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Florida Panthers Poach Young Forward from Blackhawks in Unexpected Move

Originally posted on Blade of Steel | By Jack Sutherland | Last updated Jul 3, 2025 3:42 PM ET

The defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers have added another new face, signing former Arizona Coyotes 3rd round pick MacKenzie Entwistle.

The partying continues for the Florida Panthers after their 2nd straight Stanley Cup victory, but as it always will, next year's team will look different than the team that skated the hallowed trophy across the Amerant Bank Arena ice last month.

While the Panthers have already lost the likes of defenseman Nate Schmidt and goaltender Vitek Vanecek (both signed with the Utah Mammoth at the start of the NHL's free agency period), they've brought in a handful of new faces, and that group now includes a former 3rd round draft pick.

The Panthers have signed MacKenzie Entwistle to a 2-year, 2-way contract.

Entwistle was taken by the Arizona Coyotes with the 69th overall pick in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft, and also played for the Hamilton Bulldogs of the OHL along with the Guelph Storm. He played in 220 OHL games, scoring 134 points (61G, 73A).

In the summer of 2018, he was involved in a massive, multi-player deal that sent him as well as Marcus Kruger, Jordan Maletta, Andrew Campbell, and a 2019 5th round pick to the Chicago Blackhawks for the contract of Marian Hossa as well as Vinnie Hinostroza, Jordan Oesterle, and a 3rd round draft pick.

Over the next 2 years, Entwistle played in 193 games with the Blackhawks and had 35 points (15G, 20A).

He's played in 193 career NHL games.

The Panthers have also added veteran defenseman Jeff Petry, who has played the last 2 years with the divisional foe Detroit Red Wings, while acquiring goaltender Daniil Tarasov from the Columbus Blue Jackets.

This article first appeared on Blade of Steel and was syndicated with permission.

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