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2 early Panthers trade targets after missing 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs
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- 2 early Panthers trade targets after missing 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs
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Things couldn't have been better for the Florida Panthers coming into the 2025-26 season. They were fresh off two straight Stanley Cup Finals victories and had quickly become one of the most popular teams in the NHL. However, things quickly took a turn for the worse. Captain Aleksander Barkov suffered a preseason injury that led to him missing the entirety of the year, and the roster as a whole was ravaged by health issues. Matthew Tkachuk, for example, was limited to 31 games played, and Sam Reinhart missed his fair share of time, too.
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It culminated in the Panthers missing the playoffs for the first time since 2019. This team's championship window is far from over, though, and the Panthers will want to get back to contention as soon as next season. Making some big trades can help the team put their gap year in the past and get back into the Stanley Cup Finals. They will have more time than normal to think about how to improve the roster. So, who should Florida pursue in the trade market this offseason?
The Panthers might need goaltending depth
The majority of Florida's core is still locked up under contract for years to come. During their recent championship runs, their net was protected by Sergei Bobrovsky. The goaltender is an unrestricted free agent, and while there seems to be mutual interest in a reunion, the Panthers need to be preparing for life without him. After all, Bobrovsky is 37 years old and doesn't have much time left performing at a high level.
Even if he is re-signed, the Panthers still need some youth to serve as either an insurance plan for the aging goalie or to be his eventual replacement. It isn't like Bobrovsky was all that impressive this season anyway. He gave up 3.07 goals against per game and had a .877 save percentage, so it is possible the Panthers will move on from Bobrovsky. If the team goes through the trade market for a new/additional goaltender, then Thatcher Demko would make a lot of sense.
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The Vancouver Canucks have already started a fire sale that will likely continue this offseason. Demko could be the next to go, and the Panthers could trade for him to be their new goalie. Demko is a star when healthy, so he could serve as the team's top net protector and help in a return to the playoffs. He does have a troubled past when it comes to injuries, though, which means it could still be smart to bring back Bobrovsky, as long as he'd agree to a cheap contract suitable for a goalie pushing 40 years of age.
Demko has two All-Star nods to his name, but his trade value is likely at an all-time low. Demko's .895 save percentage this season was a career low, but he could get back on track if the Panthers dealt for him.
A brotherly duo is exactly what the NHL needs
Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
The popularity of hockey has increased dramatically in recent years. It started with the 4 Nations Face-Off and continued with the sports inclusion in the Winter Olympics. There, Team USA took home the gold , and fans got to see firsthand the kind of chemistry that kin can have on the ice rink.
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Panthers star Matthew Tkachuk and his brother Brady both made huge impacts in the Olympics. A taste of the hardware had to feel good for Brady, considering his brother has been hoisting the Stanley Cup Trophy for years now. Brady's Ottawa Senators are in the playoffs for the second time of his career, but they are already down 2-0 in their series against the Carolina Hurricanes.
Brady has committed himself to his team, but if a trade to the Panthers could be on the table to pair the two brothers together, one would have to assume they'd push for it. Together, Brady and Matthew could form the best first-line wing duo in the league. This is a trade the fans want to see, and the Panthers should oblige.
