SUNRISE — With an abbreviated training camp and preseason schedule, Florida Panthers coach Paul Maurice split his teams into two squads.
One team was mostly comprised of his NHL players, a lineup that would not look out of place when the 2026-27 NHL season opens Tuesday against the host Carolina Hurricanes.
That A Team was comprised of three of the top four forwards lines plus the top three defensive pairings.
The B Team was mostly made up of players who are already on their way to AHL Charlotte — or are waiting to see whether they clear waivers or not.
The only exception was Florida’s fourth line was part of the B Team.
After being traded to the Panthers in June, Garnet Hathaway basically spent training camp away from the main team. Yes, he was in the gym with his new teammates and was in the main locker room.
But on the ice, he and Lars Eller were apart from the main group.
That changes today.
“We have had meetings together with the full group and you’ll see someone and it’s like ‘I haven’t seen them in a month,’ when it was only about three days,’’ Hathaway said. “We are all going to have a lot of time together, so I don’t think that’s going to be a problem.’’
When the Panthers hit the ice for practice today at 11, it will be the first full workout of the season.
Good timing, what with the season opening on Tuesday eh?
”All the coaches are ready,” Maurice said after Florida’s preseason closed with a 3-2 shootout loss to the Lightning on Saturday night.
“We haven’t really had them all on the ice together. All the pieces will come together.”
The Panthers are expected to have Brady Tkachuk back on the ice today working with Sasha Barkov and Sam Reinhart on the top line.
Tkachuk did not play in the third period of Tuesday’s preseason loss at Carolina and has been limited due to what Maurice said was tightness.
Maurice said on Saturday that Tkachuk should be ready to go by Monday.
The Panthers will also get a look at that new fourth line today with Bokondji Imama winning the big roster battle at camp and joining Eller and Hathaway.
There could be more additions.
Although the Panthers placed a number of players on waivers Sunday, that does necessarily not mean all would go to the minors immediately if they clear.
As things stand right now, the Panthers will be right up against the $104 million salary cap once Jonah Gadjovich is placed on LTIR.
Florida could also put Brad Marchand on LTIR since he will miss the first month of the season.
Based on the number of waiver moves the Panthers made Sunday, it does not appear they are leaning toward putting Marchand on LTIR at least right now.
If not, they will open the season with just one spare player: Defenseman Uvis Balinskis.
Balinskis grew up playing as a forward before moving over to the blueline so the Panthers could use him as a 13th forward if need be.
As things stand right now, the Panthers have the minimum 12 forwards with seven defensemen and two goalies.
CURRENT FLORIDA PANTHERS 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/Potential AHL Assignment: F Nathan Bastian
On Waivers: D Alexander Petrovic, D Donovan Sebrango, F Cole Reinhardt, F Cole Schwindt, F Kai Schwindt, F John Beecher, F Sam Lafferty
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