The Florida Panthers are going through a season that looks different from their recent championship years. The team has struggled to stay consistent, and results have raised questions about roster balance.
With the trade deadline approaching, talk of possible moves has increased. Much of that discussion now focuses on the possible pursuit of a high-profile offensive winger.
NHL Trade Rumors Around the Florida Panthers Intensify With Artemi Panarin Connection
The Panthers hold a 28-24-3 record with 59 points and sit last in the Atlantic Division, after four successive losses. They average 3.00 goals per game and allow 3.27, while their power play is 18.4 percent and their penalty kill is 82.6 percent.
After winning back-to-back Stanley Cups in the previous two seasons, this year they have witnessed a big drop. Recent losing stretches have added pressure ahead of the March 6 trade deadline.
In his column for RG Media, NHL insider James Murphy reported that Artemi Panarin could become a key trade target. Murphy wrote that if the NY Rangers intend, “to trade Artemi Panarin before the NHL Olympic Trade Freeze kicksin… they will either need to lower their trade return demands with some teams or just grant Panarin his wish and make him a Florida Panther.”
An NHL executive source told RG, “They’re still right there,” while also noting that Tampa Bay and Minnesota have shown interest.
The Panthers’ struggles can be associated with injuries to their most important players. Their captain, Aleksander Barkov, is out for the season, and forward Matthew Tkachuk missed the first half of the season. In addition to that, they are dealing with injuries to Brad Marchand, Anton Lundell, and Sam Bennett, all considered day-to-day at this critical stage, limiting their room to recover.
As a result of their struggles, Florida is getting linked to Panarin, and one factor at play is Panarin’s agent, Paul Theofanous, who also represents Panthers’ star goalie Sergei Bobrovsky.
The same executive told RG Media, “Never count [Panthers’ GM] Bill Zito out. He finds ways to make it work cap-wise, and even if they got Panarin and didn’t make the playoffs, they can bounce back next season when they’re healthier.”
Cap space remains a major obstacle. According to PuckPedia, Florida has projected cap space of $-7,687,553 and a projected cap hit above $103 million with a full roster.
Former Panthers assistant GM Steve Werier wrote, “A maximum 8-year deal is possible, but that might be stretching the contract across a bridge too far/long.”
Panarin, 34, is in the final year of a seven-year, $81,499,999 contract with a cap hit of $11,642,857 per season. He has recorded 19 goals and 38 assists for 57 points in 52 games this season and averages over 20 minutes of ice time per game.
As the deadline approaches, Florida must decide whether to make a major move or rely on the current roster. The front office now faces a choice between managing long-term cap space and adding a top offensive player to help the team compete.
