We are exactly one week away from the 2026 NHL Entry Draft, so let’s take a look some Florida Panthers related content from around the hockeyverse.
ESPN’s 2026 NHL draft: Every team’s biggest prospect pipeline need article is of the opinion that the Cats are likely to move the ninth overall pick.
The Panthers don’t need futures while on the back nine of their Cup contention window. Instead, they need a player who can immediately step into the lineup and play. After a season riddled with injuries to key players, the Panthers will be back in serious Cup contention next season.
There is a 50-50 chance the Panthers trade their first-round pick, but if Alberts Smits falls to them, he is the most NHL-ready defender and will be able to contribute over the next few years on an entry-level contract while the Panthers compete for the Stanley Cup.
While The Athletic’s Mock Draft 1.0 and 2.0 both had the Panthers selecting defenseman Daxon Rudolph, The Athletic Hockey Show ended up with a different outcome. With the selections alternating between Corey Pronman, Scott Wheeler, Max Bultman and Flo Hockey’s Chris Peters, forward Wyatt Cullen went to the Panthers at nine.
Because of the Panthers’ standing as a win-now contender, there’s a real chance this pick is moved before (or on) June 26 for a player who can help the Panthers resume their dominance next season. But if they make the pick, Peters liked the idea of Florida taking a swing on Cullen, one of the draft’s risers with an enticing offensive skill set.
“The buzz on Cullen has been growing a little bit,” Peters said. “In a draft that lacks a ton of premium skill, he has that. I think if you are Florida, you feel like you have a core, and it’s kind of nibbling around the edges here. This is a player that could potentially boost your scoring, which I think would be attractive to them.”
Pierre LeBrun has the latest on Sergei Bobrovksy in his NHL rumblings column.
There’s still no resolution on Sergei Bobrovsky as July 1 approaches. It’s a head-scratcher to me. And I have no idea how it’s going to end up.
Does the veteran Russian netminder really want to leave South Florida, where he won two Cup titles? He turns 38 in September. The Panthers have been consistent in wanting him back, but there’s still no extension done with less than two weeks to go before July 1.
If Florida can’t re-sign him, I wonder about Connor Hellebuyck as a potential trade target if Winnipeg is actually willing to move on that front. Hellebuyck’s end-of-season comments to the media in Winnipeg certainly gave the impression that he would be open to change, and TSN colleague Darren Dreger reported Wednesday that the Jets are listening on him and that a potential return might revolve around Winnipeg getting a second-line center plus other assets.
Darren Raddysh has been traded, but he is staying in the Atlantic Division. The Toronto Maple Leafs acquired the 30-year-old defenseman from the Tampa Bay Lightning for a draft pick and inked him to a monster eight-year contract worth more than $8 million a season. The hefty payday makes Raddysh one of the highest paid blueliners in the league after having never earned more than $975K in any previous season. A Toronto native, Raddysh had a breakout campaign in 2025-26, producing 22 goals and 70 points.