With the NHL Trade Deadline over, the Florida Panthers will return to the business of hockey and welcome the Buffalo Sabres to town. Well, the Sabres spent trade day in Fort Lauderdale, canceling their afternoon practice at the IcePlex suspected due to uncertainty about what the trade day would bring.

On March 1, the Panthers beefed up their defense by acquiring defenseman Seth Jones and a fourth-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft from the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for goaltender Spencer Knight and a conditional first-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft.

The defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers continue to be active in the leadup to the NHL trade deadline. The Panthers acquired goaltender Vitek Vanecek on Wednesday from the San Jose Sharks for 25-year-old forward Patrick Giles, the teams announced.