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1:59Maple Leafs Sign Sergei Bobrovsky
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1:48Jets Sign Goalie Stuart Skinner to 2-Year Deal
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1:17Golden Knights Sign Rasmus Andersson to 7-Year Extension
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0:49Sergei Bobrovsky Signs 3-Year, $21M Deal with Maple Leafs
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1:26What to Make of the 2026 NHL Free Agent Class
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0:57What the Free Agency Market Looks Like for Sergei Bobrovsky
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1:15Bobrovsky's Future With Panthers Is Up In The Air
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0:42Patrice Bergeron Elected into 2026 Hall of Fame Class
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0:50Brady Tkachuk Trade Turns Panthers Back Into Cup Contenders
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1:01Brandon Bussi Answers the Call for Carolina
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1:06Surplus of Goals Defining Stanley Cup Final
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1:40John Tortorella In 1st Cup Final Since Winning In 2004 With Lightning
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10:14Reasons Why the Golden Knights Can Win the Stanley Cup
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1:00Breaking Down Hurricanes' Playoff OT Success
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1:23Can Montreal Handle Carolina's Forecheck?
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5:14Breaking Down the 2026 NHL Head Coaching Carousel
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1:16Maple Leafs Job Open After Craig Berube Firing
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1:23Why the Oilers Fired Head Coach Kris Knoblauch
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1:26Why Do the Oilers Always Fall Behind in the Playoffs?
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1:42Why the Golden Knights Can Win the Cup
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Top Panthers News
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Panthers' Sandis Vilmanis: Could begin year on third line
Vilmanis could have an opportunity to begin the 2026-27 season on the third line alongside Anton Lundell and Eetu Luostarinen, George Richards of Florida Hockey Now reports.
Vilmanis made his NHL debut during the 2025-26 campaign, racking up three goals, two assists, 39 hits, five blocked shots and four PIM over 19 games. He signed a two-year contract extension with the Panthers during the offseason, and he could see a larger role than expected to begin the year since Brad Marchand's (lower body) availability for the start of the regular season is in question after he underwent offseason surgery.
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Panthers' Brad Marchand: Availability for start of season in doubt
Marchand (lower body) had offseason surgery and could be unavailable for the start of the 2026-27 campaign, according to George Richards of Florida Hockey Now on Saturday.
Marchand sat out the final 19 games of the 2025-26 regular season due to what is believed to be a hip and sports hernia injury. He had 27 goals and 54 points in 52 appearances before ending the year on long-term injured reserve. With Marchand's availability unclear, Sandis Vilmanis, Cole Schwindt, Cole Reinhardt and Sam Lafferty could be in the mix for a roster spot with the Panthers out of training camp.
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Panthers' Akira Schmid: Inks two-year deal
Schmid signed a two-year, $4 million contract with the Panthers on Friday, per Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet.
Schmid and Florida managed to avoid an arbitration hearing by agreeing to this deal. The 26-year-old netminder had a 16-10-6 record, 2.59 GAA and .893 save percentage in 34 regular-season appearances with Vegas in 2025-26. Florida acquired him from the Golden Knights on June 29 in exchange for a 2028 third-round pick. Schmid is likely to serve as the Panthers' No. 2 netminder behind Jacob Markstrom (undisclosed).
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Panthers' Mikulas Hovorka: Re-ups with Florida
Hovorka signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Panthers on Tuesday, per PuckPedia.
Hovorka just completed his entry-level deal in 2025-26. He logged 18 points in 57 regular-season outings for AHL Charlotte last year, as well as one assist in four games with the Panthers. He will likely spend most of 2026-27 in the AHL.
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Panthers' Donovan Sebrango: Secures one-year deal
Sebrango agreed to terms on a one-year contract with Florida on Wednesday, David Dwork of The Hockey News reports. Per PuckPedia, the contract is a one-way deal worth $850,000.
Sebrango finished the 2025-26 season on a high note, recording four helpers in the final five games of the regular season. Still, the 24-year-old blueliner has yet to find the back of the net in 44 career NHL games, so fantasy managers probably shouldn't be banking on him producing a ton of offense.
