Panthers News

EASTERN ATLANTIC

Aleksander Barkov • C • Panthers

Aleksander Barkov Exits With Injury Thursday

Florida Panthers center Aleksander Barkov sustained an apparent lower-body injury in Thursday's overtime loss to the San Jose Sharks. He was hurt in the second period during a scrum along the boards. The Panthers captain missed the entire 2025-26 campaign after tearing his right ACL and MCL in training camp. Fortunately, his latest setback isn't related to last year's issue. "It's not related to his injury last year at all," Panthers head coach Paul Maurice said. "We'll have a good idea by [Friday] afternoon." Still, it's possible Barkov will miss time again, boosting the fantasy value of Sam Bennett and Anton Lundell.

12 hours ago

Jacob Markstrom • G • Panthers

Jacob Markstrom Shuts Out Defending Champions

Florida Panthers goaltender Jacob Markstrom stopped 15 pucks for his 26th career shutout in Tuesday's 1-0 overtime victory against the Carolina Hurricanes. Previously, only two Panthers shot-stoppers had recorded a shutout in a season-opening game. Markstrom's impressive performance helped Florida become the fifth team in history to shut out the reigning Stanley Cup champions in their season opener. Last season, Markstrom had one shutout with the New Jersey Devils, so he will be delighted with how his second Panthers debut went. The Panthers now travel to San Jose, where Markstrom will face Macklin Celebrini and the exciting Sharks in a tricky matchup.

2 days ago

Brady Tkachuk • LW • Panthers

Brady Tkachuk Considered Day-to-Day

Florida Panthers forward Brady Tkachuk (undisclosed) is considered day-to-day. The four-time All-Star left Tuesday's preseason game against Carolina early due to an undisclosed injury. While it's concerning that Tkachuk has sustained an injury during the preseason, Panthers head coach Paul Maurice expects the power forward to be available for the regular-season opener next week. Florida starts its campaign in Raleigh against the Hurricanes on Sept. 29. Tkachuk nearly managed a point per game last season, setting a high bar for his first season as a Panther.

Sep 24

Seth Jones • D • Panthers

Seth Jones Looking "Great" in Camp

Florida Panthers defenseman Seth Jones (foot) looked "great" during the first day of training camp, Kacy Hintz of Local 10 Miami reports. Jones had an injury-plagued 2025-26 campaign, missing 30 games. He broke his foot near the end of the regular season. Fortunately for the Panthers, Jones has recovered in time for training camp. As a versatile defenseman, Jones is highly valuable to Florida and fantasy managers alike. Last season, he recorded seven goals, 25 assists, 88 SOG, 61 blocks, and 47 hits in 52 appearances.

Sep 18

Brad Marchand • LW • Panthers

Brad Marchand to Miss Start of Season

Florida Panthers winger Brad Marchand (lower body) will be unavailable at the start of the season. A month ago, the veteran forward revealed he had undergone surgery during the offseason. On Wednesday, Panthers general manager Bill Zito said Marchand should be back "early in the season." Marchand was banged up for much of last season but still racked up points for fun. He notched 27 goals and 27 assists in 52 outings. This marked the first time in four seasons that Marchand averaged at least one point per game.

Sep 17

Gustav Forsling • D • Panthers

Gustav Forsling Participating in Informal Skates

Florida Panthers defenseman Gustav Forsling (undisclosed) has been taking part in informal skates ahead of training camp, Jameson Olive of the Panthers' official site reports. Forsling sat out the final two games of the 2025-26 season, but he's good to go for the new campaign. The Swedish rearguard plays a key role in the Panthers' defense. However, his game doesn't translate well to fantasy. Last season, Forsling recorded 28 points (two goals, 26 assists), 112 SOG, 98 blocks, 52 hits, and a minus-five rating in 80 appearances.

Sep 10

Brad Marchand • LW • Panthers

Brad Marchand Could Miss Start of Season

Florida Panthers winger Brad Marchand (lower body) is recovering from offseason surgery and may miss the start of the 2026-27 campaign, George Richards of Florida Hockey Now reports. According to Richards, Marchand is believed to be dealing with a hip injury and a sports hernia. Health issues limited Marchand to just 52 games last term, and now it appears he could be sidelined at the start of the upcoming season as well. The Panthers will kick off their regular season on Sept. 29, playing on the road against the Carolina Hurricanes.

