FORT LAUDERDALE — The Florida Panthers acquired veteran enforcer Garnet Hathaway from the Philadelphia Flyers on Thursday, adding one of the NHL’s most physical players at a cap hit of just $1.2 million after Philadelphia agreed to retain 50 percent of his salary.
The deal sends a fifth-round pick in this weekend’s draft and a sixth-round pick next year to Philadelphia in exchange for Hathaway and a sixth-round pick on Saturday, Florida Hockey Now reported. The trade fills a roster hole left by A.J. Greer, who is expected to depart in free agency.
“Garnet is a physical and highly competitive player who will complement our group well,” Panthers General Manager Bill Zito said in a statement. “We’re excited to add his veteran presence to our group for the upcoming season.”
Hathaway, a Naples, Fla., native who grew up in New England, led the Flyers with 252 hits last season, ranking ninth in the NHL. The 11-year veteran has been ranked in the top 10 in hits every season since 2021, accumulating 1,532 hits during that span — second among all NHL players. He averages 198 hits and 67 penalty minutes per season across his career, and logged 132 penalty minutes in his first season with Philadelphia in 2023-24.
Undrafted out of Brown University, where he played four seasons, Hathaway built his career as a fourth-line physical presence with the Calgary Flames, Washington Capitals, and Boston Bruins before joining the Flyers. He is expected to slot into a similar role on the Panthers’ fourth line.
The Panthers hold no first-round picks but have six selections overall in the NHL Draft on Friday and Saturday at KeyBank Center in Buffalo. NHL free agency opens July 1, with the Panthers’ development camp scheduled for late June or early July at IcePlex in Fort Lauderdale and the 2026-27 season set to open in late September.