FORT LAUDERDALE - Cooper Black, a 25-year-old undrafted goalie who signed with the Florida Panthers in 2024 after his senior season at Dartmouth, is set to make his NHL debut Thursday night against the Pittsburgh Penguins at PPG Arena, the team’s first goalie debut since Spencer Knight on April 20, 2021.
Black gets the start with Jacob Markstrom sidelined for what could be the next couple of weeks, according to Florida Hockey Now, which first reported the debut. At 6-foot-8, Black will be among the tallest players in the entire league when he takes the ice - only Matt Rempe and Curtis Douglas, both listed at 6-9, stand taller.
“At the end of the day, it’s an NHL game and that’s what everyone strives for. It’s what everyone dreams of as a little kid,” Black said. “It’s still going to be awesome. I’m still going to be nervous. But I have to take it day-by-day and not read too much into it.”
Black’s path to Pittsburgh was anything but direct. He first arrived in South Florida as a junior at Dartmouth, attending a development camp in Coral Springs. After going undrafted and signing with the Panthers, he struggled in his first AHL appearance with the Charlotte Checkers, giving up five goals on 19 shots. He split his first pro year between the Checkers and the Savannah Ghost Pirates of the ECHL before stepping into the starting role in Charlotte last season after Brandon Bussi was claimed off waivers by the Hurricanes.
Panthers head coach Paul Maurice has watched the progression closely. “He moves like an athlete,” Maurice said. “There is some power to what he does. We’re excited about it. I have seen him enough. He had a really strong exhibition game, looked completely comfortable. He’s on that path. Now is the time for him to get one of these games.” Maurice also offered a more understated take on Black’s frame: “That’s a big lad.”
Black said choosing the Panthers over other offers was the right call. “I just felt the coaching staff could really help me improve my game,” he said. “I knew they had something special going on here. I cannot be any happier with where I ended up. It, literally, was the perfect scenario for me.”
Thursday’s game is the Panthers’ 11th of the season and the only Pittsburgh stop in the season series; the Penguins won the teams’ last meeting 2-1. Pittsburgh leads the all-time regular season series 59-40-9, with four ties. The Panthers’ next game is Sunday at the Chicago Blackhawks, with a 3 p.m. faceoff.