Aug 17

Akira Schmid • G • Panthers

Akira Schmid Signs Two-Year Deal With Panthers

Florida Panthers goaltender Akira Schmid has agreed to a two-year, $4 million contract. He was scheduled for a salary arbitration hearing next week, but that won't be necessary now. Schmid joined the Panthers in late June when the team acquired his rights from the Vegas Golden Knights. The 26-year-old posted a 16-10-6 record, a 2.59 goals-against average, a .893 save percentage, and two shutouts last season. The Panthers' blue paint will look very different next season, with Jacob Markstrom also brought in this offseason and Sergei Bobrovsky heading to Toronto. Schmid is set to be Markstrom's backup in Sunrise.

Jul 25

Eetu Luostarinen • C • Panthers

Eetu Luostarinen Signs Eight-Year, $40 Million Extension With Panthers

Florida Panthers forward Eetu Luostarinen has received a major pay bump, signing an eight-year, $40 million contract extension with the team. He will finish a three-year, $9 million deal in 2026-27. The 27-year-old Finnish forward has skated six seasons with the Panthers, notching 33 points (11 goals, 22 assists) in 73 appearances last term. He also had 107 SOG and 121 hits. Luostarinen has been used throughout the lineup, fitting in seamlessly and making solid contributions at both ends of the ice, though his fantasy value isn't very high.

Jul 1

Jacob Markstrom • G • Panthers

Jacob Markstrom Returns to Florida

The Florida Panthers have acquired goaltender Jacob Markstrom from the New Jersey Devils. The Swedish shot-stopper rejoins the team that drafted him in 2008. In the transaction, the Devils also parted ways with minor-league forward Angus Crookshank in exchange for three forwards: Evan Rodrigues (finger), Jesper Boqvist, and Ben Steeves. Markstrom had a tough year in 2025-26, but he now finds himself in a good position to bounce back. He has strong career numbers, including a 2.73 goals-against average and a .907 save percentage. Meanwhile, Sergei Bobrovsky is expected to move on after being the No. 1 in Sunrise for seven seasons.

Jul 1

Brady Tkachuk • LW • Panthers

Panthers Acquire Brady Tkachuk

The Florida Panthers made a blockbuster move on Sunday, acquiring forward Brady Tkachuk from the Ottawa Senators, ESPN's Emily Kaplan reports. The Senators parted ways with their captain in exchange for three first-round draft picks and a second-round pick. Tkachuk will link up with his brother, Matthew, in Florida, joining a stacked team that will look to bounce back next season after missing the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs. According to Kaplan, Ottawa talked with a handful of teams about Tkachuk in recent weeks before sending him to Florida. The star forward had a no-trade clause in his seven-year, $57.5 million contract, which has two seasons remaining. Tkachuk is in the prime of his career and could have a big fantasy season in 2026-27 if he stays healthy.

Jun 22

Aleksander Barkov • C • Panthers

Aleksander Barkov Cleared for World Championship

Florida Panthers center Aleksander Barkov (knee) will play for Team Finland in the World Championship, ESPN's Emily Kaplan reports. The Panthers captain missed the entire 2025-26 NHL campaign due to a knee injury, but he was medically cleared to play by team doctors on Wednesday. The World Championship will be played from May 15 to May 31 in Switzerland. Anton Lundell (ribs), who missed Florida's final 14 games, will also suit up for Finland. Lundell's usage will suffer next season with Barkov back in the lineup. Before his knee injury, Barkov was a point-per-game player for five consecutive campaigns. The missed year might affect his productivity in 2026-27.

Apr 16

Gustav Forsling • D • Panthers

Gustav Forsling Sits Out Season Finale

Florida Panthers defenseman Gustav Forsling (back) won't play on Wednesday against the Detroit Red Wings, Jameson Olive of the Panthers' official site reports. The Swedish rearguard is dealing with a back issue, finishing the season with 28 points (two goals, 26 assists), 112 SOG, and 98 blocks in 80 games. During the Panthers' injury-hit season, Forsling ended up being the only player to make at least 80 appearances. Mikulas Hovorka will take Forsling's place on the blue line, suiting up for only the fourth time in the NHL. The 24-year-old is still searching for his first points in the big league,

Apr 15

Matthew Tkachuk • LW • Panthers

Matthew Tkachuk Rejoins Panthers Lineup Wednesday

Florida Panthers winger Matthew Tkachuk (personal) will return from a four-game absence on Wednesday night against the Detroit Red Wings, Jameson Olive of the Panthers' official site reports. The star forward has been away from the team after becoming a father for the first time in early April. Tkachuk has appeared in 30 games this season, producing 13 goals and 19 assists. Last month, he rocked the Red Wings with five points (three goals, two assists) in two games. Tkachuk is projected to skate with Mackie Samoskevich and Eetu Luostarinen on the first line, replacing Tomas Nosek (leg) in the lineup. He will also be one of Florida's primary weapons on the power play.

