Panthers season preview: Hoping for health to drive playoff return

The 2026-27 NHL regular season begins Sept. 29. Leading up to the season opener, NHL.com is identifying six things to watch for each team. Today, the Florida Panthers.

Last season: 40-38-4, seventh in Atlantic Division; missed Stanley Cup Playoffs

Coach: Paul Maurice (fifth season)

Biggest challenge

A lengthy list of injuries was too much for the Panthers to overcome when they missed the playoffs last season, ending their quest to win the Stanley Cup in three consecutive seasons, so staying healthy will be critical to their hopes of winning the Cup this season. There already are injury issues, with forward Brad Marchand to miss the start of the season while recovering from offseason surgery for an unspecified injury. Marchand was among a host of Florida players to miss time last season because of injuries, along with Aleksander Barkov, Matthew Tkachuk, Carter Verhaeghe, Sam Bennett, Seth Jones, Dmitry Kulikov and Niko Mikkola.

How they make the playoffs

The Panthers have enough depth that they should be in good position to return to the playoffs if they have even marginally better luck with injuries. Other than that, their biggest question mark is in goal after the departure of Sergei Bobrovsky, a key contributor to their Stanley Cup teams who signed with the Toronto Maple Leafs. Florida hopes that the combination of Jacob Markstrom, who was acquired in a trade with the New Jersey Devils on June 30, and Akira Schmid, who was acquired in a trade with the Vegas Golden Knights on June 29, will be enough to fill that hole. Markstrom, who was selected by the Panthers in the second round (No. 31) of the 2008 NHL Draft and played 43 games during four seasons with them through the 2013-14 season, will need to rebound from a sub-par 2025-26 season in which he was 23-19-1 with a 3.07 goals-against average, .883 save percentage and one shutout in 44 games (43 starts). Schmid was 16-10-6 with a 2.59 GAA, .893 save percentage and two shutouts in 34 games (29 starts) with the Golden Knights last season.

Most intriguing addition

Brady Tkachuk joins his older brother Matthew on the Panthers after being acquired in a trade with the Ottawa Senators on June 21, adding another forward who plays with a physical edge to a team that excels in that type of play. The 26-year-old had 59 points (22 goals, 37 assists) in 60 games last season and could thrive playing on Florida’s top line with Barkov and Sam Reinhart. But it might be more fun to see him play on the same line with Matthew, as he did with Team USA at the 4 Nations Face-Off in 2025 and the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, where they helped the U.S. win the gold medal.

Biggest potential surprise

With Marchand out, that could open the door for rookie forward Jack Devine to start the season with Florida. Devine, who turns 23 on Oct. 1, was a seventh-round pick (No. 221) in the 2022 NHL Draft, but he has emerged as one of the Panthers’ top prospects after a stellar collegiate career at the University of Denver (2021-25) and playing well as a first-year pro last season. He led Charlotte of the American Hockey League in assists (25), was second in points (43) and tied for second in goals (18) in 63 games. Devine got some NHL experience, being held without a point in six games from Nov. 20-Dec. 2, and should benefit from that when he gets his next chance.

Ready to contribute

Sandis Vilmanis, a fifth-round pick (No. 157) in the 2022 NHL Draft, did not look out of place in 19 games with the Panthers last season, getting five points (three goals, two assists) while averaging 10:24 in ice time, and is penciled in as a bottom-six forward to begin training camp. The 22-year-old has the potential to play higher in the lineup as evidenced by his 38 points (17 goals, 21 assists) in 48 AHL games with Charlotte last season and team-leading 11 points (four goals, seven assists) in eight games for Latvia at the 2026 IIHF World Championship.

Fantasy sleeper with EDGE stats

Akira Schmid, G: Schmid had 16 wins and two shutouts in 34 games last season with the Golden Knights in a timeshare role and has sneaky upside again in a tandem with Markstrom. Among the 51 goalies who played at least 30 games last season, Schmid was tied for 11th in goals-against average (2.59), which was better than both Markstrom or Bobrovsky,  each of whom had a 3.07 GAA. Per NHL EDGE stats, Schmid was tied for 14th in mid-range save percentage (.901) last season. Schmid also showed a flash of brilliance as a starter during the 2023 playoffs for the Devils, going 4-4 with a 2.35 GAA, .921 save percentage and two shutouts in nine games. Although Schmid, who’s 26 years old, likely will enter the season as the Panthers’ 1B goalie, he’s worth stacking with Markstrom in fantasy or rostering as a standalone option in the late rounds (going undrafted on average). -- Pete Jensen

Projected lineup

Brady Tkachuk -- Aleksander Barkov -- Sam Reinhart

Carter Verhaeghe -- Sam Bennett -- Matthew Tkachuk

Eetu Luostarinen -- Anton Lundell -- Sandis Vilmanis

Cole Schwindt -- Lars Eller –- Garnet Hathaway

Gustav Forsling -- Aaron Ekblad

Niko Mikkola -- Seth Jones

Dmitry Kulikov -- Radko Gudas

Jacob Markstrom

Akira Schmid

Injured: Brad Marchand (undisclosed)