The Florida Panthers got the cleanest possible result from Sunday’s waiver round: every player they put on waivers got through unclaimed.
Florida had placed eight players on waivers and was waiting on the league’s 2 p.m. deadline Monday to see what happened. Instead, the Panthers came out with all eight still in the organization, a welcome bit of business as the roster picture starts to settle.
Among the players sent down were forwards Cole Reinhardt and Cole Schwindt, along with defensemen Alexander Petrovic and Donovan Sebrango. The Panthers claimed Schwindt, Reinhardt and Sebrango off waivers last season, and all eight players who cleared are expected to be assigned to Charlotte, Florida’s AHL affiliate.
The other forwards waived were Kai Schwindt, John Beecher, Sam Rafferty and Nathan Bastian. Bastian, who arrived at camp on a PTO, signed a two-way contract with the Panthers on Sunday.
Florida is carrying 21 players at the moment, though more movement could still come before Monday’s 5 p.m. deadline depending on how the team manages its salary-cap situation.
“I think The guys who came in to compete for jobs, even if there weren’t any jobs to start with, made their case,’’ Paul Maurice said Saturday night. “Maybe one or two surprises.
… Good, positive things in that. They went hard for two weeks.
That was a hard camp.’’
The waiver clearances also give Florida a little more room to maneuver. Now that these players have passed through waivers, they can be brought back to the Panthers - or kept on the Opening Night roster - without going through the process again, so long as they do not play in 10 games or spend 30 days on the NHL roster.
That kind of flexibility can matter quickly if injuries hit.
Here’s where the roster stands for now:
Forwards (12): Sasha Barkov, Brady Tkachuk, Sam Reinhart, Matthew Tkachuk, Sam Bennett, Carter Verhaeghe, Anton Lundell, Eetu Luostarinen, Sandis Vilmanis, Lars Eller, Garnet Hathaway, Bokondji Imama
Defensemen (7): Aaron Ekblad, Gus Forsling, Seth Jones, Niko Mikkola, Dmitry Kulikov, Radko Gudas, Uvis Balinskis
Goalies (2): Jacob Markmark, Akira Schmid
Cleared waivers: D Alexander Petrovic, D Donovan Sebrango, F Cole Reinhardt, F Cole Schwindt, F Kai Schwindt, F John Beecher, F Sam Lafferty, F Nathan Bastian
IR (2): F Brad Marchand, F Jonah Gadjovich
The Panthers open against the Carolina Hurricanes on Tuesday at 5 p.m. at Lenovo Center in Raleigh, with ESPN carrying the game nationally. Florida’s next game after that is Thursday at the San Jose Sharks at 10 p.m.
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 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 🡒]
Panthers Hit Final Camp Checkpoint With Opening Night Lines Still Unsettled
With an abbreviated training camp winding down, Paul Maurice split the Panthers into two squads, keeping the main NHL group on the A Team while the rest filled out the B Team. It is the kind of checkpoint that usually starts to sharpen the picture for opening night, but Florida is still sorting through the usual early-season blend of lineup questions, salary-cap math and roster housekeeping as it gets ready for its season opener against the Carolina Hurricanes.
Brady Tkachuk is expected back on the ice today after being limited by tightness, another reminder that the Panthers are still managing bodies as well as roles. Even with the roster taking shape, one of the more notable camps questions remains how the bottom six settles in, with the team looking at a new fourth line arrangement that adds another layer to a roster already juggling waivers and possible LTIR moves. [Read more 🡒]