Florida Panthers Unveil New Jersey Numbers for Upcoming Season

As the Florida Panthers prepare for a fresh season, fans can expect to see both new faces and familiar ones donning different numbers on the ice. The Panthers have already announced the jersey numbers for their recent acquisitions, Brady Tkachuk and Jacob Markstrom, setting the stage for an exciting year ahead.

Tkachuk will take on the No. 8 jersey, a number previously worn by 15 different players in franchise history. The last to sport it was Nico Sturm in 2025, with notable predecessors including Peter Worrell and Valeri Bure. Meanwhile, Markstrom will continue his tradition of wearing No. 25, a number he has carried throughout his NHL career, previously shared by Panthers legends like Viktor Kozlov and Joe Nieuwendyk.

On Tuesday, the Panthers revealed additional jersey numbers that fans will see next season. Defenseman Radko Gudas will don No. 6 for the first time in his career, previously held by Donovan Sebrango. Gudas joins the ranks of notable No. 6s in Panthers history, which includes Jason Wooley and Dan Boyle. In a twist, Sebrango will switch to No. 73, becoming just the fourth player in franchise history to wear that number, joining the likes of Bracken Kearns and Brandon Pirri.

The Panthers also welcomed new forwards Lars Eller and Garnet Hathaway, who will wear numbers 20 and 21, respectively. Eller’s No. 20 has been worn by 14 players before him, including original captain Brian Skrudland and Ed Belfour. Hathaway’s No. 21 has seen its share of notable names as well, including Vincent Trocheck and Nick Cousins.

In goal, Akira Schmid, acquired in a trade with the Vegas Golden Knights, will wear No. 40, a number previously held by Daniil Tarasov. The number has a history in the franchise, being worn by players like Steve Washburn and Eric Boguniecki.

With jersey numbers officially assigned, the Panthers are now turning their attention to the upcoming season’s schedule, set to be released on July 16, with Opening Night matchups announced the evening before. Fans should stay tuned for further updates as the excitement builds.

Note: This recap is an independently written summary based on publicly available reporting.