The Florida Panthers are expected to look a lot more like a Stanley Cup contender in 2026-27, but there’s still one area that could decide how far they go: the crease.
The big reasons for optimism are obvious. Captain and top-line center Aleksander Barkov is set to return after missing all of last season with a knee injury, and the addition of power forward Brady Tkachuk should bring more snarl and scoring punch to the lineup.
That’s a strong foundation. But after choosing to move on from longtime starter Sergei Bobrovsky, Florida is betting on a new tandem in goal with Jacob Markstrom and Akira Schmid.
That’s where the questions start. Markstrom, 36, is coming off a rough season with the New Jersey Devils, finishing with a .883 save percentage and a 3.07 goals-against average. Schmid, 26, has not yet handled a starter’s workload in the NHL.
On Monday’s episode of Daily Faceoff LIVE, Tyler Yaremchuk and Carter Hutton dug into whether that duo could hold the Panthers back.
Tyler Yaremchuk asked, “How concerned are you about the Panthers’ goaltending heading into this year?”
Hutton said he isn’t all that worried, pointing first to Schmid’s motivation and then to the bigger picture around the team.
“I’m not totally concerned. I honestly think they’re in a good spot.
I think Akira Schmid has a lot to play for with his contract and where he’s at. Jacob Markstrom, I think my concern would be health, and it’s going to be how they insulate in that division.
I think Sasha Barkov being healthy changes this whole dynamic of what we expect. I think it is concerning, but it feels like for Jacob Markstrom this is his window to win, and I think Schmid has the factor that he has to play well this year to get a contract.
I think it’s going to be how they defend. It’s not necessarily goaltending but how they insulate them this year which will be a big factor.”
Yaremchuk also noted that Florida was not close to the playoffs last season, but that context matters. Matthew Tkachuk missed a big stretch, Barkov was never available, and Bobrovsky had a down year in net.
“They were missing (Matthew) Tkachuk for a big stretch of time. They obviously never had Aleksander Barkov.
Another thing I’ll add is that it’s worth remembering that last year they also got subpar goaltending from Sergei Bobrovsky. That was a big stepback year for Bob.
So I think with all of those factors coming together, they’re going to be way better than they were last season.”
That’s the crux of it for Florida: the roster should be stronger, but the Panthers’ hopes may still come down to whether their new goaltending setup can handle the load.
In Other News...
Panthers Suddenly Carry One Huge Opening Night Question
Florida spent the offseason making one of the biggest swings on the league calendar, adding Brady Tkachuk to a roster that already expects to live in the East playoff conversation. The move fits the Panthers win-now identity, but it also changes the way the club looks headed into 2026-27, especially with the core built to chase another deep run and every lineup decision carrying extra weight.
What makes the opening-night picture so intriguing is that the headline addition is not the only major change shaping this team. The Panthers also have to sort through a very different look in goal, and how they handle that position could matter as much as any forward-line combination when the season starts. It is the kind of question that can linger through training camp and into the first few weeks, giving Florida a little more uncertainty than fans are used to. [Read more 🡒]
Panthers Roster Battle Just Got More Interesting Before Opening Night
The Panthers roster trim moved a step closer to the finish line as the club placed eight players on waivers and had all eight clear by the deadline. The expected next stop for that group is Charlotte, where Floridas AHL affiliate should get a deeper look at players who were on the bubble during camp and have now been pushed into the organizations day-to-day plans.
Nathan Bastians path took a different turn, though, giving the Panthers another layer to sort through before opening night. After arriving in camp on a professional tryout, he landed a two-way contract, a move that adds another forward option to the mix while leaving Florida with a little more to weigh as it settles the back end of the roster. [Read more 🡒]
Panthers Get A Huge Brady Tkachuk Boost Right Before Opening Night
Brady Tkachuks first Florida Panthers season is getting the kind of boost contenders love to have before the schedule even starts. After missing time in the preseason, the winger is set to suit up for the opener against the Carolina Hurricanes, and head coach Paul Maurice has already lined him up with Aleksander Barkov and Sam Reinhart on the top line. Tkachuk also led the Panthers in preseason points, a reminder that his arrival has already given the roster a different look.
The timing matters because Florida is not easing into the year, and having Tkachuk available gives Maurice another layer of firepower right away. He is also slated to work on the top power-play unit with his brother Matthew Tkachuk, adding even more intrigue to the opening-night setup. For a team trying to set the tone early, getting that combination together right from the start is about as useful a development as the Panthers could have asked for. [Read more 🡒]