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Panthers Trade Picks for Garnet Hathaway, Add Physicality

6/25/2026

Summary

Panthers Acquire Hathaway

Florida Panthers acquired veteran winger Garnet Hathaway from the Philadelphia Flyers on June 25, 2026.
Florida gave Philadelphia a 2026 fifth-round and a 2027 fourth-round pick and received a 2026 sixth-round pick in return.
Philadelphia retained 50 % of Hathaway’s $2.4 million salary, leaving a $1.2 million cap hit for Florida.
GM Bill Zito said Hathaway will add physicality on the fourth line; he posted 18 goals, 23 assists and 252 hits last season.

Summary

Flyers Acquire Picks

The Flyers obtained four 2026 NHL Draft picks—a first-round at 21st, a second-round at 53rd, a fifth-round at 136th, and a seventh-round at 213th—in the Hathaway trade announced Thursday.
General manager Danny Brière’s second deal in ten days sent Samuel Ersson, Emil Andrae and a third-round pick to Toronto for Joseph Woll and Simon Benoit.
Philadelphia’s postseason featured a first-round series win over Pittsburgh before falling to eventual champion Carolina.

History

Historical Context

After the 2005 lockout forced a hard $39 million salary cap under Commissioner Gary Bettman, teams began cutting payroll and trading contracts with retained salary. That cap framework now drives moves like the Florida Panthers and Philadelphia Flyers swapping Garnet Hathaway with 50 % salary retention and 2026 draft picks, showing how the 2005 CBA still shapes NHL roster strategy.

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Panthers Acquire Hathaway

Florida Panthers acquired veteran winger Garnet Hathaway from the Philadelphia Flyers on June 25, 2026.
Florida gave Philadelphia a 2026 fifth-round and a 2027 fourth-round pick and received a 2026 sixth-round pick in return.
Philadelphia retained 50 % of Hathaway’s $2.4 million salary, leaving a $1.2 million cap hit for Florida.
GM Bill Zito said Hathaway will add physicality on the fourth line; he posted 18 goals, 23 assists and 252 hits last season.

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