- Panthers prospect Tyler Muszelik is on his way to UConn, reports Brad Elliott Schlossman of the Grand Forks Herald. The netminder was a 2022 sixth-rounder, going 189th overall after spending time in the U.S. National Team Development Program. Muszelik spent the last two seasons at the University of New Hampshire but in a backup role. UConn’s tandem has both moved on (Ethan Haider to the pros and Arseni Sergeyev via the portal) so the 19-year-old should have a better path to playing time next season.
Panthers Rumors
Panthers Interested In Extending Dmitry Kulikov
The Panthers hope to extend pending UFA defenseman Dmitry Kulikov, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reports in his latest “32 Thoughts” column. Kulikov, a first-round pick of the Cats in 2009, signed a one-year, $1MM deal last summer to begin his second stint in South Florida after suiting up for six different clubs over the past four seasons.
The 33-year-old Russian had surgery last summer to address back problems that had plagued him since 2016-17. He played only 47 games that campaign, his first and only one as a member of the Sabres after they acquired him from the Panthers the previous offseason.
His results as a high-end depth shutdown option have been wildly up and down since. He’s had a few effective campaigns – namely, his 2021-22 season with the Wild when he put up 24 points in 80 games and a career-high +23 rating while averaging 18:12 per game with markedly positive possession quality numbers. But he followed that up with a stinker last year, albeit on a Ducks squad that was one of the worst defensive teams in recent memory. He failed to secure a full-time job with the Penguins after a deadline deal, though and didn’t post positive possession metrics in easy minutes when in the lineup.
That placed him on the open market this summer after completing the two-year, $4.5MM contract he signed with the Wild in free agency in 2021, which saw him dealt twice despite carrying modified trade protection. Florida picked him up on the cheap to help address their early-season depth issues, with Aaron Ekblad and Brandon Montour set to miss some time from offseason shoulder surgeries. Kulikov, along with Oliver Ekman-Larsson, has been one of the best signings of the bunch, beating out Uvis Balinskis, Josh Mahura and Mike Reilly for a spot in the lineup when everyone returned to full health.
He’s dressing in the Panthers’ Game 1 lineup today in a third-pairing role alongside Ekman-Larsson after skating in 76 regular-season games, only his second season with more than 70 appearances since 2016. Despite his lengthy injury history, an extension in Florida would put him in line to cross the 1,000 games plateau as a Panther next season – he sits at 948 entering the summer.
Kulikov was quite effective in his bottom-pairing role, posting a goal and 20 points with a +15 rating while averaging 16:31 per game. He finished third on the club in blocked shots (84) and fifth in hits (145), all the while posting a 54.0 CF% at even strength – a career-high – and a 54.1 xGF%. However, he wasn’t used in his traditional shutdown role. Kulikov instead acted as an anchor for Ekman-Larsson for most of the year, deployed in offensive situations at even strength more often than not. That certainly contributed to his increase in shot attempt control, although that shouldn’t be interpreted as diminishing his value.
After again establishing himself as an everyday player, he’s likely in line for a small raise. But at age 33, don’t expect more than a two-year term on a potential extension. The Panthers have $20.7MM in projected cap space next season with a roster size of 13, meaning they can afford an average of around $2MM on the deals they sign this summer for their NHL roster. They have more than a few higher-priority UFAs to sort out before Kulikov, though, including breakout sniper Sam Reinhart and Montour. Young center Anton Lundell is also in line for a raise on his $925K cap hit as an RFA.
Cormier Recalled, Knight Wins AHL's Fred T. Hunt Memorial Award
- The Panthers have added goaltender Evan Cormier to their roster, relays George Richards of Florida Hockey Now (Twitter link). The 26-year-old was converted to an NHL deal just before the trade deadline, making him eligible to be recalled. Cormier isn’t covering for an injury but instead will serve as Florida’s third-string emergency option and a practice netminder. He spent most of this season with ECHL Florida, posting a 2.93 GAA and a .907 SV% in 22 games.
