Garnet Hathaway is headed to Florida after the Panthers acquired the veteran forward from the Philadelphia Flyers, with Philadelphia retaining 50% of his $2.4 million salary and draft picks changing hands.
On a day when the Florida Panthers were already looking sharp on the trade market, they moved again—this time for physicality. The Panthers acquired veteran forward Garnet Hathaway from the Philadelphia Flyers, adding a hard-hitting option for the stretch run and the season ahead.
The deal sends Hathaway to Florida along with a 2026 sixth-round pick. Philadelphia receives a 2026 fifth-round pick and a 2027 fourth-round pick in return.
There’s also a financial wrinkle that makes this move more manageable for the Panthers: Philadelphia will retain 50 per cent of the $2.4 million owed to Hathaway in the final season of his current contract, both teams announced on Thursday.
Hathaway, 34, spent last season with the Flyers, appearing in 66 games. He led Philadelphia in hits with 252—ninth most among all skaters in the NHL. Offensively, he finished with one goal and two assists. In the postseason, he added another goal and an assist through eight playoff games.
An 11-year NHL veteran, Hathaway is a Naples, Fla., native, returning home after logging 672 games across the Flyers, Boston Bruins, Washington Capitals and Calgary Flames.
Panthers general manager Bill Zito framed the addition as more than a transaction. “Garnet is a physical and highly competitive player who will complement our group well,” Zito said. “We’re excited to add his veteran presence to our group for the upcoming season.”
The numbers back up that reputation. Hathaway has ranked in the top 10 for hits in the NHL in every season since 2020-21, and his 1,532 hits across that span are second most.
Florida is counting on that kind of edge as it tries to get back to contention. The Panthers recently pulled off a blockbuster trade to acquire Brady Tkachuk from the Ottawa Senators. and they’re hoping to reignite title hopes after missing the playoffs in 2025-26. That season ended with a 40-38-4 record and a seventh-place finish in the Atlantic Division.
Florida Panthers Philadelphia Flyers Garnet Hathaway Bill Zito Brady Tkachuk NHL trade 2026 draft picks 2027 draft pick salary retention