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Panthers' Casey Fitzgerald: Back in Florida
Fitzgerald signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Panthers on Wednesday, per PuckPedia.
Fitzgerald's last four NHL games came with the Panthers in 2022-23. He spent 2025-26 with AHL Hartford, racking up 23 points and 85 PIM in 71 regular-season games. The 29-year-old blueliner will probably spend most or all of 2026-27 in the AHL with Charlotte.
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Panthers' Bokondji Imama: Joining Florida on two-way deal
Imama signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Panthers on Wednesday, Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald reports.
Imama brings some grit to the lineup, but he hasn't shown much offense in the NHL. With the Penguins last season, he logged three hits and five PIM over two appearances in December. He also had six goals, five assists and 137 PIM in 66 regular-season games for AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. Imama will probably spend most of 2026-27 in the AHL.
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Panthers' Sam Lafferty: Signs with Florida
Lafferty signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Panthers on Wednesday, Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald reports.
Lafferty earned just two points in 29 games for the Blackhawks in 2025-26. He added nine shots on net, 14 PIM and 35 hits. The 31-year-old will likely max out as a fourth-line option, and if he doesn't impress in training camp, he'll likely get waived and demoted to the AHL.
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Panthers' Sandis Vilmanis: Signs two-year extension
Vilmanis signed a two-year, $1.85 million contract extension with the Panthers on Wednesday.
Vilmanis will play on the last year of his entry-level contract in 2026-27 before the extension kicks in for 2027-28. Both years of the extension are one-way deals. Vilmanis had five points in 19 NHL games as well as 38 points in 48 regular-season outings for AHL Charlotte last season.
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Panthers' John Beecher: Heading to Florida
Beecher signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Panthers on Wednesday, Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald reports.
Beecher had three goals, four assists, 37 shots on net, 23 hits, 31 blocked shots and 31 PIM over 35 regular-season games between the Bruins and the Flames in 2025-26. The 25-year-old was not tendered a qualifying offer by Calgary on Monday. He'll compete for fourth-line minutes in Florida, but he may find himself on waivers prior to the start of the season if he doesn't impress in training camp.
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Panthers' Tobias Bjornfot: Sticking with Cats
Bjornfot signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Panthers on Wednesday, Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald reports.
Bjornfot had four points in 19 games with the Panthers last year, as well as 12 points in 33 regular-season outings for AHL Charlotte. The defenseman could stick around the NHL as a seventh blueliner, but there's a decent chance he spends at least some of 2026-27 in the AHL again.
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Panthers' Lars Eller: Gets one-year deal from Florida
Eller signed a one-year, $850,000 contract with the Panthers on Wednesday, per PuckPedia.
Eller also has the potential for $250,000 in performance bonuses -- four of which are $50,000 for games-played thresholds and the fifth for a Stanley Cup title. Eller struggled a bit with the Senators in 2025-26, earning 15 points, 50 hits, 33 blocked shots and 67 shots on net over 68 regular-season outings. He's likely to fill a fourth-line role once again, though there's no guarantee the 37-year-old will play on an everyday basis.
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Panthers' Alex Petrovic: Back with Cats
Petrovic signed a two-year contract with Florida on Wednesday.
The deal carries an $875,000 average annual value, per PuckPedia. Petrovic previously spent seven years with the Panthers, appearing in 254 regular-season games and tallying 49 points. Looking ahead to next season, the veteran blueliner is far from a lock for the lineup and could periodically serve as a healthy scratch. Still, he's a solid seventh defenseman to have around, even if that doesn't translate to much, if any, fantasy value.
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Panthers' Cole Schwindt: Remaining with Panthers
Schwindt signed a two-year, $1.75 million contract with the Panthers on Wednesday.
Schwindt didn't receive a qualifying offer from the Panthers on Monday, but he'll remain with the organization. His contract is a one-way deal in both years, per PuckPedia. Across 29 regular-season appearances with Florida in 2025-26, he recorded five goals, two assists, 39 hits and 11 blocked shots while averaging 10:02 of ice time.
