Panthers forced to make significant waiver move to be cap compliant!

Good news comes with bad news in Florida on Friday. Panthers head coach Paul Maurice announced that have placed Rudolfs Balcers on waivers in order to activate Aaron Ekblad from long-term injured reserve.

This is all in order to be cap compliant, of course…

It was clear that the Panthers were going to have to make make another roster move to become cap compliant before activating Ekblad for Saturday’s game.

The star defenseman been on long-term injured reserve since being hurt Oct. 17 in a game against the Boston Bruins. He will have missed 10 game and 24 days of action by the time he jumps back on the ice this weekend against the visiting Edmonton Oilers.

With Ekblad’s $7.5 million salary temporarily off the books, the Panthers were able to sign Eric Staal to a one-year contract as well as keep extra players such as Kiersted and Carlsson on the active roster.

Now, it is Balcers that pays for the Panthers to respect the cap. In 14 games in Florida this season, Balcers has put up two goals and two assists. 

Ekblad’s return also coordinates with Matthew Tkachuk back from his two-game suspension. Maurice all announced that Patric Hornqvist may be close to return from the injury he sustained in the second period last Thursday in San Jose.

Will Balcers be picked off waivers before tomorrow noon’s deadline?