With their Opening Night roster due by Monday afternoon, the Florida Panthers put a number of players on waivers Sunday including forward Cole Reinhardt.
Reinhardt appeared to have the inside track for a spot on Florida’s fourth line, a job that appears to have been won by veteran Bokondji Imama.
Because a player sent to the minors would have to clear waivers by Monday afternoon, Imama will be on the Opening Night roster and would could start on the fourth line with Lars Eller and Garnet Hathaway on Tuesday in Carolina.
Cole Schwindt, Kai Schwindt, John Beecher, Sam Rafferty, and Nathan Bastian were the other forwards who were waived.
By placing Bastian on waivers, it appears he will get a contract from the Panthers after coming to camp on a professional tryout.
Players in camp on a PTO have to clear waivers before they can sign with a team.
Later on Sunday, the Panthers announced Bastian has indeed signed a one-year, two-way contract.
Bastian could start with the Panthers or, since he is expected to clear waivers, go to Charlotte on Monday.
Defensemen Alexander Petrovic and Donovan Sebrango were also placed on waivers.
All are expected to be assigned to Charlotte if they clear tomorrow at 2 p.m.
Angus Crookshank, Toby Bjornfot, and Casey Fitzgerald all cleared on Sunday and will join the Checkers.
The Panthers will hold their first practice of the NHL regular season on Monday morning in Fort Lauderdale.
Florida opens its season in Raleigh on Tuesday at 5 p.m.
FLORIDA PANTHERS PROJECTED ROSTER
Forwards (12): Sasha Barkov, Brady Tkachuk, Sam Reinhart, Matthew Tkachuk, Sam Bennett, Carter Verhaeghe, Anton Lundell, Eetu Luostarinen, Sandis Vilmanis, Lars Eller, Garnet Hathaway, Bokondji Imama
Defensemen (7): Aaron Ekblad, Gus Forsling, Seth Jones, Niko Mikkola, Dmitry Kulikov, Radko Gudas, Uvis Balinskis
Goalies (2): Jacob Markstrom, Akira Schmid
New Contract/AHL Assignment?: Nathan Bastian
IR (2): F Brad Marchand, F Jonah Gadjovich
ON DECK: 2026-27 OPENING NIGHT
FLORIDA PANTHERS at CAROLINA HURRICANES
When: Tuesday, 5 p.m.
Where: Lenovo Center; Raleigh, NC
National TV: ESPN; National Streaming: Disney+, Hulu
Radio: WQAM; WBZT 1230-AM (Palm Beach); WCTH 100.3-FM (Florida Keys); SiriusXM; Streaming: SiriusXM, NHL App
Series Schedule — At Florida: Jan. 21, March 10. At Carolina: Tuesday
Last Regular Season: Panthers Won 2-1
All-Time Regular Season Series: Carolina/Hartford leads 75-50-11, 11 ties
Postseason History: Florida 2-0 (d. Carolina in 2023 ECF in 4; 2025 ECF in 5)
Up Next for the Panthers: Thursday at San Jose Sharks, 10 p.m.
George Richards is the publisher of Florida Hockey Now and has been the beat writer covering the NHL Florida … More about George Richards, FHN Publisher