FORT LAUDERDALE - Bokondji Imama is not arriving in Panthers camp as one of the young hopefuls trying to sneak onto the roster. He’s 30, deep into his 10th pro season, and he already knows what kind of game Florida wants to play.
That knowledge has helped him stand out.
Imama has 33 NHL games on his résumé, including 16 with the Pittsburgh Penguins during the 2024-25 season, but the Panthers brought him in on a two-way contract that pointed toward AHL Charlotte. Instead, he opened camp on the right side of Florida’s fourth line alongside Lars Eller, who has 1,184 NHL games, and Garnet Hathaway, who has 672. Based on how he has looked, there’s a real chance he starts the season there.
He’s made his presence felt in the preseason, too. In Tuesday’s opener, he dropped the gloves with Carolina’s Bryce Montgomery early in the first period. Then on Thursday at Tampa Bay, he went hard to the crease and got a deflection off a Donovan Sebrango shot to put Florida ahead 1-0 late in the first.
That kind of game is exactly what the Panthers seem to want from him.
“I think I fit perfectly in that style,’’ he said on Wednesday. “They want to play fast.
They’re a hard team to play against, and that’s all my game. I take a lot of pride of being hard to play against, so I really like the fit.”
Florida still has only a few roster spots left, and at least two of them are expected to go to forwards who can help on that fourth line. Cole Reinhardt looks like he has a strong hold on one of those jobs, especially after he played in his third preseason game Thursday and scored in style by stripping veteran defenseman Ryan McDonagh and beating Andrei Vasilevskiy. The Panthers host the Lightning in Sunrise on Saturday.
Paul Maurice sees the same traits in Imama that Florida is built around. “he’s powerful skater and a heavy forecheck, and that is what we look for on that line to kind of define our style of play. He can get in and get on the body. He’s got some really good speed, and certainly not afraid.’’
Off the ice, Imama also has a connection to a former Panther. He is close friends with Anthony Duclair and takes part in Duclair’s summer camp, including helping with the synthetic ice rink built at Boyd Anderson high in Lauderdale Lakes. Both grew up in Montreal, both reached the highest level, and both have stayed active in giving back to their communities.
Imama would like to keep that connection going in Florida colors.
“I think both for me and Anthony, there might be some great accomplishment we’re proud of on the ice,’’ Imama said.
“But every summer, seeing those kids again, meeting with their parents, just seeing how impactful we can be in their own lives, I don’t think there could be anything more fulfilling. It’s something we’re very proud of, and we’re going to keep on going.’’
In Other News...
Panthers Are Back In The Middle Of A Familiar Free Agent Chase
The Panthers are once again hovering around the edge of a familiar summer pursuit, this time with Vladimir Tarasenko among the remaining free agents drawing attention in Florida. Tarasenko is reportedly skating in the state, and the Panthers are showing interest as they continue to keep tabs on the market for possible late additions.
One of the more intriguing names still in play is Connor Hellebuyck, though the situation around the Winnipeg goalie remains unresolved and could still take a few different turns. Winnipeg has kept the door open to options, but with the calendar moving and no clear movement on a trade, the pressure around his status is starting to build in the background. [Read more 🡒]
Former Panthers First Round Pick Hits Early Setback In Seattle
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Instead, Seattle will hold him out against Vancouver, another early reminder that even a fresh opportunity can come with an unwelcome interruption. For the Panthers, the move that sent Samoskevich away was part of a broader transaction package, and his quick setback adds another layer of interest to a change that Florida is still watching unfold from afar. [Read more 🡒]
Panthers Still Have One Roster Squeeze To Solve Before Opening Night
The Panthers wrapped up their final training camp practices and are down to one last preseason tune-up against the Tampa Bay Lightning, with the opening-night roster picture still not fully settled. Florida is aiming to have its roster finalized by Monday, and some players could be on waivers by Sunday as the club works through the usual late-camp trim and sorts out the salary-cap math.
Cap space remains the main squeeze, but the Panthers are expecting some relief from injured forwards Brad Marchand and Jonah Gadjovich, both of whom are candidates to land on long-term injured reserve. Marchands absence would keep him sidelined for the early part of the season, while Gadjovichs status leaves Florida with another moving piece to account for as it tries to get under the cap and carry the group it wants into opening night. [Read more 🡒]