SUNRISE — The Florida Panthers won’t need to think too hard when it comes to finalizing the majority of their 2026-27 opening night roster.
The top-9 forwards, first seven defensemen and two goalies are all but locked in; Lars Eller and Garnet Hathaway are also expected to make the team on a rebuilt fourth line.
That leaves one open spot on the fourth-line wing and two additional roster spots for scratches on the 23-man roster.
Cole Reinhardt is one of the forwards fighting for the few available NHL jobs in Florida.
In Florida’s first preseason game on Sunday night, Reinhardt resumed his strong play from the end of last season, scoring twice in the second period of Florida’s 6-3 win over the Carolina Hurricanes at Amerant Bank Arena.
“I’m happy for him,” Paul Maurice said postgame. “I think his game has grown. He can shoot the puck, and he showed that last year. But he played a really, really smart game today.”
A strong finish to the 2025-26 regular season gave Reinhardt a leg up on his competition entering training camp.
The Panthers claimed Reinhardt off waivers from the Vegas Golden Knights last March.
In his short time in Florida, the 26-year-old made his presence felt across the organization, scoring six goals with eight points in just 15 games.
Five of those goals coming in the final four games of the season.
“It makes a big difference knowing everyone coming in,” Reinhardt said about his comfortability coming into camp. “ You’re not shaking 100 hands on the first day. It makes a big difference knowing the coaches, knowing the system a bit.”
A sixth-round pick of the Ottawa Senators in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft, Reinhardt joined the Panthers last season with 62 regular season games, and nine career points (four goals) between the Senators and Golden Knights, to his name.
“I think he’s a great player,” said Brady Tkachuk, who was also Reinhardt’s teammate in Ottawa. “I think he shows the different skill set that he could play with.
“Obviously he scored an amazing goal. Great shot, and then he’s net front with a great tip, and he’s physical as well. I think he’s versatile in that way where he can play any style and be really effective.”
New NHL regulations limit players with 100 or more games of NHL experience to only two preseason contests, so Florida will run an NHL-heavy roster one final time on Tuesday night against the Hurricanes in Raleigh before wrapping up the final two outings with a more AHL driven roster.
Players in Reinhardt’s position who were trying to impress and solidify a roster spot during camp now find less opportunity.
Sunday’s game was certainly a great start.
“You have a very small window to make an impression; It’s the toughest year in the history of the NHL to make an NHL team out of training camp,” Maurice said when talking about the shortened four-game preseason.
“There’s just not a lot of runway to do it.”
FLORIDA PANTHERS ON DECK