George Richards, FHN Publisher
The Florida Panthers will open training camp in about three weeks and have made a number of additions and subtractions to their roster since winning the Stanley Cup on June 24 — which means plenty of changes to the team’s depth chart.
Some of the biggest changes to the Florida Panthers depth chart comes on the blueline after losing top defensemen Brandon Montour and Oliver Ekman-Larsson to richer deals elsewhere.
Florida, which is right up against the salary cap, just could not offer either Montour or Ekman-Larsson the kind of money or term they received in Seattle and Toronto, respectively.
The Panthers, which made a number of additions defensively last offseason, had to do so once again this summer.
Uvis Balinskis, who was signed out of the Czech Extraliga in 2023, should play a bigger role within the Panthers this season after getting most of his playing time at AHL Charlotte once Aaron Ekblad and Montour returned from injury in November.
With limited funds once again this offseason, general manager Bill Zito hopes to have struck oil with a number of low-cost, high-ceiling players as he did last summer when Florida added Ekman-Larsson, Dmitry Kulikov, and Niko Mikkola on affordable deals.
Florida should come into the season with its top defensive pairing intact with Ekblad and Gus Forsling.
After that, the Florida Panthers depth chart could be a work in progress.
Should be a fun training camp.
FLORIDA PANTHERS DEPTH CHART
DEFENSEMEN
Gus Forsling — Aaron Ekblad
Forsling was one of the breakout stars of the 2024 Stanley Cup playoffs as the rest of the hockey world saw what Florida fans have known for the past couple of years: Dude can play.
Forsling has eclipsed Ekblad as Florida’s top defenseman but, with Ekblad coming into the final year of his eight-year deal, expect a big season from No. 5.
Ekblad only had to overcome a high-ankle sprain from this year’s run to the Stanley Cup and is in terrific shape.
This could be the best Ekblad the Panthers have seen since his first big injury near the end of the 2021 Covid season in Dallas.
Injuries have slowed Ekblad over the years but, if he is completely healthy and ready to go, Florida’s top defensive pairing should be a bear this season.
With Montour off to Seattle, the Panthers are looking for help running the power play and both Forsling and Ekblad could get a crack at it.
Niko Mikkola — Adam Boqvist
Mikkola signed a three-year deal with the Panthers last summer and was a very physical and reliable second-pair defenseman throughout last season. He was as steady as it goes.
That should continue this season.
Boqvist, 24, was the No. 8 pick of the Blackhawks at the 2018 NHL Draft and was a big piece of Columbus’ return in the Seth Jones trade a few years ago. Things did not work out for Boqvist with the Jackets and they ended up buying him out.
This could be the perfect Florida bounce-back guy this season.
Although Nate Schmidt could be up on the second unit, the Panthers prefer to have right-handed shots play on the right side and Boqvist is that and should pair well with the physical Mikkola.
Boqvist will be a restricted free agent with arbitration rights following this coming season so he may be with the Panthers for the foreseeable future.
Nice signing.
Nate Schmidt — Dmitry Kulikov
Schmidt and Kulikov both played for Paul Maurice in Winnipeg although their paths did not cross.
After being bought out by the Jets, Schmidt quickly landed in South Florida where he hopes the influence of Maurice will unlock his past play.
Schmidt has been on the decline the past couple of years, but is a veteran defenseman who can log big minutes and could see time on the second pairing with Mikkola. We’ll see.
Both Schmidt and Kulikov may not play every night although Maurice was reticent to take Kulikov — who signed a four-year extension with the Panthers in the offseason — out of the lineup due to his penalty kill prowess.
This third pairing could be one which gets changed up as the season moves along but if Schmidt looks like the player he was with Vegas, look out.
Uvis Balinskis — Matt Kiersted
Florida will only have room for one extra defenseman on the opening night roster (we assume) and Balinskis has the upper hand in the battle for the spot.
The Panthers loved the way Balinskis adjusted to the NHL game last season, and had him up for the end of the regular season and the entirety of the playoffs. He did not play, but that can only be good experience.
Kiersted was a big free agent signing for the Panthers out of North Dakota when Ekblad got hurt in 2021 and has some NHL experience. He has turned into a solid pro defenseman and a strong showing at camp could force Florida’s hand here.
Both players would have to go through waivers to get to Charlotte — something Balinskis was able to avoid last year — so watching these two in camp should be interesting.
Others in the mix: The Panthers made a couple of interesting signings for depth, getting veteran players on the cheap who could help in Sunrise or in Charlotte.
One player who has been with the Panthers since the trade deadline is waiver claim Toby Bjornfot who only appeared in one game — but that was expected when Florida pulled him away from Vegas.
Bjornfot was looked at as a bit of a project for the Panthers and, if they like what they see come training camp, should be in the mix for the seventh spot. If not, he could be lost on waivers.
South Florida native Jaycob Megna was signed to a two-way deal after he spent time with the Blackhawks last year and he certainly could contend for a roster spot.
Megna is a veteran player who has seen a little bit of everything and could work his way up the Florida Panthers depth chart when camp comes around.
Florida loves the potential of 6-foot-6 rookie Mikulas Hovorka (more on him this week) but he is in his first North American year after being discovered the same Czech league as Balinskis.
He does not have to go through waivers so the Panthers will probably allow him time to develop in a big role with Charlotte.
Florida prospects Matthew Benning, Nathan Staios, Marek Alscher, Evan Nause, and Zachary Uens will get a chance to make a push early when Florida holds its prospect challenge in Nashville before training camp opens in Fort Lauderdale.