Panthers make surprising, cap-clearing move; major deal coming?
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Ryan Smitheram
Mar 1, 2026 (2:33 PM)
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Photo credit: Imagn images James Guillory | 2025
The Florida Panthers caught the hockey world off guard Sunday. Head coach Paul Maurice and the front office placed veteran forward Luke Kunin on waivers.
This is a calculated financial maneuver right before the NHL trade deadline. Florida is tight against the salary ceiling and desperately needs flexibility to operate.
Kunin carries a $2.75 million cap hit this season. Burying his contract in the American Hockey League immediately clears significant money off the books.
General Manager Bill Zito is clearly hunting for a major roster upgrade. You simply don't dump a physical, bottom-six asset without a much larger plan already in motion.
Over his NHL career, Kunin built a reputation as a gritty presence in the Show. He recorded 34 points in 58 games this year.
But his impact faded, and he even sat as a healthy scratch recently. He was held scoreless over his last five outings and went minus-3 on this homestand.
The Panthers demand better controlled entries and sustained offensive output. They want crisp passing on the power play, not dumped pucks and lost battles.
Panthers clear cap space ahead of deadline
Florida currently holds roughly $1.8 million in projected deadline cap space. Shedding the Kunin deal entirely pushes their buying power up closer to the $4 million mark.
Contending franchises operate with absolute ruthlessness this time of year. Zito recognizes the locker room needs another proven sniper to survive the Eastern Conference gauntlet.
This move also sends a massive wake-up call to the rest of the dressing room. Solid execution and relentless effort are mandatory if you want to play for Maurice.
If a rival club claims Kunin off the wire, Florida escapes the contract entirely. That represents the absolute best-case scenario for Zito and his capologists.
A rebuilding team with cash to burn should look closely at him. He brings valuable intensity to the blue line and logs heavy minutes on the penalty kill.
And if he clears by Monday afternoon, he reports to the Charlotte Checkers. That still provides the Panthers with the necessary financial breathing room.
Expect the defending champions to swing for the fences before puck drop on Friday. They're aggressively clearing the deck for a massive addition.
They face a grueling road trip with a brutal back-to-back coming up next weekend. The Atlantic Division arms race is officially underway.
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