With funds tight in Florida for the upcoming 2025-26 season, Mackie Samoskevich has signed a one-year, $775,000 bridge contract to remain with the Panthers. The 22-year-old scrappy right-winger was Florida's 2021 1st-round pick (24th overall) and made a big impact throughout their lineup in 2024-25 with 15 goals, 31 points and 129 SOG in 72 games played.
Entwistle only appeared in seven total games in 2024-25, all with Charlotte (AHL), where he had one goal and one assist. Expect the 25-year-old winger to start the 2025-26 season with Charlotte again.
Foote was a first-round pick of the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft but has not been able to establish himself as a full-time NHL player. The 24-year-old spent most of the 2024-25 campaign in the AHL, scoring 39 points (18G / 21A) in 53 games with Utica Comets.
After four seasons in Boston's minor league system, Brandon Bussi has decided to sign a one-year, two-way contract in Florida to provide some goaltending depth for the Panthers. The 27-year-old appeared in 33 games for Providence in 2024-25, posting a 15-14-4 record with a .907 SV% and 2.77 GAA. He is expected to start the season in Charlotte (AHL) in 2025-26.
Before playing his first career game in the KHL, Kirill Gerasimyuk signed a two-year, entry-level contract with Florida. The 21-year-old goaltender was Florida's 2021 5th-round pick (152nd overall) and excelled in the VHL last season posting a SV% above .930 between Yugra Khanty-Manisysk and SKA-Neva.
Studnicka was the 53rd overall pick of the Boston Bruins in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft and has split time between the AHL and NHL throughout his career. The 26-year-old forward spent the entirety of the 2024-25 season in the AHL, scoring 45 points (16G / 19A) in 72 games with the Ontario Reign.
After spending his previous two seasons with the Detroit Red Wings, Petry joins the two-time defending Stanley Cup Champion Florida Panthers on a one-year contract worth $775K. The veteran 37-year-old defenseman averaged 18:54 time-on-ice and scored eight points (1G / 7A) in 44 games last season.
Florida has secured their new backup netminder for the 2025-26 season after the Panthers signed Daniil Tarasov to a one-year, $1.05 million contract. The 26-year-old was acquired from Columbus last week for a 5th-round pick and will provide a backup option for Sergei Bobrovsky after Florida let Vitek Vanecek head to free agency. Tarasov struggled in 2024-25, with a 7-10-2 record, 3.54 GAA and ,881 SV%.
Nosek became an integral part of Florida's bottom-six forward group in his first season with the team, especially in the playoffs, and has earned a one-year extension worth $775K AAV. The 32-year-old Czech forward had nine points (1G / 8A) in 59 games with Florida, in addition to three points (0G / 3A) in 16 postseason games.
After spending the entirety of his 16-year career with the Boston Bruins, Marchand was dealt to the Florida Panthers at the trade deadline last season and has found a new home with the team, securing a six-year contract extension worth $5.25M AAV. The 37-year-old Marchand became a fan favourite with the Panthers, finishing as the runner-up for the Conn Smythe trophy and scoring 20 points (10G / 10A) in 23 postseason games.
Ekblad was expected to be a highly desired commodity in Free Agency on July 1st, but the Panthers have locked him up to an eight-year contract extension worth $6.1 million AAV. The 29-year-old Ekblad was drafted first overall in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft and has spent the entirety of his career with Florida. Ekblad had 380 points (118G / 262A) in 732 career games.
One of the biggest expected off-season free agents will not be hitting the open market after Florida announced Friday that they have signed Sam Bennett to an eight-year, $64 million contract extension ($8 million AAV). The 29-year-old is coming off an impressive Conn Smythe-winning playoff performance, with 15 goals, 22 points and a +6 plus/minus in 23 games played.
Florida acquired its new backup goaltender for the upcoming 2025-26 season on Thursday after picking up Daniil Tarasov from Columbus for a 2025 5th-round pick (160th overall). The 26-year-old, whose dad has ties back in Russia with Sergei Bobrovsky, struggled in 2024-25 with the Blue Jackets, posting an ugly 7-10-2 record alongside his 3.54 GAA and .881 SV%.
The Panthers will of course turn to Bobrovsky between the pipes when they look to etch their names on the Stanley Cup for the second consecutive season on Tuesday. Bobrovsky turned in another solid performance in Game 5, stopping 19 of the 21 shots he faced enroute to the 5-2 victory. The two-time Vezina Trophy winner has been a reliable backstop all post-season long for Florida, posting a .912 SV% and 2.26 GAA across 22 appearances. Bobrovsky and the Panthers enter action on Tuesday at -165 on the money line.
After allowing three or fewer goals in nine straight (7-2), posting a stellar .944 SV%, Bobrovsky has allowed four or more in three of four games (2-2) to start the Stanley Cup Finals against the Edmonton Oilers, posting a .913 SV%. The 36-year-old Bobrovsky has a 2.27 GAA and .913 SV% in 21 games this postseason (14-7).
Bobrovsky allowed one goal on 33 shots in the Panthers' 6-1 win in Game 3. Bobrovsky has been really sharp in the series, stopping 116 of the 125 shots that he's faced (.928 SV%) and will look to backstop the Panthers to a commanding 3-1 series lead on Thursday. Florida enter play as -142 home favourites.
Bobrovsky allowed four goals on 46 shots in the Panthers' 5-4 double overtime win over the Oilers in Game 2. Bobrovsky posted identical stat lines in Games 1 and 2, giving him a .913 SV% in the series so far. In 19 postseason starts, Bobrovsky sits at 13-6 with a 2.21 GAA, .912 SV%, three shutouts and 10.5 GSAx.
Boqvist played in both Games 1 and 2, failing to record a point with just one shot on goal and four hits in 8:20 TOI/gm. AJ Greer (lower-body) will return to the lineup to replace Boqvist on the Panthers' fourth line.
Greer missed Games 1 and 2 but will replace Jesper Boqvist in the lineup for Game 3 vs. the Oilers. Greer brings a physical presence to the Panthers' fourth line, averaging 3.75 hits per game in the postseason, but has just three points (2G / 1A).
Bobrovsky allowed four goals on 46 shots in the Panthers' 5-4 double overtime win over the Oilers in Game 2. Bobrovsky posted identical stat lines in Games 1 and 2, giving him a .913 SV% in the series so far. In 19 postseason starts, Bobrovsky sits at 13-6 with a 2.21 GAA, .912 SV%, three shutouts and 10.5 GSAx.
