The Florida Panthers made the expected move of putting Matthew Tkachuk on long-term injured reserve (LTIR) on Sunday.
The Panthers had to make the move because they did not have enough cap space to recall a backup goalie from AHL Charlotte without getting Tkachuk’s salary off the cap.
According to PuckPedia, the Panthers had in the neighborhood of $563,000 in cap space; Driedger’s cap hit is $795,000.
Now, they have $8.7 million.
Florida was able to swing Saturday’s blockbuster trade for Seth Jones — Spencer Knight and a first-round pick went to the Blackhawks — without going over the salary cap.
But they did not have enough to bring up Chris Driedger from the Checkers.
Matthew Tkachuk Injury: Options for the Florida Panthers
Driedger, who was called up Sunday, should backup Sergei Bobrovsky Monday against the Tampa Bay Lightning.
As for Tkachuk, by going on LTIR, he would have to miss 10 games and 24 days of action if he were to return during the regular season.
The Panthers may put him on LTIR retroactively, meaning backdating the roster move to last Saturday when he missed his first game coming out of the NHL 4 Nations Face-Off with what is suspected groin injury.
Tkachuk has already missed four of those 10 games, and seven of the 24 days.
Of course, with the Panthers deep into trade talks before Friday’s deadline, the expectation is that Tkachuk will not return to the Panthers before the playoffs.
Any further trades or moves the Panthers make would put them over the cap upon Tkachuk’s return.
Florida would be able to bring back Tkachuk for Game 1 of the first round — pending he is healthy enough to play, of course — without any salary cap problems.
In the postseason, salary cap rules do not apply.
By putting Tkachuk on LTIR now, general manager Bill Zito has loads of roster flexibility and enough cap space to be a major player on the trade market even after Saturday’s blockbuster trade.
Florida could also bring up an additional player from Charlotte along with Driedger.
The Panthers are currently carrying seven defensemen and 12 forwards, so, perhaps a return of Justin Sourdif is coming.
ON DECK: GAME No. 62
TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING AT FLORIDA PANTHERS
- When: Monday, 7 p.m.
- Where: Amerant Bank Arena, Sunrise
- Local TV: Scripps Sports — WSFL 39 (Miami/FtL); WHDT 9 (WPB); LAFF 36.3 (SWFla)
- Streaming: Panthers+, ESPN+
- Radio: WPOW 96.5-FM2; WBZT 1230-AM (Palm Beach); WCTH 100.3-FM (Florida Keys); SiriusXM
- Panthers Radio Streaming: SiriusXM 932, NHL App
- Season Series (Lightning Lead 1-0) — At Tampa Bay: Sunday; Ap. 15. At Florida: Lightning 4, Panthers 0 (Dec. 23); Monday.
- Last Regular Season: Panthers Won 2-1
- All-time Regular Season Series: Florida leads 77-52-19, 10 ties
- All-Time Postgame Series: Lightning Leads 2-1 (won 2021 first-round, 2022 ECS); Florida d. Lightning 4-1 in 2024 first-round.
- Up Next for the Panthers: Thursday vs. Columbus Blue Jackets, 7 p.m.