- Panthers netminder Spencer Knight was named the recipient of the Fred T. Hunt Memorial Award, per an announcement from the AHL. The award goes to the player who best exemplifies the qualities of sportsmanship, determination, and dedication to hockey. Knight spent the entire season in the minors after coming back from the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program to receive help with managing obsessive-compulsive disorder. The 23-year-old has a 2.45 GAA and a .904 SV% in 44 games with AHL Charlotte this season and will stay down there to help in their playoff run; he’ll likely take Cormier’s spot as the third-string option once the Checkers are eliminated.
Aaron Ekblad Cleared To Play In Game 1 Against Lightning
- Star Lightning blue-liner Victor Hedman was back at practice today after missing Wednesday’s win over the Maple Leafs due to illness, per Bally Sports Florida’s Gabby Shirley. It’s a good sign for his availability in Game 1 against the Panthers on Sunday. On the flip side, they may be without depth forwards Luke Glendening and Tyler Motte, who head coach Jon Cooper said were questionable with undisclosed and lower-body injuries, respectively. Hedman’s absence was brief, only missing one contest, as was Glendening’s, although he skated just under four minutes in their penultimate regular-season game against the Sabres earlier in the week. Motte has been sidelined for three games with a lower-body injury he sustained against the Senators last week. If both are unable to go, Mitchell Chaffee and Austin Watson will make their Lightning playoff debuts while winger Conor Sheary shifts to center their fourth line.
- On the Panthers’ end, defenseman Aaron Ekblad will be ready to suit up in Game 1 after sitting out with an undisclosed injury, head coach Paul Maurice said (per the team’s Jameson Olive). The 28-year-old has been banged up for most of the season, missing Florida’s last six games and all but five post-trade deadline games with injuries. Eligible to sign an extension this summer, he’s coming off the worst offensive showing of his 10-year career with four goals and 18 points in 51 games. His 20:52 average ice time is also a career low.
Aleksander Barkov, Oliver Ekman-Larsson Could Return Tonight
Notably, the return of Sergachev indicates that the top defenseman may be ready to go in Round One as the Lightning look to take on either the Boston Bruins or the Florida Panthers. In a season to forget for the top-pairing blue liner, Sergachev has only been able to register two goals and 19 points for Tampa Bay this year. Sergachev missed 17 games for the Lightning from a lower-body injury suffered in late December, and would then fracture both his fibula and tibia in his first game back on February 7th.
- In an update from Colby Guy of The Associated Press, both Aleksander Barkov and Oliver Ekman-Larsson could return to the lineup tonight as the Florida Panthers look to put themselves in the best position possible to capture the Atlantic Division crown. As both players are dealing with minor injuries sustained in their most recent game against the Buffalo Sabres on April 13th, the Panthers may opt to keep them out until the playoffs if they are not completely recovered. Nevertheless, the game tonight against the Toronto Maple Leafs will likely serve as a preview of one of the Round One matchups of this year’s playoffs.
Panthers, Bill Zito Agree To Multi-Year Extension
The Panthers have agreed to a multi-year contract extension with general manager Bill Zito, the club announced Monday. Zito has also been named the team’s president of hockey operations as part of the deal.
Florida handed Zito the keys to their front office in September 2020, weeks after they were eliminated by the Islanders in the Qualifying Round of the 2020 bubble playoffs. The club was cycling through periods of mediocrity at the time, and the last big splash by previous GM Dale Tallon, a seven-year, $70MM contract for goalie Sergei Bobrovsky in free agency, had failed miserably in its inaugural season. He made his first splash less than a month after being hired, acquiring winger Patric Hörnqvist from the Penguins in exchange for depth forward Colton Sceviour and defenseman Mike Matheson, followed up by drafting Anton Lundell 12th overall in 2020 and inking future top-six fixture Carter Verhaeghe to a bargain-bin two-year, $2MM deal in free agency.
Immediately, the Cats roared to life. They finished second in the modified Central Division during the abbreviated 2020-21 season, and their 37-14-5 record would have been their best in franchise history by a country mile over an 82-game campaign. The following year carried a mixed start – they began the season with a 7-0-0 record, but head coach Joel Quenneville abruptly announced his resignation in late October after meeting with commissioner Gary Bettman to discuss his involvement in addressing a 2010 incident as head coach of the Blackhawks when video coach Brad Aldrich allegedly sexually assaulted prospect Kyle Beach during that year’s playoffs. Zito kept his corresponding move internal, promoting assistant Andrew Brunette to the interim head coach role. Under Brunette, the Panthers finished the season 51-18-6, won the Presidents’ Trophy for the first time in franchise history, and won their first playoff series since 1996.
