The Florida Panthers are undoubtedly one of the NHL's most interesting teams to pay attention to in the trade market right now.

According to PuckPedia, the Panthers are $3.725 million over the cap when fully healthy. While Panthers star Matthew Tkachuk could miss the start of the year and be placed on long-term injured reserve if he elects to get surgery, the Atlantic Division club will need to address its salary cap trouble eventually.

Because of this, let's look at four players the Panthers could become trade options, whether that is during the summer or the season.

Evan Rodrigues, LW/C

Evan Rodrigues has been talked about often in the rumor mill this off-season, and there is no question that several teams would love to acquire him if made available.

The 32-year-old is an effective veteran depth forward who can provide a bit of everything, so he would be a strong addition for a team looking to boost their offense.

Rodrigues is coming off another solid season with the Panthers, as he recorded 15 goals and 32 points in 82 games. He then followed up with an even better post-season, as he posted 15 points in 21 games for the reigning two-time Stanley Cup champions this spring.

While he's not the heaviest of hitters, he still logged 128 hits last season, and the Panthers outchance their opponents when he's on the ice, according to naturalstattrick.com.

After Rodrigues' strong post-season, he certainly would have the potential to get the Panthers a nice return if they traded him. He has a reasonable $3-million cap hit until the end of the 2026-27 season.

Given Rodrigues' importance to the team, it's very likely the Panthers would love to keep him around. But if the Panthers are over the salary cap when fully healthy, Rodrigues could very well be the player they are forced to move on from.

Teams Should Be All-In On Evan Rodrigues Trade As Panthers Face Cap Crunch As the <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/florida-panthers">Florida Panthers</a> look to shed $3.725 million before opening night, forward Evan Rodrigues has emerged as one of the most intriguing trade candidates on the market. With no trade protection and a team-friendly $3 million AAV through 2026-27, Rodrigues could be the perfect target for any team needing scoring depth, versatility and playoff experience.

Niko Mikkola, D

Niko Mikkola had an excellent year for the Panthers in 2024-25, posting new career highs with six goals, 16 assists, 22 points and a plus-12 rating in 76 games. His 88 blocked shots were the second-most on the team, and he had 137 hits. He then followed that up by performing well in the playoffs, as he recorded three goals, six assists and a plus-5 rating in 22 games. 

The 6-foot-6 defenseman is entering the final season of his contract and will be due for a raise from his $2.5-million cap hit once it is up. It is fair to wonder if he could be a trade asset if the Panthers feel they will not be able to sign him to a contract extension.

Trading Mikkola would create a hole in the Panthers' lineup, though, as he has been a great fit on their second pairing with Seth Jones. However, once the Panthers are fully healthy, it is fair to wonder if he could be a player who is made expendable for the right price. Panthers defenseman Uvis Balinskis, who has a $850,000 cap hit, is one player who could step in for Mikkola if he is moved

Eetu Luostarinen, LW/C

Eetu Luostarinen proved to be a solid part of the Panthers' bottom six in 2024-25, as he posted nine goals, 15 assists and a career-high 183 hits in 80 games. However, he notably thrived during the playoffs, posting five goals, 19 points and a plus-11 rating in 23 games. With numbers like these, he undoubtedly played a significant role in the Panthers repeating as Stanley Cup champions.

As excellent a playoff as Luostarinen had, the 26-year-old is another player to keep an eye on as a trade candidate. He carries a $3-million cap hit until the end of the 2026-27 season, so moving out his contract would create more financial flexibility for the Panthers.

However, given the post-season Luostarinen just had, the Panthers would be taking a real risk if they traded him. He showed during the playoffs that he may have more offense to his game, and it would sting for the Panthers to see him hit a new level on a different team. With Luostarinen being five years younger than Rodrigues, the latter is more likely the better option to trade. 

Dmitry Kulikov, D

Dmitry Kulikov could be a dark-horse trade candidate to watch on the Panthers. While the veteran blueliner has a reasonable $1.15-million cap hit until the end of the 2027-28 season, the Panthers could find a cheaper option to replace him for their bottom pairing. Balinskis is still one of those options.

However, while Kulikov is not the flashiest of defensemen on the Panthers' blueline, his hard-nosed defensive play and experience make him a solid part of their roster.

In 70 games this past season with the Panthers, Kulikov posted four goals, 13 points, 114 hits and a plus-12 rating. After a season like this, he could be a nice addition for a team looking to improve its bottom pairing.

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