Three Former Panthers Players Still Seeking NHL Contracts

As the NHL free agency period nears the one-month mark, several former Florida Panthers players find themselves without contracts. With just $34,286 of cap space available and 22 players already signed to their NHL roster, the Panthers appear to have filled their lineup, according to puckpedia.com.

While the team may explore AHL or two-way deals before training camp, the roster is largely set. This leaves players like Luke Kunin, Jeff Petry, and Tomas Nosek looking for new opportunities after their time with the Panthers last season.

Kunin, who signed a one-year deal with the Panthers last offseason, aimed to secure the role of fourth-line center but struggled to make an impact. The 28-year-old appeared in only 62 games, often finding himself as a healthy scratch. He recorded just four goals and 10 points, averaging a career-low ice time of 9:41. Now, Kunin may need to sign a professional tryout before the preseason in hopes of landing a league-minimum contract. With 496 games of NHL experience under his belt, he still has potential to find a new home in the league.

Similarly, Petry joined the Panthers on a one-year contract, looking to solidify his position as the sixth defenseman. However, he struggled to adapt and was traded to the Minnesota Wild at the trade deadline. The Panthers managed to avoid some of his bonuses with the trade, but one still remained. At 38 years old, Petry’s age and declining foot speed raise concerns about his ability to contribute effectively, and he faces a challenging road ahead in securing a new team.

Nosek, who played a crucial role in the Panthers’ second Stanley Cup victory, battled a knee injury that sidelined him for much of the 2025-26 season. As the Panthers move on, Lars Eller and Cole Schwindt are expected to fill the void left by Kunin and Nosek. Nosek, with 514 games of NHL experience, has proven to be a reliable fourth-line center, but like Kunin, he may need to sign a PTO to continue his career in the NHL.

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