Zito’s biggest move came in the summer of 2022 after they were swept in the second round by the in-state rival Lightning. In the first true sign-and-trade in league history, Zito dealt reigning assists leader Jonathan Huberdeau and defenseman MacKenzie Weegar to the Flames, along with other assets, for All-Star winger Matthew Tkachuk with an eight-year, $76MM extension in tow. While Weegar has been a solid piece for the Flames, Tkachuk has vastly outperformed Huberdeau since the swap and costs $1MM less annually on his extension. With Paul Maurice now behind the bench after Zito opted not to make Brunette the full-time bench boss, Tkachuk played an integral role as Florida struggled through the regular season but upset their way to the 2023 Stanley Cup Final, knocking off the 135-point Bruins in the first round in the process.
Bobrovsky rebounding to Vezina-level form has given Zito a considerable amount of help, but he’s still displayed incredible skill at picking up low-risk, high-ceiling targets. Waiver claim Gustav Forsling has exploded as one of the best two-way threats in the league and just received a fair-value eight-year, $46MM extension from Zito. Picking up defenseman Brandon Montour from the Sabres for a third-round pick in 2021 has paid heavy dividends, and other low-cost trade or UFA pickups like Sam Bennett, Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Anthony Stolarz have Florida positioned yet again as a Stanley Cup contender without much dead money or bloated long-term commitments on the books.
Zito’s most significant offseason might be this upcoming one. Roughly half of Florida’s NHL-rostered skaters are on expiring deals, and Montour and winger Sam Reinhart will be among the top options available at their respective positions should they head to market. Getting them signed or letting them walk will be his biggest task this summer, as well as debating an extension for Aaron Ekblad, who has one season left at a $7.5MM cap hit but has had a sharp decline over the past few seasons while dealing with injuries.
Before joining the Panthers, Zito was with the Blue Jackets for seven years as their associate general manager, earning a promotion to VP of hockey operations and alternate governor later on is his tenure.
Oliver Ekman-Larsson Leaves Game With Upper-Body Injury
- In the team’s overtime win against the Buffalo Sabres this evening, the Florida Panthers received some negative news on their blue line. At the start of the second period, the team announced that defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson would not return to the game due to an upper-body injury after only managing 3:04 minutes of ice time. Since the Panthers only have one game remaining in the regular season, it is more than likely the organization will sit Ekman-Larsson out for that game to have him fully rested for the playoffs.
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Team USA Fills Out Management Group For 4 Nations, 2026 Olympics
USA Hockey has announced the remainder of the management group that will complement Wild GM Bill Guerin for next season’s 4 Nations Face-Off and the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy. Rangers GM Chris Drury, Devils GM Tom Fitzgerald and Panthers GM Bill Zito have been named assistant GMs to Guerin. Wild director of player personnel Chris Kelleher will occupy the same role for the national team as he does under Guerin in Minnesota.
Guerin was confirmed as the GM of both squads in February. Earlier this season, he was reportedly the subject of an internal investigation “following a human resources complaint by an employee who alleged verbal abuse in the workplace,” per The Athletic’s Michael Russo. The investigation later determined he did not commit a fireable offense.
This is Drury’s fifth time holding a management role with Team USA. All his previous national team managerial experience came at the World Championship, where he served as AGM in 2016 and 2017 and GM in 2019 and 2021. Drury-managed teams have only medalled once, capturing a bronze medal in ’21.
As a player, he was no stranger to helping out the national team. In fact, he was quite well-decorated internationally, representing the USA at three Olympics (2002, 2006, 2010), three World Championships (1997, 1998, 2004), and the 1996 World Juniors. He took home two Olympic silvers and one Worlds bronze in that time and was eventually inducted into the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame in 2016, shortly after taking a director of player development role with the Rangers. He was promoted to AGM and later GM and president of hockey operations ahead of the 2021-22 season.
