NHL Trade Rumors: Florida Panthers Linked to Blockbuster Trade
The Florida Panthers are trying to win the rare back-to-back-to-back Stanley Cups, and if they end up going for it, which is usually the case with GM Bill Zito, many are predicting the Panthers to make a blockbuster move ahead of the trade deadline.
Matthew Tkachuk won't be back for awhile, Aleksandar Barkov is likely out until the playoffs begin, so the Panthers have some significant holes to fill up front. Zito loves making splashes for his team and send them over the hump, and there's little argument to be made that the Panthers not only won the Cup, they won the offseason as well with the way they re-signed some of their key players for under value.
As far as the outlook for this season, the Athletic's James Mirtle ran through some predictions and has the Panthers making a blockbuster move before the deadline:
After injuries to Barkov and Matthew Tkachuk, there are real doubts about the Panthers’ ability to three-peat right now. But Barkov’s absence could open up as much as $10 million in cap room if he misses the whole year, more than enough for Bill Zito to get creative and land a big fish before the deadline. How about Artemi Panarin, if the Rangers’ season goes sideways? Or even Sidney Crosby, should he decide to leave Pittsburgh? Whatever big name is available, expect Florida to be at the front of the line.
Panarin has been linked to the Panthers for a few years now and is certainly the more likely of the two superstars to be moved, just based on his pending unrestricted free agency. The Panthers sit with $2.2 million in cap space at the moment and while they don't have a 2026 first-round pick, they have two second rounders and a slew of prospects who will interest other teams.
Off their roster, every team will ask for Anton Lundell, but Zito will be reluctant to move him. There's also Mackie Samoskevich, Marek Alscher, and Ludvig Jansson who are some of their up and coming talents, who will draw interest from other teams.
Crosby seems more likely to head to Colorado or Montreal if a move eventually comes, Panarin however, he's been linked to the Panthers for a few years, and it could finally be coming to fruition this season.
Photo credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
