Panthers News

EASTERN ATLANTIC

Brad Marchand • LW • Panthers

Brad Marchand Ready For Panthers Debut On Friday

Florida Panthers left wing Brad Marchand (upper body) will make his team debut on Friday against the Utah Hockey Club. The veteran forward has been dealing with an upper-body injury for a few weeks since the Boston Bruins traded him to Florida. Marchand last played on March 1. He is expected to join the second line, working with Sam Bennett and Mackie Samoskevich. Florida will likely provide him with plenty of opportunities on the power play as well. Even at 36, Marchand has remained a productive winger, recording 21 goals and 47 points in 61 games this season.

18 hours ago

Brad Marchand • LW • Panthers

Brad Marchand Could Make Florida Debut On Friday

Florida Panthers left wing Brad Marchand (upper body) could make his Florida debut on Friday evening. Marchand was acquired by the Panthers during the trade deadline. Marchand has been sidelined due to this injury since the start of March. However, it appears the 36-year-old is nearing a return. Before the injury, Marchand tallied seven points (two goals) over his last eight contests. Through 61 games this season, Marchand has found the back of the net 21 times and added 26 helpers. He has tallied 13 of his points on the power play and added 66 hits with 27 blocked shots. When Marchand is cleared to return, fantasy managers should expect him to play on the top forward unit alongside Aleksander Barkov and Sam Reinhart.

3 days ago

Sam Reinhart • C • Panthers

Sam Reinhart Scores Twice On Sunday

Florida Panthers right wing Sam Reinhart found the back of the net twice during their shootout victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins on Sunday evening. Reinhart would open the scoring in the first period as he beat Tristan Jarry on a snapshot. Later in the second, Reinhart would find the back of the net again, this time on the power play. In this contest, he logged five total shots on goal with one hit. Over his last nine contests, the 29-year-old has scored four goals and added seven helpers, with seven of his total points coming on the power play. During this stretch, he logged 26 total shots on goal with 15 hits and six blocked shots. Through 71 total games, Reinhart has scored 35 goals and added 40 helpers. He remains an elite winger playing on the top offensive unit in Florida.

5 days ago

Sergei Bobrovsky • G • Panthers

Sergei Bobrovsky Facing Columbus On Thursday

Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky will get the starting nod on Thursday evening against the Columbus Blue Jackets. Bobrovsky allowed three goals on 15 shots during his last start and will look to bounce back this evening. Before that poor outing, Bobrovsky held a strong 4-1 record with a .949 save percentage and a 1.21 GAA. During this stretch, he posted two shutouts and only allowed two or more goals twice. Through 45 total contests this season, the 36-year-old has held a 28-15-2 record with a 2.51 GAA and a .906 save percentage. He has posted four shutouts and has allowed two or fewer goals in 23 contests. He should be viewed as a solid play in DFS formats, as he should see a high volume of shots facing a Columbus offense that has scored the ninth-most goals per game this season.

Mar 20

Dmitry Kulikov • D • Panthers

Dmitry Kulikov Considered Week-To-Week

Florida Panthers defenseman Dmitry Kulikov (upper body) is viewed as week-to-week, according to head coach Paul Maurice. However, Maurice noted that he expects Kulikov to return before the start of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Kulikov suffered this injury during their contest against the New York Islanders on Sunday. Fantasy managers should continue monitoring his status but expect him to remain out of the starting lineup for at least the next few weeks. Before the injury, the 34-year-old has tallied 13 points (four goals) across 68 contests this season. During this stretch, Kulikov has logged 110 hits with 70 blocked shots. While Kulikov remains out, Tobias Bjornfot will have a role in the starting lineup on the bottom defenseman pair. When Kulikov returns, he will only have value in formats that reward hits and blocks.

Mar 19

Dmitry Kulikov • D • Panthers

Dmitry Kulikov Injured On Sunday

Florida Panthers defenseman Dmitry Kulikov (upper body) sustained an injury during their loss to the New York Islanders on Sunday. Kulikov logged six minutes of ice time before exiting the contest. He did not get on the scoresheet before exiting and tallied two penalty minutes. Fantasy managers should monitor his status leading up to their next contest on Thursday evening against the Columbus Blue Jackets. If Kulikov were to sit out, the Panthers would need to promote a defenseman from their AHL affiliate. Leading up to Sunday, Kulikov tallied two points (one goal) over his past six games with 11 hits and seven blocked shots. Through 68 total contests this season, the 34-year-old has tallied 13 points (four goals) with 110 hits and 70 blocked shots.

Mar 17

Sam Bennett • C • Panthers

Sam Bennett Strikes Twice In Victory

Florida Panthers left wing Sam Bennett found the back of the net twice during their 3-2 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs on Thursday evening. Bennett scored his first goal in the opening frame on the power play. Later in the second frame, the 28-year-old would tally his second power-play goal. This goal also served as the game-winner. This performance extended his current point streak to four games. Over his 12 contests, Bennett has tallied 13 points (six goals) with 23 penalty minutes, 42 shots on goal and 21 hits. Through 64 games, the 28-year-old has scored 22 goals and tallied 22 helpers. He has added 78 penalty minutes with 134 hits. He is on pace to set a career-high in points. He remains a solid option in category leagues that reward hits and penalty minutes.

