The Florida Panthers are making room in their lineup-and it comes at the expense of forward Jack Studnicka. The team has placed the 24-year-old on waivers, a move that coincides with the long-awaited return of star winger Matthew Tkachuk, who’s set to make his season debut after missing the entire campaign to this point.
For Studnicka, it’s another twist in a career that’s seen promise, flashes of potential, but ultimately, inconsistency at the NHL level. He’s appeared in 18 games for Florida this season, but the numbers tell a tough story: zero points, 19 hits, and a minus-6 rating. It’s not the kind of stat line that earns you staying power on a contending roster-especially one that’s getting a major boost with Tkachuk stepping back into the fold.
Studnicka’s journey to this point has been anything but linear. After spending the entire 2024-25 season with the AHL’s Ontario Reign, the Los Angeles Kings’ affiliate, he put together a solid showing-16 goals, 29 assists, and 45 points in 72 games, along with a respectable plus-9 rating. That kind of production kept him on the radar, and Florida gave him a shot this season to carve out a role.
But carving out a role in the NHL, especially on a deep roster, is easier said than done.
Originally drafted 53rd overall by the Boston Bruins in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft, Studnicka was once viewed as one of the franchise’s top forward prospects. He had the tools-speed, vision, and a two-way game that suggested he could develop into a reliable middle-six center.
But opportunity and execution never quite aligned in Boston. Over four seasons with the Bruins, from 2019-20 to 2022-23, he suited up for just 38 games, tallying one goal, six assists, and a minus-7 rating.
He also saw limited playoff action in 2020, appearing in five games without registering a point.
The Bruins eventually moved on, trading Studnicka during the 2022-23 season to the Vancouver Canucks in exchange for goaltender Michael DiPietro and defenseman Jonathan Myrenberg-a deal that signaled a fresh start, but not necessarily a guaranteed opportunity.
Now, with his time in Florida on uncertain footing, Studnicka finds himself at a familiar crossroads. He’s still young, and his AHL numbers show there’s offensive upside there. But in a league where roster spots are earned by more than just potential, Studnicka will need to prove he can translate his game to the NHL level-consistently, and soon.
As for the Panthers, the return of Tkachuk gives them a major jolt. And with postseason aspirations in full view, the margin for error-and patience-is razor thin.