Panthers Sign Louis Domingue To Two-Way Contract

The Panthers announced they’ve signed goaltender Louis Domingue to a two-way contract for the remainder of the season. Financial terms were not disclosed. If they want to assign him back to AHL Charlotte, where he’d been playing on a minor-league deal, they’ll need to place him on waivers. If they do so today, he won’t count against their active roster.

Domingue, 33, headed overseas for the first time in his pro career to begin this season. After posting a .892 SV% in 11 games with Sibir Novosibirsk of the Kontinental Hockey League in Russia, he obtained a release and signed an AHL deal with Charlotte around Thanksgiving.

The veteran of 10 NHL seasons has appeared sparingly for Charlotte, notching an .831 SV% and 3.20 GAA in seven outings with a 3-3-0 record. He’s gone long stretches without dressing and has suited up just four times since the New Year. At present, he’s essentially fifth on Florida’s goaltending depth chart behind NHLers Sergei Bobrovsky and Daniil Tarasov, AHL starter Cooper Black, and AHL backup Kirill Gerasimyuk, with the latter two also signed to NHL deals.

It’s not uncommon for teams to sign an additional goalie during deadline week to have them on hand to roster as their emergency backup during the playoffs. Florida did it several times in the past few years with Evan Cormier. The Cats are now slipping from playoff contention, however, and reportedly decided to pivot toward selling off their pending UFAs this morning. It’s more likely that Domingue is insurance to keep having four goalies under contract in case the Panthers decide to deal Bobrovsky or Tarasov, both of whom will hit the open market this summer.