Panthers clear a roster spot, Matthew Tkachuk is getting close

Florida placed winger Noah Gregor on waivers with the intention of sending him to the Charlotte Checkers. It's the kind of move that usually screams roster math, not a verdict on the player.

Gregor earned a one-year, two-way deal worth $775,000 after arriving on a tryout in the fall. He has one goal and three points in 24 games, averaging 8:05 per night in a fourth-line role.

His speed pops on the first forecheck touch, but Florida has kept him in short, low-risk minutes, including a small penalty-kill look. That's why he's the easiest piece to move when the roster is full.

If Gregor clears, Charlotte gets a guy who has produced in the minors, 14 goals and 40 points in 43 AHL games. The Panthers also open the roster spot they needed, because they were sitting at the 23-player limit.

As a fan, I read this as the Panthers clearing the runway, not tossing Gregor aside. When a star is close, the squeeze always hits the depth guys first.

LTIR paperwork can get messy, but the headline is simple, Florida needs space to activate Tkachuk. Waiving Gregor is the cleanest option because his contract is built to shuttle, and the cap hit is manageable.

Tkachuk returned to practice in a no-contact jersey late last month after surgery to repair a torn adductor muscle and sports hernia. The latest reporting says he has now been cleared for contact, with Saturday in Ottawa circled as a possible return window.

If Tkachuk is back, Florida's forecheck gets louder and meaner right away, especially on second pucks below the goal line. He forces rushed exits, and that's how the Panthers end up with extra looks from the slot.

The matchup is fun because Ottawa's captain Brady Tkachuk is on the other bench, and the building should be buzzing. The next real milestone is simple, one more full-contact practice, then we see if the lineup card follows.