Panthers Reduce Training Camp Roster to 39

Seven days from opening night, the Florida Panthers are picking up the pace of their roster cuts.

Before Monday’s preseason game against the Tampa Bay Lightning, Florida released 10 players its training camp roster — carrying 42 into their final home preseason game.

On Tuesday, the Panthers reduced that number to 39 — sending forwards Ryan McAllister, Oliver Okuliar and Wilmer Skoog to the Charlotte Checkers (AHL).

With two preseason games remaining and the regular season starting on Oct. 8, the Panthers will need to get from 39 to 23-active players for their opening night roster.

As of Tuesday, Oct. 1, the Panthers are carrying 22 forwards, 12 defensemen and five goaltenders. The final number should be in the number of 13-14 forwards, seven-eight defensemen and two goaltenders.

There’s also a good probability that forward Tomas Nosek will start the season on IR, as the 32-year-old forward is still “weeks not days” from returning to the lineup after leaving the first preseason game with an upper-body injury.

Panthers head coach Paul Maurice said after Monday’s game that if they were to make cuts — as they did on Tuesday — it would be “one and two guys at a time.”  He also mentioned that Thursday — the day after Florida’s second to last preseason game — would be when they’d look to start a larger block of cuts.

Tuesday’s updates

Forward Evan Rodrigues left Monday’s preseason game midway through the second period and did not return. He did not skate with the main group on Tuesday, but it appears to be precautionary as Maurice said on Monday that he’d think Rodrigues would’ve returned to the game if it was the regular season.

Forward Mackie Samoskevich, who has yet to play this preseason with an upper-body injury, skated with the third line on Tuesday in a non-contact jersey. He was a pre-camp favorite to join Anton Lundell and Eetu Luostarinen on that line.

Lines at Tuesday’s practice, courtesy of the Miami Herald’s Jordan McPherson: