Florida claimed Cole Schwindt off waivers from Vegas to fortify forward depth as Matthew Tkachuk and Aleksander Barkov deal with injuries. Schwindt previously joined Florida in 2021-22 and was part of the Calgary swap in 2022; last season he logged 42 games with Vegas (1 goal, 7 assists). With Barkov sidelined and Tkachuk out until December, the Panthers lean on youth, including Kai Schwindt in Charlotte, for early-season variety and potential breakout upside in fantasy leagues.

Florida’s move rekindles a familiar face and adds a versatile option behind the top line. The waiver claim highlights the franchise’s commitment to depth as they navigate injury risk. Kai Schwindt’s presence in the system further strengthens the pipeline, offering speculative upside if opportunities arise and the kids seize the moment in the early portion of the season.

Boston Bruins' goaltender Jeremy Swayman is recovering from an upper-body injury, with Coach Joe Sacco expressing cautious optimism for his return on Saturday. Meanwhile, forward Trent Frederic rejoined the lineup after a two-game absence due to illness. The Buffalo Sabres faced a similar issue as Jason Zucker missed the last game due to illness. Detroit Red Wings' Patrick Kane is also day-to-day with an upper-body injury following a hit, while the Minnesota Wild welcomed back key players Kirill Kaprizov and Jared Spurgeon. New Jersey Devils' Jacob Markstrom is facing a potential knee sprain, jeopardizing his status for upcoming matches. Noah Dobson of the New York Islanders is week-to-week with a lower-body injury. The Ottawa Senators' Jake Sanderson is out with a similar issue, while San Jose's Ty Dellandrea left the game early due to an illegal check. Toronto Maple Leafs’ Matthew Knies will be out for several days with an upper-body injury, and John Tavares is progressing but has not yet resumed skating.