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Panthers' Radko Gudas: Agrees to terms with Florida
Gudas (ankle) signed a six-year, $9 million contract with the Panthers on Wednesday, Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet reports.
The Ducks traded Gudas' rights to the Panthers on Monday. Florida was able to reach an agreement on a long-term deal with Gudas before free agency. Across 56 regular-season appearances with Anaheim last year, he recorded two goals, 11 assists, 164 hits, 88 blocked shots and 67 PIM while averaging 16:11 of ice time.
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Panthers' Eetu Luostarinen: Inks eight-year contract extension
Luostarinen is signing an eight-year, $40 million contract extension with the Panthers on Wednesday, David Dwork of The Hockey News reports.
Luostarinen appeared in 73 regular-season games during the 2025-26 campaign -- his lowest mark since the 2020-21 season -- but remained productive, logging 11 goals, 22 assists, 121 hits, 57 blocked shots and 32 PIM while averaging 16:34 of ice time. After spending the last six seasons with Florida, he'll remain under contract with the team on a long-term deal.
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Panthers' Angus Crookshank: Acquired in five-player trade
Florida acquired Crookshank and Jacob Markstrom (undisclosed) from New Jersey on Tuesday in exchange for Evan Rodrigues, (finger), Jesper Boqvist and Ben Steeves, Pierre LeBrun of TSN reports.
Crookshank had 24 goals and 36 points in 60 games for AHL Utica during the 2025-26 regular season. He also picked up one goal, seven blocked shots and five hits in eight NHL appearances with the Devils last campaign. Crookshank will compete for a depth role on Florida's Opening Night roster during training camp.
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Panthers' Jacob Markstrom: Dealt to Sunshine State
Florida acquired Markstrom (undisclosed) and Angus Crookshank from New Jersey on Tuesday in exchange for Evan Rodrigues, (finger) Jesper Boqvist and Ben Steeves, per Pierre LeBrun of TSN.
Before missing the final three games of the 2025-26 campaign because of nagging injuries, Markstrom went 23-19-1 with a 3.07 GAA, an .883 save percentage and one shutout in 44 regular-season appearances for the Devils. However, the veteran netminder will have bounce-back appeal in 2026-27 if he seizes control of the No. 1 role between the pipes with the Panthers.
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Panthers' Akira Schmid: Acquired by Florida
Schmid was dealt from the Golden Knights to the Panthers on Monday in exchange for a 2028 third-round pick.
Considering that the Panthers' goaltending duo of Sergei Bobrovsky and Daniil Tarasov is set to become unrestricted free agents, Schmid might have an opportunity to command a sizable role in 2026-27. It will be worth monitoring what the Panthers do with their goaltending situation when free agency begins, but Schmid could be an intriguing sleeper for fantasy managers this coming season, even if he's working in tandem with another netminder. The 26-year-old Schmid went 16-10-6 with a 2.59 GAA and an .893 save percentage over 34 regular-season games with Vegas in 2025-26. He will need a new contract as well, as he is a restricted free agent.
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Panthers' Radko Gudas: Rights traded to Florida
Gudas' (ankle) rights were traded to the Panthers from the Ducks on Monday in exchange for the rights to A.J. Greer.
Gudas spent the past three seasons in Anaheim, most recently generating two goals, 11 assists, 164 hits, 88 blocked shots and 67 PIM while averaging 16:11 of ice time across 56 regular-season appearances during the 2025-26 campaign. Prior to his stint with the Ducks, he spent three years with the Panthers, and he'll be eligible to sign with Florida before his impending free agency.
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Team Statistical Rankings
| GF AVG | GA AVG | Power Play | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Team |
2.97 (18th) |
3.31 (28th) |
19.5 (19th) |
Injuries
| Player | Injury |
|---|---|
| B. Marchand LW Brad Marchand LW | Lower Body |
| C. Verhaeghe C Carter Verhaeghe C | Lower Body |
| S. Bennett C Sam Bennett C | Lower Body |
| S. Jones D Seth Jones D | Foot |
| G. Forsling D Gustav Forsling D | Undisclosed |