Mar 14

Jonah Gadjovich • LW • Panthers

Jonah Gadjovich Not Playing On Tuesday

Florida Panthers left wing Jonah Gadjovich (personal) will not play on Tuesday when the Panthers travel to Boston to face the Bruins. Gadjovich was sidelined during their previous game and will now miss his second straight. As a result, Thomas Nosek will remain in the starting lineup and play on the fourth offensive line. Over his previous seven contests, Gadjovich has tallied just one point (a goal) with 12 shots on goal, 11 hits, four blocked shots, and 17 penalty minutes. Through 28 games this season, the 26-year-old has tallied just three points (all goals) while logging 78 hits and 31 penalty minutes. When he returns to the lineup, he will only carry value in deeper formats that reward penalty minutes and hits.

Mar 11

Aaron Ekblad • D • Panthers

Aaron Ekblad Suspended 20 Games For Violating Drug Policy

Florida Panthers defenseman Aaron Ekblad has been suspended for 20 games due to a violation of the NHL/NHLPA Performance Enhancing Substances Program. He will begin the suspension on Tuesday against the Boston Bruins. With only 18 games left on the regular-season slate, the Panthers will begin the playoffs without Ekblad. The 29-year-old defenseman has recently enjoyed a six-game point streak, reaching 33 points (three goals, 30 assists) in 56 games for the season. Ekblad is also a big presence in the defensive zone, recording 64 blocks and 90 hits for the season. New arrival Seth Jones is expected to assume a larger role until Ekblad returns from suspension.

Mar 10

Vitek Vanecek • G • Panthers

Vitek Vanecek Shines In Florida Debut

Florida Panthers goaltender Vitek Vanecek stopped all 21 shots he faced in his Panthers debut against the Buffalo Sabres. The Panthers dominated the shot total, but Vanecek was able to step up when called on. This was a strong outing for Vanecek, as he held a 0-2-2 record over his last four starts with the San Jose Sharks. During this stretch, he held a high 4.02 goals-against average with an .871 save percentage. Through his time with the Sharks earlier in the season, Vanecek held a 3-10-3 record with a poor .882 save percentage and a 3.88 GAA. Vanecek dealt with numerous injuries, such as a facial injury and an upper-body injury. Fantasy managers should expect Vanecek to operate as the No. 2 option behind Sergei Bobrovsky and will carry value as a streaming option in deeper formats.

Mar 9

Vitek Vanecek • G • Panthers

Vitek Vanecek Ready For Panthers Debut Saturday

Florida Panthers goaltender Vitek Vanecek will make his team debut in Saturday's matchup against the Buffalo Sabres. Vanecek gets an opportunity to impress only a few days after arriving in a trade from the San Jose Sharks. Playing on one of the worst teams in the league, the Czech netminder experienced very little success, posting a 3-10-3 record for the season. He has registered a 3.89 goals-against average and a .882 save percentage. Vanecek's numbers should improve in Florida, although he faces a tricky matchup on Saturday, as the Sabres are ranked just outside the top 10 in goals per game.

Mar 8

Brad Marchand • LW • Panthers

Brad Marchand Expected To Miss Two Weeks

Florida Panthers left wing Brad Marchand (upper body) is expected to miss the next couple of weeks. General manager Bill Zito hopes that Marchand can make his Florida debut during their three-game homestand at the end of the month. On Friday, Marchand was traded from the Boston Bruins to the Panthers in exchange for a 2027 conditional second-round selection that could become a 2028 first-round selection. Marchand has spent his entire NHL career with the Boston Bruins and will now join one of the top Stanley Cup Contenders. This season, Marchand has found the back of the net 21 times and added 26 helpers through 61 games. He has logged 66 hits and 27 blocks. When Marchand is cleared to return, he will have a role in the top-six replacing Matthew Tkachuk (groin) who will not return for the remainder of the regular season.

Mar 8

Brad Marchand • LW • Panthers

Brad Marchand Traded To Florida

The Florida Panthers have acquired veteran winger Brad Marchand (upper body) in a trade with the Boston Bruins, who received a 2027 second-round pick that will turn into a 2028 first-round pick if certain conditions are met. Marchand, who turns 37 in May, moves on as a pending unrestricted free agent. He has so far spent his entire career in Boston, becoming the Bruins' captain in 2023. This season, Marchand has recorded 21 goals and 47 points in 61 games. He is currently nursing an upper-body injury, so it will take some time before we see him in a Panthers uniform. Marchand will remain a top-six piece in Florida, effectively replacing Matthew Tkachuk (groin), who has been ruled out for the rest of the regular season.

