FORT LAUDERDALE — The two-time Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers overhauled their roster on the opening day of NHL free agency, bringing back fan-favorite defenseman Radko Gudas on a six-year deal, trading for goaltenders Jacob Markstrom and Akira Schmid, and locking up forward Eetu Luostarinen to an eight-year extension.

Panthers President of Hockey Operations and General Manager Bill Zito said the franchise’s aggressive moves reflect an unrelenting push to three-peat. “We’re going to do everything we can,” Zito said of the team’s desire to improve. The flurry of transactions also meant parting with several former champions — goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky, forwards Evan Rodrigues, A.J. Greer, Jesper Boqvist and Mackie Samoskevich are among those now suiting up elsewhere. “We appreciate everything they’ve done for our organization,” Zito said.

The Gudas reunion headlines the moves. Acquired from the Anaheim Ducks in exchange for the rights to Greer, the 36-year-old Czech defenseman played 203 games in Sunrise from 2020-21 to 2022-23, tallying 44 points and a plus-47 rating while racking up 917 hits — still third-most in franchise history. He led the NHL with 355 hits in 2021-22 and sits atop the league’s all-time leaderboard with 3,135 hits since his 2013-14 debut. “For people who’ve had the honor of being around Radko and seen him and the way he interacted with this team and the type of person that he is and the type of person that he was here, you understand that it fits like a glove,” Zito said. “He might be more valuable to us than to many other teams. … I think people missed him. They’re happy to have their friend back as well as a teammate and warrior.”

In net, the Panthers replaced Bobrovsky with Markstrom, whom they originally drafted in the second round (31st overall) in the 2008 NHL Draft. The 36-year-old veteran, acquired from the New Jersey Devils along with forward Angus Crookshank in exchange for Rodrigues, Boqvist and Ben Steeves, owns a career record of 264-231-64 with a .907 save percentage across 16 seasons. A three-time top-10 Vezina Trophy finalist, Markstrom finished second in voting in 2021-22 after going 37-15-9 with a .922 save percentage in Calgary. He posted an .883 save percentage in New Jersey last season — his worst since 2014-15. “A veteran guy. He’s shown excellence,” Zito said. “He was thrilled. He’d played with several of the players on our team.”

Backing up Markstrom will be Schmid, 26, acquired from the Vegas Golden Knights for a third-round pick in the 2028 NHL Draft. Schmid posted a 16-10-6 record with two shutouts in 34 games last season and carries a .924 save percentage in 10 career playoff games. “He’s a younger guy. He’s a guy that can come in and get some tutelage from Robbie (Panthers goaltending coach Robb Tallas) and the Goaltending Department and continue to improve,” Zito said. “We think he’s got some upside.”

The Luostarinen extension keeps a critical two-way forward in Sunrise. The 27-year-old Finn has recorded 161 points in 439 games over six seasons and ranks first among Panthers forwards in shorthanded time on ice (947:53) since 2020-21, a span in which Florida’s penalty kill sits tied for 10th in the NHL at 79.9%. He set the franchise record for most points in a road playoff game with four points during a 6-3 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 5 of Round 1 on April 30, 2025. “That guy earned it,” Zito said. “He’s such a vital part of our team. On and off the ice, in the room, he’s just a joy to be around.”

The Panthers also signed forward Sandis Vilmanis to a two-year contract extension commencing in 2027-28. Zito framed the collective moves around a single philosophy: “Depth is paramount for success.” Florida’s revamped roster will begin preparations for the 2025-26 season — the franchise’s bid for a third consecutive Stanley Cup — when training camp opens later this year in Sunrise.