The Florida Panthers do not want to stop being top contenders. For that reason, the 2025–26 Stanley Cup champions have recruited a former teammate of Connor Bedard at the Chicago Blackhawks after re-signing Brad Marchand this offseason.
The Panthers have enjoyed two incredible NHL seasons. The Atlantic Division team captured the Stanley Cup in the 2023–24 campaign and reaffirmed their dominance with another title just a year later.
General Manager Bill Zito has done an outstanding job signing key players. In recent days, the club gave Brad Marchand a lucrative contract extension, aiming to continue its recent success for years to come.
Panthers confirm the signing of Bedard’s former teammate to bolster the offense
The Panthers have become one of the NHL’s most successful franchises in recent years. Building a strong roster around Brad Marchand has been key to their back-to-back championship run.
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Following their 2025 Stanley Cup win, the front office worked diligently to retain their core players. However, GM Bill Zito also understands that fresh talent must be added to keep the team competitive.
After trading for Marchand in March, the Panthers signed him to a 6-year, $31.5 million extension in June. Now, Florida has added a new forward to boost their offense—one who used to play alongside Connor Bedard with the Blackhawks.
On Thursday, the Panthers announced the signing of forward MacKenzie Entwistle to a two-year, two-way contract. The 25-year-old appeared in seven regular-season games with Florida’s AHL affiliate, the Charlotte Checkers, in 2024–25, registering two points (1 goal, 1 assist).
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Entwistle has played in 193 career NHL games, all with Chicago from 2020–21 to 2023–24, totaling 35 points (15 goals, 20 assists). He was originally selected by the Arizona Coyotes in the third round (69th overall) of the 2017 NHL Draft.
The Canadian forward joins a highly talented Panthers offense led by Matthew Tkachuk, Sam Reinhart, and Brad Marchand. His arrival adds depth to the roster, though he’ll need to prove he’s worthy of a regular spot in the lineup for the 2025–26 NHL season.
