Panthers re-sign Nosek as they continue to bring back Cup championship roster
The Florida Panthers already signed their top three pending free agents in Sam Bennett, Aaron Ekblad and Brad Marchand.
Why stop there?
The Panthers also re-signed fourth-line forward Tomas Nosek to a one-year deal for the league minimum $775,000.
“Tomas is a stalwart centerman whose strong two-way play served an important role in our championship run this season,” Panthers president of hockey operations and general manager Bill Zito said. “We are excited for Tomas and his family to remain with our organization for the upcoming season.”
The Panthers now have all 12 forwards from their Stanley Cup-clinching Game 6 against the Edmonton Oilers — plus reserves Jesper Boqvist and Mackie Samoskevich — under contract, plus five of their six defensemen from that game and starting goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky.
For now, at least.
The deals to bring back Bennett, Ekblad, Marchand and Nosek and restricted free agent goaltender Daniil Tarasov making $1.05 million next season, Florida is already over the salary cap by $2.175 million before factoring in the contract for restricted free agent forward Mackie Samoskevich.
Florida is able to be up to 10 percent above the $95.5 million cap during the offseason but need to be cap compliant by the start of the season.
The Panthers can get there either by trading away players currently on the roster or by utilizing long-term injured reserve once the season begins.
That’s for another time.
With Nosek, the Panthers bring back a steady fourth-line center who was instrumental on the team’s penalty kill.
Nosek only played in 59 regular season games for Florida last season, missing time early due to injury and then being a healthy scratch at points down the stretch after Florida acquired Marchand and Nico Sturm at the trade deadline.
But he was pivotal during Florida’s playoff run, with coach Paul Maurice crediting Nosek’s line with A.J. Greer and Jonah Gadjovich on the wings as being the spark the team needed to win Game 3 of the second round against the Toronto Maple Leafs after the team dropped the first two games of that series.
Panthers sign defenseman
Florida’s lone external one-way addition in free agency as of Tuesday afternoon was defenseman Jeff Petry.
Petry, 37, has played in 981 career games over 15 seasons including stops with the Edmonton Oilers, Montreal Canadiens, Pittsburgh Penguins and Detroit Red Wings. He has 385 career points (96 goals, 289 assists).
“Jeff is a skilled, puck-moving defenseman who can contribute quality veteran leadership to our lineup,” Zito said. “We are excited that he will join us to supplement our exciting core.”
Florida also signed goaltender Brandon Bussi and forward Nolan Foote to two-way contracts. They will most likely be destined for the Charlotte Checkers, the Panthers’ American Hockey League affiliate.
Where former Panthers landed
Four players from Florida’s 2025 Stanley Cup team have found new teams.
Defenseman Nate Schmidt signed a three-year deal with the Utah Mammoth, while goaltender Vitek Vanecek signed a one-year deal with Utah.
Center Nico Sturm signed a two-year deal with the Minnesota Wild.
And defenseman Jaycob Megna signed a two-year deal with the Vegas Golden Knights
This story was originally published July 1, 2025 at 9:58 AM.
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