The Florida Panthers have some tough choices ahead. With just under $20 million in projected cap space and several key contracts to address, it’s becoming clear they won’t be able to keep everyone.
According to TSN’s Frankie Corrado, the Panthers might be forced to part ways with veterans Brad Marchand and Aaron Ekblad to hold on to forward Sam Bennett.
Panthers Face Difficult Offseason Decisions
Marchand’s playoff performance may have boosted his price tag beyond what Florida can afford. Ekblad, a long-time fixture on the blue line, has value, too. But with limited space and multiple roster spots still open, the Panthers may not have the flexibility to retain all three.
“If you look at their cap situation, it’s like $19 million they have to spend for next year, and they still have to sign, you know, seven players if they want to go to a 23-man roster. So there’s just not room for all three,” Corrado said.
If only one stays, Corrado believes it’ll be Bennett. He’s younger, fits well with the team’s current core, and showed up when it mattered in the playoffs.
“The most I could see is two, and if it’s only one, my guess would be it’s Sam Bennett, based on what we saw last year with Reinhart and Montour,” he concluded.
It’s not just about loyalty or reputation anymore. The Panthers are a win-now team on the verge of a dynasty. That means making decisions with the long term in mind. Marchand has been great in the postseason, but re-signing him would likely require a number that the front office just can’t justify.
Ekblad’s situation is a bit more emotional. Drafted first overall in 2014, he’s been through the highs and lows with Florida. But injuries have piled up, and his best years might be behind him. In a perfect world, he stays. In this one, the math probably says otherwise.
That leaves Bennett. He’s coming off one of his best seasons, and at 28, still has a few strong years left. Florida sees him as a piece worth keeping, someone who fits their system and plays with an edge. With a likely price tag around $6–7 million per year, he’s not cheap. But he’s the one they’re reportedly willing to prioritize.
All this puts the Panthers in a tricky spot as they have spots that need to be filled, and there’s only so much cash to go around.
Could the Panthers Take a Swing at Mitch Marner?
While the Panthers weigh who stays and who goes, another name has surfaced: Mitch Marner.
The Maple Leafs winger is reportedly seeking $14 million a year on his next contract. It’s a huge number, one that most contending teams won’t touch. But Florida? They’ve been known to pull off bold moves before.
According to Scott Maxwell of the Daily Faceoff, adding Marner would be a headline-grabber, especially if it comes at a discount thanks to Florida’s favorable state tax situation. It would also infuriate Leafs fans, drawing parallels to John Tavares leaving the Islanders years ago.
A move like that wouldn’t just change the roster. It would shift the storylines around both teams and fuel a heated rivalry.
It’s all just talk for now. But with Florida already at a crossroads with their core, the idea of swinging big on someone like Marner might not be so far-fetched.
Whether they go all in on their current guys or chase something new, the Panthers are heading into an offseason full of pressure and possibilities.
