FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Cole Schwindt, a player the Florida Panthers reluctantly included in the trade that brought Matthew Tkachuk from Calgary three years ago, is returning to the team. The current Stanley Cup champions claimed Schwindt after Friday’s resignation, a move that, ironically, will help them face the first weeks of the season without Tkachuk.
Schwindt, who was part of the deal that sent Jonathan Huberdeau, Mackenzie Weegar, and draft capital to the Flames for Tkachuk in 2022, played last season with Vegas, participating in 42 games and finishing with one goal and seven assists. He played three games with Florida in 2021-22 and four with Calgary in 2023-24, without registering any points in either of those stages. With Tkachuk out of action until probably December, and with captain Aleksander Barkov, who is expected to miss most of the season, if not all, due to a torn knee ligament, Florida needed to bolster their roster. Schwindt was placed on waivers on Thursday by Vegas and the Panthers won the claim. Schwindt’s brother, Kai Schwindt, is also part of the Panthers organization. Kai Schwindt was at training camp with the team this fall and was assigned earlier this week to Florida’s AHL affiliate in Charlotte.We’ve had him before and we know what he can do. He has a lot of potential. It’s a great opportunity for him.
Bill Zito, President of Hockey Operations and General Manager of Florida
