The Florida Panthers are starting to look a little different on paper, and now the numbers are falling into place too.
A handful of familiar names and several new arrivals have locked in their jerseys for next season, giving fans a clearer picture of what the roster will look like when the Cats hit the ice. Brady Tkachuk and Jacob Markstrom were already known: Tkachuk will wear No. 8, while Markstrom will stick with No. 25, the same number he’s worn throughout his NHL career.
No. 8 has had plenty of Panthers history behind it. Fifteen players have worn it for Florida, including Nico Sturm in 2025, Kyle Okposo the year before, and earlier names such as Peter Worrell and Valeri Bure. No. 25 has its own list of familiar faces, too, with Viktor Kozlov, Joe Nieuwendyk, Mackie Samoskevich and Nolan Foote among those to wear it for the Panthers.
On Tuesday, Florida added more jersey news to the mix. Alexander Petrovic, who was just re-signed by the team, will wear No.
- That makes him only the seventh Panther to use that number, joining Jussi Jokinen, Joey Tetarenko and Patrick Giles among the others.
Cole Schwindt also has a new number, as the Panthers announced he’ll wear No. 73. He becomes just the fourth Florida player to ever wear it, following Bracken Kearns, Brandon Pirri and Dryden Hunt.
There’s also a little symmetry with two newcomers who could end up side by side. Lars Eller will wear No. 20, and Garnet Hathaway will wear No.
- Eller’s number has been worn by 14 Panthers before him, including original captain Brian Skrudland, Valeri Bure, Ed Belfour, Richard Zednik, Sean Bergenheim and Michael Benning.
Hathaway’s No. 21 has been worn by Tom Fitzgerald, Denis Shvidki, Vincent Trocheck and Nick Cousins.
In goal, Akira Schmid will take No. 40 after arriving in a trade with the Vegas Golden Knights. It’s the same number Daniil Tarasov wore last season, and it has appeared seven times in franchise history, with Steve Washburn, Eric Boguniecki and Janis Sprukts among the names attached to it.
With the numbers sorted out for the new and returning players, the next big date on the calendar is the schedule release. The full 2025-26 slate comes out July 16, and the Opening Night matchups will be revealed the evening before on July 15.
In Other News...
Matthew Tkachuks Farewell To Bobrovsky Will Hit Panthers Fans Hard
Sergei Bobrovskys exit from Florida had already been the kind of move that lingers around a championship team, and Matthew Tkachuks reaction only sharpened that feeling. Tkachuk made it clear Bobrovsky was a central part of the Panthers recent success, pointing to the goalies reliability and work ethic as major reasons the team was able to turn itself into a champion.
For a locker room that leaned on Bobrovsky through its biggest moments, the loss is about more than just a roster change. Tkachuk said Bobrovsky will be missed and stressed how important he was as a teammate, which is exactly the sort of farewell that lands hardest with fans who watched the two build something special in Florida. [Read more 🡒]
Panthers Suddenly Linked To A Star Trade Situation Going Nowhere
Dylan Larkins trade request has put the Panthers in an unexpected spot, even if the whole situation still feels more theoretical than imminent. Detroit general manager Steve Yzerman has confirmed the request, and the backdrop is simple enough: Florida is one of the places Larkin would like to land, but the Red Wings have not seen a package from any of the interested clubs that comes close to what they want.
Thats where the story has stalled for now, with Larkin still under contract through 2030-31 and Detroit holding plenty of leverage. Unless he broadens the list of places hes willing to go, the Red Wings may end up asking him to report to camp, which leaves the Panthers and the rest of the field waiting on a situation that has yet to move in a meaningful way. [Read more 🡒]