Mar 7

Nico Sturm • C • Panthers

Nico Sturm Picked Up By Panthers

The Florida Panthers have acquired center Nico Sturm in a trade with the San Jose Sharks. The team also received a 2027 seventh-round draft pick in the deal, while giving up a 2026 fourth-round pick. Sturm is in the final season of a three-year contract that carries a $2 million cap hit. He will bring experience and championship pedigree to the locker room, having won the Stanley Cup with the Colorado Avalanche in 2022. With the Sharks, Sturm recorded 13 points (seven goals, six assists) in 47 games this season, winning an impressive 62.7 percent of his faceoffs. His ability to win faceoffs and kill penalties could be crucial in tight postseason games. From a fantasy perspective, the German veteran will have little relevance in Florida, as he will likely be limited to a fourth-line role.

Mar 6

Vitek Vanecek • G • Panthers

Vitek Vanecek Moves To Florida

The Florida Panthers have acquired goaltender Vitek Vanecek in a trade with the San Jose Sharks, parting ways with minor league forward Patrick Giles. Vanecek, who holds a career record of 94-52-20, will provide depth in the goalie department for the Panthers, who traded Spencer Knight to the Chicago Blackhawks last week. The Czech netminder will compete for the backup role with Chris Driedger. In San Jose, Vanecek had a difficult period, going 3-10-3 with a 3.89 goals-against average and an .882 save percentage. Playing with the reigning Stanley Cup champions should be a much better experience for him, although Vanecek likely won't see much action as long as Sergei Bobrovsky remains healthy.

Mar 5

Vitek Vanecek • G • Panthers

Vitek Vanecek Will Be Held Out Of Tuesday's Action

San Jose Sharks goaltender Vitek Vanecek will not play on Tuesday against the Buffalo Sabres for roster management reasons. He is a trade candidate, and San Jose wants to avoid any risk of Vanecek getting injured with only a few days remaining until the trade deadline. Nevertheless, Vanecek is still expected to dress as the backup to Alexandar Georgiev, who will be playing for a second consecutive night. This season has been a rough one for Vanecek, who has posted a 3-10-3 record with the Sharks. However, he is a seasoned veteran and could perform better with stronger support in front of him. The Sharks are expected to bring back Yaroslav from the AHL once Vanecek has been moved.

Mar 4

Jesper Boqvist • C • Panthers

Jesper Boqvist Inks Two-Year Extension

The Florida Panthers have extended center Jesper Boqvist to a two-year contract with a $1.5 million average value. Boqvist has enjoyed a breakout campaign this season. Boqvist has found the back of the net 12 times (career-high) and added 10 helpers (three shot of matching a career-high). The 26-year-old has held a +2 rating with 64 shots on goal, 18 blocked shots, and an impressive 136 hits. This is a strong improvement over the 14 points he tallied during the 2023 season. Over his previous eight contests, Boqvist has tallied two points (both helpers) with a +5 rating. During this span, he has averaged 2.6 hits per game and 1.0 shots on goal per game. Fantasy managers should continue to expect Boqvist to continue to have a role in the Florida bottom-six and carry value in deeper formats that reward hits.

Mar 4

Aleksander Barkov • C • Panthers

Aleksander Barkov Strikes Twice In Victory

Florida Panthers center Aleksander Barkov found the back of the net twice during their victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning on Monday evening. Barkov did all of his damage in the second frame. He opened the period by scoring on a snap shot which broke the scoreless tie. Later in the frame, Barkov would find the back of the net again, this time on the power-play. This goal served as the eventual game-winner. This was a nice bounce-back outing for the 29-year-old as he did not get on the scoresheet in each of his past two games. Since the start of February, Barkov has scored four goals and added 10 helpers across 14 contests. He remains a must-start option in all formats and a strong play in DFS competitions on Thursday when the Panthers host the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Mar 4

Matthew Tkachuk • LW • Panthers

Matthew Tkachuk To Miss Remainder Of Regular Season

Florida Panthers winger Matthew Tkachuk (groin) will not return to action for the remainder of the 2024-25 regular season, the team announced on Monday. He has missed four games due to a groin injury sustained during the 4 Nations Face-Off. "Matthew's going to be out for an extended period. We hope to have him back for the playoffs," Panthers general manager Bill Zito told reporters on Monday. Tkachuk ends the campaign with 57 points (22 goals, 35 assists) in 52 games. Mackie Samoskevich has joined the top six and the first power-play unit during Tkachuk's absence.

Mar 3

Matthew Tkachuk • LW • Panthers

Matthew Tkachuk Placed On Long-Term Injured Reserve

Florida Panthers winger Matthew Tkachuk (groin) was placed on long-term Injured Reserve Sunday. He has missed four games due to a groin injury, and it remains uncertain when the Panthers will have their star winger back. Tkachuk is the team's second-highest scorer with 57 points, having tallied 22 goals and 35 assists in 52 appearances. During Tkachuk's absence, Mackie Samoskevich has filled a top-six role. Samoskevich has notched two goals in the past four games, boosting his tally for the season to 10 goals and 19 points. He also excels in the physical side of the game, having recorded 84 hits in 52 appearances.

Mar 2

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