 15 points (five goals, 10 assists) in 68 games for the Ottawa Senators last season and will provide a veteran presence in the forward corps.
Alexander Petrovic: Petrovic, a 34-year-old defenseman, signed a two-year contract with the Panthers. He had 10 points (two goals, eight assists) in 54 regular-season games for the Dallas Stars last season and previously played for the Panthers from 2012-19.
Key Departures
Sergei Bobrovsky: Bobrovsky, a 37-year-old goaltender, signed a three-year contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs. He spent seven seasons with the Panthers and helped them win the Stanley Cup twice. His departure is a significant loss for the team.
Evan Rodrigues: Rodrigues, a forward, was traded to the New Jersey Devils in the Markstrom deal. He had 31 points (11 goals, 20 assists) in 69 games last season.
Jesper Boqvist: Boqvist, a forward, was also part of the Markstrom trade to the New Jersey Devils. He had 13 points (four goals, nine assists) in 73 games last season.
A.J. Greer: Greer, a forward, signed a four-year contract with the Anaheim Ducks after being sent to Anaheim in the Gudas trade. He had 32 points (17 goals, 15 assists) in 78 games last season.
Mackie Samoskevich: Samoskevich, a forward, signed a three-year contract with the Seattle Kraken after being acquired in a trade. He had 32 points (12 goals, 20 assists) in 77 games last season.
Daniil Tarasov: Tarasov, a goaltender, signed a one-year contract with the Detroit Red Wings. He was the backup to Bobrovsky last season and played in an NHL career-high 33 games.
What They Still Need
The Panthers' success in the upcoming season hinges on their ability to stay healthy. The 2025-26 season was marred by injuries, with key players like Aleksander Barkov, Matthew Tkachuk, and others missing significant time. The team's potential championship roster was rebuilt in the offseason, but the need for a healthy lineup remains a critical factor.
Edge Stat to Watch
Brady Tkachuk's advanced statistical performance is a key edge for the Panthers. He ranks third in the NHL in offensive zone time percentage (48.6) and has the third-most high-danger shots on goal (639) since the start of the puck and player tracking era (2021-22). His ability to create scoring opportunities and his advanced statistical performance make him a valuable asset for the team.
Fantasy Spin
Forward Sam Bennett is a player to watch in fantasy leagues. He's one of three players with at least 100 goals, 1,000 shots on goal, and 700 hits over the past five seasons combined. Bennett was a fringe top 100 overall player in standard category fantasy leagues last season and could benefit from exposure to either of the Tkachuk brothers. Matthew Tkachuk, who led the Panthers in points per game last season, should return to a top-25 overall player now that he's fully healthy.
Projected Lineup
- Brady Tkachuk - Aleksander Barkov - Sam Reinhart
- Carter Verhaeghe - Sam Bennett - Matthew Tkachuk
- Eetu Luostarinen - Anton Lundell - Brad Marchand
- Sandis Vilmanis - Lars Eller - Garnet Hathaway
- Gustav Forsling - Aaron Ekblad
- Niko Mikkola - Seth Jones
- Dmitry Kulikov - Radko Gudas
- Jacob Markstrom
- Akira Schmid
