FORT LAUDERDALE — The Florida Panthers have effectively closed the books on their offseason, with General Manager Bill Zito locking down a roster that is now largely signed through the 2029-30 season, leaving next year’s Brady Tkachuk extension as the franchise’s biggest upcoming piece of business.
The final moves came last week when the Panthers signed defenseman Mikulas Hovorka to a one-year, two-way deal and avoided arbitration with goaltender Akira Schmid on a two-year, $4 million contract, Florida Hockey Now reported. Goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky was the only key free agent the club needed to address this summer after NHL free agency opened July 1.
Zito also added veteran depth for the season ahead. Forward Garnet Hathaway came to the Panthers via trade from the Philadelphia Flyers, while center Lars Eller signed as a free agent. Both Hathaway and Eller can become free agents again next summer, along with forward Cole Reinhardt, whose role on this year’s roster has yet to be determined.
The marquee item on next offseason’s agenda will be Tkachuk, who becomes eligible for a contract extension as he enters the final year of his current deal. Beyond that, the Panthers’ core is committed long-term — a deliberate roster-building strategy by Zito that leaves Florida with minimal free-agent exposure heading into the back half of the decade.
The Panthers open rookie camp in late August or early September, with the main training camp to follow in Fort Lauderdale in early-to-mid September. Florida’s four-game preseason slate begins Sept. 20 against the Carolina Hurricanes, with the 2026-27 regular season opener set for Sept. 29 at Carolina at 5 p.m. on ESPN. The home opener at Amerant Bank Arena is Oct. 10 against the Minnesota Wild at 6 p.m.