After two seasons in Charlotte (AHL), Michael Benning is expected to return to the Checkers after the 23-year-old signed a one-year, two-way contract extension with Florida on Thursday. The puck-moving defenseman has yet to make an NHL appearance but has excelled with the Checkers in his last two seasons, putting up an impressive nine goals, 32 points and 34 PIMs in 54 games played last season.
Florida continued to shore up its defensive depth on Thursday after announcing it had signed 24-year-old defenseman Tobias Bjornfot to a one-year, two-way contract extension. The former first-round pick came to Florida off waivers in March 2024 and managed to appear in 14 games with the Panthers during the 2024-25 season, failing to record a point. He spent the majority of last season with Charlotte (AHL), where he had three goals and 18 points in 50 games played.
Skoog will return for a third season with Charlotte (AHL) after signing a one-year, two-way contract with Florida on Wednesday. The 26-year-old centre was undrafted out of Boston University (NCAA) and made his minors debut in 2023-24. Last season, he scored nine goals, added 24 points, and accumulated 63 penalty minutes in 72 games with Charlotte.
Schwindt was claimed off waivers from the Flames in early October and spent the entire 2024-25 season with the Golden Knights. The 24-year-old winger had one goal and seven assists (eight points) in 42 games with the Golden Knights but will likely serve as their No.13 forward to start 2025-26.
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.
Reinhardt was a sixth-round pick of the Ottawa Senators in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft and will have a change of scenery in the 2025-26 season after joining the Vegas Golden Knights organization on a two-year, two-way contract. The 25-year-old scored 32 points (14G / 18A) in 45 games with the Belleville Senators (AHL) last season.
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.
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.
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.
Despite having three points in two games in the Eastern Conference Final, Jesper Boqvist will be the odd man out of Florida's lineup as Sam Reinhart returns from a lower-body injury. Boqvist has been solid when called upon throughout the playoffs, with two goals, five points and six SOG through 11 games played.
Balinskis appeared in his first game in 21 days for Florida's Game 4 victory, but is expected to be a healthy scratch for Game 5 as Niko Mikkola returns from injury to the lineup. The 28-year-old has only appeared in five playoff games during Florida's current run, but has a goal and a +4 plus/minus.
Mikkola was absent from Florida's Game 4 loss vs. Carolina but is expected to return to the Panthers' lineup for Game 5 on Wednesday. The 29-year-old was having a fantastic postseason before his injury with three goals, five points and a +6 plus/minus through 15 games played.
Reinhart missed Florida's previous two playoff games due to a lower-body injury but will return for Game 5 in Carolina on Wednesday and is expected to replace Jesper Boqvist on the Panthers' top line. The 29-year-old star forward has struggled to find the net at his usual torrid pace this postseason, but still has seven assists and 11 points in 16 games.
Mikkola is considered day-to-day with an upper-body injury. Uvis Balinskis will play for the first time since Game 1 vs. Toronto to replace Mikkola on the Panthers' blueline.
Balinskis has not played since Game 1 vs. the Maple Leafs, but he will replace Niko Mikkola in the lineup for Game 4 vs. Carolina. Balinskis has one goal, two SOG, six blocked shots and six hits in four playoff games.
Reinhart missed Florida's Game 3 win with a lower-body injury but is only considered day-to-day going forward and has not been ruled out for Game 4 on Monday. The 29-year-old has been replaced by Jesper Boqvist in Florida's top six for the time being but will be welcomed back with open arms if he can go on Monday. After putting up 81 points in 79 games played during the regular season, he has four goals and 11 points in 14 games so far in the playoffs.
