NHL Draft Starts Tonight, Trades Are Coming

The NHL Draft kicks off tonight in Los Angeles but with general managers not on site and instead conducting their business over a Zoom connection, conversations about potential trades will not be done in person.

This year’s draft is a throwback to the Covid days when the 2020 and 2021 drafts were held virtually.

Business got done then, it will get done again: The trades will come just as nature intended.

The Florida Panthers have already been busy, making a couple of moves before the draft even starts.

On Thursday, Sergei Bobrovsky got a new backup in old friend Daniil Tarasov after the Panthers acquired him in a trade from the Blue Jackets.

Florida also traded Justin Sourdif to Washington for a couple of future draft picks on Thursday night.

We will see what happens in the coming days.

Florida still has $19 million under the salary cap and is still trying to shoehorn everyone in.

FLORIDA PANTHERS / FHN

• Where the Panthers goalie situation stands right now.
• The NHL Draft starts tonight. Where did all of Florida’s picks go?
• Adam Boqvist was back on the ice in Sunrise last week — and it was to celebrate Jesper’s Stanley Cup victory.
• Changes are coming to the NHL in 2026 with more games, more goalies, and more.
• The Panthers announced their 2025 preseason schedule. It includes the same cast of characters as usual.
• Another Florida Panthers alum is in the Hockey Hall of Fame.
• Nate Schmidt was a perfect fit for the Panthers. He wants to come back, the Panthers would like to bring him back, but again, we’ll see.
• The Panthers brought the party to the people on Sunday in Fort Lauderdale with an estimated 400,000 showing out for a sweaty day on the beach.
• Don’t forget to subscribe to the FHN YouTube channel to watch interviews with the Florida Panthers throughout the offseason. Plenty up now, more coming as we slog through the summer.

NHL / NATIONAL HOCKEY NOW

• The latest with Noah Dobson and the New York Islanders. Rumors are swirling!
• Mitch Marner isn’t going back to Toronto.
• The Sabres sent JJ Peterka to Utah — and he gets a nice new contract out of it.
• The Pittsburgh Penguins want to host some games of the 2028 World Cup of Hockey.
• Morgan Geekie and the Boston Bruins remain far apart in contract talks.
• Trade rumors running hot with the Montreal Canadiens.
• Dallas signs captain Jamie Benn to one-year deal.
• Bowen Byram back to the Colorado Avalanche?
• The San Jose Sharks are buying out Marc-Edouard Vlasic.

2025 STANLEY CUP CHAMPIONS

FLORIDA PANTHERS

UP NEXT

• 2025 NHL Draft: Friday-Saturday, Los Angeles (Panthers have six picks in Rounds 4-7)
• Start of NHL Free Agency: Tuesday, noon
• Panthers Development Camp, Fort Lauderdale IcePlex: Early July
• Panthers Rookie Camp, Fort Lauderdale IcePlex: Early September
• Prospect Showcase hosted by Tampa Bay Lightning: Early September
• Training Camp: Mid-September
• Exhibition Games: Starts Sept. 21 @ Nashville (doubleheader)
• Opening Night: Oct 7-9 (opponent, time, date TBA)