The Florida Panthers' identity got even more physical with Thursday's acquisition of Garnet Hathaway from the Philadelphia Flyers , but the forward is excited about more than just the opportunity to be surrounded by hard-hitters like himself.
He's eager to be a part of the culture.
"I'm so excited to join the Panthers," Hathaway said Friday when he addressed the media on a video conference for the first time since the trade. "Everything I've continued to hear about the team, about the organization, just makes me even more ready to get going."
Hathaway, 34, consistently praised the togetherness of the locker room and everything he's heard about the relationships formed within it. Apparently both his playing style and his mindset align well with his new team, and the winger's addition will add to the already impressive depth the team boasts at the position.
Despite this being his South Florida debut, Hathaway will not be a stranger upon his arrival. He was born across the state in Naples and also has some familiarity with the locker room.
Notably, when he played for the Calgary Flames he crossed paths with winger Matthew Tkachuk and forward Sam Bennett in the early stages of their NHL careers. Also, Hathaway played alongside Brad Marchand in Boston during the 2022-23 season.
"It's always nice to go into a room and have a familiar face," he said. "Either way, I'm fortunate for that, but I've also heard about this locker room a lot and how close they are and how much they care about each other as teammates first off the ice before they even worry about the on the ice."
Aside from the positive culture, Hathaway is ready for the competitive, winning mindset that has made Florida so successful in recent years.
He echoed a similar sentiment to Brady Tkachuk , who landed with the Panthers in a trade on Sunday , about the excitement of being with a team that prepares and competes like Florida. While Hathaway comes from a team that clinched a playoff berth last season, like Tkachuk, he's eager to be a part of a team he believes prepares for each game like "it's the most important game of the year."
"They play playoff hockey every night, and that's something that I want to emulate too," he said.
With over a decade of experience in the NHL spanning four franchises, Hathaway will bring a veteran presence, while also working to make a seamless transition into the culture and system that is already established. He said he will spend the summer working to be a good fit and learning from seasoned returners about what has made the team so successful.
The opportunity to compete for a cup and be a part of a franchise so well-equipped to make a postseason push has motivated both of Florida's recent additions.
"I can't even begin to tell you how excited I am for that," Hathaway said. "Going to a place that has that culture built in and is ready and is prepared and is going to hit the ground running to do so; that's what I want to be a part of."
