The Florida Panthers have acquired winger Garnet Hathaway from the Philadelphia Flyers in a trade, sending a fifth-round pick in the upcoming draft and a fourth-rounder next year to Philadelphia. The move comes as the Panthers anticipate losing forward A.J. Greer to free agency, ensuring they retain a physical edge in their bottom-six forward group.
Hathaway, 34, brings a relentless forechecking style and a reputation for agitating opponents. He has one year remaining on his contract with a salary cap hit of $2.4 million, giving Florida a cost-effective veteran option for the 2024-25 season. The trade does not address the team's quarterback uncertainty, as a separate report from Yahoo Sports suggested the Carolina Panthers—not Florida—should pursue a trade for a QB upgrade over Bryce Young.
For the Panthers, this addition reinforces their identity as a heavy, hard-to-play-against team that relies on depth contributions. The club reached the Stanley Cup Final last season largely on the back of such a formula, and Hathaway's experience should fit seamlessly into that system. The draft capital surrendered is modest, reflecting a win-now posture from general manager Bill Zito.
While the trade shores up Florida's forward depth, it does little to alter the team's salary cap structure or future flexibility. The Panthers are expected to remain active in free agency and the trade market as they look to reload for another deep playoff run.
"He's a player who competes every shift and makes life difficult on the opposition," one league executive said of Hathaway, speaking on condition of anonymity. "That's exactly the kind of piece Florida needed after losing Greer."