This is Fitzgerald’s first managerial experience with the national team. He’s held front-office roles in the NHL dating back to 2007 and was named GM of the Devils midway through the 2019-20 season. As a player, he suited up for Team USA at the 1987 World Juniors and in the 1989 and 1991 World Championships.
Zito returns to managing Team USA after GMing their World Championship squad in 2018, back when he was an AGM for the Blue Jackets. It’s his first national team nod since being named GM of the Panthers in 2020, since overseeing the most sustained period of success in franchise history.
Like Fitzgerald, the 49-year-old Kelleher has no international managerial experience, although he did have a cup of coffee as a player with Team USA at the 1995 World Juniors. He predates Guerin with the Wild by a decade, first joining Minnesota as a pro scout in 2009. He’s steadily worked his way up the ranks, earning a promotion to director of pro scouting in 2019 before being named their director of player personnel in 2022.
Panthers Sign Oliver Okuliar, Wilmer Skoog To One-Year Deals
The Florida Panthers have signed Czech centerman Oliver Okuliar to a one-year, one-way, entry-level contract (Web link). They have also signed Boston University winger Wilmer Skoog to a one-year, two-way contract (Web link). Both deals are set to begin next season.
Okuliar, 23, has spent the last four seasons journeying around European pro leagues, playing in the Tipsport Extraliga, Liiga, and Czechia Extraliga. He’s proven very productive despite the moves, recording 24 goals and 45 points in 52 Czechia Extraliga games this season, adding two assists in eight playoff games. His scoring ranked second among all U24 skaters in Czechia, behind Jakub Rychlovsky, who tallied one more point in one fewer appearance.
Okuliar will now move to North American pros, after going undrafted in the 2019, 2020, and 2021 NHL Drafts. He’s a flashy winger, showing great puck control and a strong ability to work in tight spaces and keep play alive. The Panthers certainly seem convinced by his play, awarding him a one-way contract that could earn him NHL starts next season. The deal closely mirrors Florida’s signing of Latvian defenseman Uvis Balinskis last summer – and Balinskis has certainly received plenty of opportunity, playing in 24 NHL games and 37 AHL games this season. Florida has a knack for awarding strong European play with a chance at the NHL, and it seems Okuliar is their latest test subject.
Meanwhile, Skoog stands out for more than just his distinct name. He’s a grizzled forward that knows how to fight for space in front of the net – made evident by his 19 goals and 27 points in 44 AHL games this season. Skoog also has plenty of flash, pulling off the Michigan goal (or Lacrosse goal) four different times at Boston University. While he likely has a longer path to the NHL lineup than the pro-proven Okuliar, Skoog’s tenacity has already earned him a promotion – signing his first NHL deal after spending his rookie professional season on an AHL contract.
Panthers, Mikulas Hovorka Agree To Terms On Entry-Level Deal
The Panthers have agreed to terms with right-shot defenseman Mikulas Hovorka on a two-year, entry-level contract beginning next season, per a team release. Hovorka had drawn interest from multiple teams throughout the season, and he gets his wish of signing in the Eastern Conference.
The 22-year-old Hovorka spent the last two seasons with Motor České Budějovice of the Czech Extraliga. Undrafted, the Prague native has played 90 games at the top level, recording eight goals and 14 assists for 22 points with a +2 rating and 66 PIMs. The shutdown blue-liner’s main appeal is his size – if he cracks Florida’s roster over the next two years, he would be one of the bulkier defenders in the league at 6’6″ and 229 pounds.
Hovorka was under contract with Motor through 2026, but the transfer agreement between the ELH and the NHL allows the Panthers to buy out his overseas contract. They did not disclose the terms of his entry-level deal.
This is the second straight year that Cats GM Bill Zito has gone defense shopping out of the ELH. He picked up Latvian blue-liner Uvis Balinskis from Bílí Tygři Liberec in April last year, a low-risk signing that’s largely panned out. Balinskis logged 23 games of largely solid NHL minutes this season, has been productive with AHL Charlotte, and inked a two-year extension to remain in South Florida.
Hovorka seems a likely candidate to start next season in Charlotte, especially since his game is less developed than that of the elder Balinskis. He’s still a low-risk, medium-upside acquisition for the Panthers, who will hold his rights if they choose to qualify him and make him an RFA when his deal expires in 2026.