Apr 15

Seth Jones • D • Panthers

Seth Jones to Miss Rest of Season Due to Broken Foot

Florida Panthers defenseman Seth Jones (foot) will be unavailable for the final few games of the regular season, Jameson Olive of the Panthers' official site reports. He suffered a broken bone in his foot during Tuesday's loss to Montreal. Earlier in the season, Jones missed time due to an upper-body injury and will finish the campaign with only 52 appearances. He posted 32 points (seven goals, 25 assists), 88 SOG, 61 blocks, and 47 hits. The Panthers' blue line has already been without Dmitry Kulikov (finger), Aaron Ekblad (finger), Uvis Balinskis (foot), and Niko Mikkola (lower body) to end the year. Mike Benning is a major beneficiary of the injury crisis and will join the first power-play unit on Thursday against Ottawa.

Apr 9

Dmitry Kulikov • D • Panthers

Dmitry Kulikov Done for the Season After Breaking Finger

Florida Panthers defenseman Dmitry Kulikov (finger) will miss the rest of the season, Jameson Olive of the Panthers' official site reports. In Tuesday's loss to the Montreal Canadiens, Kulikov became the third Panthers player to break a finger late in the season. This happened a few games after Kulikov broke his nose. Health issues made it a frustrating campaign for Kulikov, as he was limited to only 19 appearances. The stay-at-home defenders didn't score a single point this season. Florida's defense is also missing Uvis Balinskis (foot), Aaron Ekblad (finger), and Niko Mikkola (knee), giving more fantasy value to Michael Benning and Tobias Bjornfot.

Apr 8

Matthew Tkachuk • LW • Panthers

Matthew Tkachuk Sits Out Tuesday's Game

Florida Panthers winger Matthew Tkachuk (personal) won't play on Tuesday against the Montreal Canadiens, Jameson Olive of the Panthers' official site reports. He has left the team to be with his wife for the birth of their first child. Considering Florida has nothing left to play for, it wouldn't be surprising if Tkachuk misses several games. His absence will give Mackie Samoskevich a chance to skate on the first line against Montreal. The 23-year-old has grown his reputation recently, scoring in four consecutive games before he finished pointless in Sunday's loss to Pittsburgh. He could be a good addition to fantasy squads, especially since Samoskevich will also log time on the first power-play unit.

Apr 7

Aaron Ekblad • D • Panthers

Aaron Ekblad to Be Out for "Weeks" With Broken Finger

Florida Panthers defenseman Aaron Ekblad (finger) will be out for "weeks," according to head coach Paul Maurice. He broke a finger in Tuesday's win over Ottawa. There are only two weeks remaining in the regular season, so it appears likely that we have seen the last of Ekblad in 2025-26. He is set to finish his 12th NHL campaign with 26 points (four goals, 22 assists), 97 SOG, 103 blocks, and 84 hits in 72 games. The Panthers defense will also be without Dmitry Kulikov (nose) for Thursday's matchup with Boston. Tobias Bjornfot and Mikulas Hovorka will be inserted into the lineup for the game. Meanwhile, Mike Benning will get a chance to skate on the second power-play unit, making him a more attractive fantasy option.

Apr 2

Evan Rodrigues • C • Panthers

Evan Rodrigues to Have Season-Ending Surgery

Florida Panthers forward Evan Rodrigues (finger) will have season-ending surgery, George Richards of Florida Hockey Now reports. The 32-year-old broke a finger last week, and it was reported that he was expected to miss the rest of the campaign. With him now scheduled for surgery, Rodrigues' absence for the remainder of the season is confirmed. He will finish the year with 31 points (11 goals, 20 assists) in 69 games. Florida has also lost Sam Reinhart (foot), Brad Marchand (lower body), Anton Lundell (ribs), and Jonah Gadjovich (upper body) until the end of the season, so the team's offense will look very different in the final few games.

Apr 1

Sam Reinhart • C • Panthers

Sam Reinhart Won't Return This Season

Florida Panthers forward Sam Reinhart (foot) will be out for the rest of the season, Jameson Olive of the Panthers' official site reports. Sidelined since mid-March with a foot injury, there's little incentive for the team to bring Reinhart back with the playoffs out of reach. The 30-year-old will finish the campaign with 29 goals and 61 points in 64 games. With Reinhart out of the picture, players like Mackie Samoskevich and A.J. Greer are poised to have bigger roles for the rest of the way.

Apr 1

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