Panthers trade for another forward following the Brady Tkachuk deal

The Florida Panthers received the right wing and a 2026 sixth-round Flyers pick in exchange.

Hathaway carries a cap hit of $2.4 million through the 2026-27 season and becomes an unrestricted free agent the following summer.

The deal is framed as a forward depth addition coming off Sunday's blockbuster Brady Tkachuk acquisition from the Ottawa Senators.

Florida won back-to-back Stanley Cup championships in 2024 and 2025 before missing the playoffs entirely this past season at 40-38-4.

After acquiring Brady Tkachuk for four draft picks - the 26-year-old carries an $8.214 million cap hit - the Florida Panthers entered this week with roughly $7 million in remaining space.

Adding Hathaway at $2.4 million brings that figure to approximately $4.5 million before any further moves.

Panthers general manager Bill Zito confirmed Wednesday the organization is not done making changes.

That creates an immediate problem.

Both Sergei Bobrovsky and Daniil Tarasov become unrestricted free agents on July 1, leaving Florida without a confirmed starter or backup six days from free agency.

The Panthers are entering the open market as one of the few contenders with a completely undefined crease, and available options will be costly.

Hathaway posted one goal, two assists, and a minus-6 rating across 66 games in 2025-26 - the worst offensive output of his recent career.

Broad Street Hockey reported earlier this month he was a buyout candidate in Philadelphia before this deal materialized.

Head coach Paul Maurice is adding a physical, capable bottom-six forward who fits the fourth-line role cleanly.

The problem is what the trade costs in context. Florida used $2.4 million of its remaining cap space on a player who scored once all year, while the most important position on the roster remains completely unsettled.