Latest: Tomas Nosek join Florida Panthers with huge agreement signed
Tomas Nosek mentioned that one factor that drew him to sign with the Florida Panthers as a free agent was their performance against his former team, the Boston Bruins, in last year’s playoffs. Despite the Bruins having the best regular season in NHL history and initially leading the series 3-1, the Panthers rallied to win the final three games, advancing to the next round.
“When I was with Boston in 2023, we hadn’t lost two consecutive games, but they managed to beat us three straight in the playoffs,” Nosek recalled. “That showed me they were a special group. And this year, they proved it by winning it all. It’s a great group of guys, and I’m eager to join them. I’m excited about the opportunity with the Panthers organization.”
Interestingly, Nosek reflected on his interactions with the Panthers bench during Game 2 of that series, particularly after a contentious hit he delivered to Eric Staal in the corner. This led to some heated exchanges with Matthew Tkachuk and Ryan Lomberg, which were captured on camera.
“That’s just part of hockey,” Nosek commented with a smile. “Bench discussions happen all the time, and there are no hard feelings whatsoever. I hadn’t even thought about it until you brought it up. I don’t anticipate any issues.”
It seems that any past rivalry is now water under the bridge for Nosek as he looks forward to his new chapter with the Panthers.
After signing with the Panthers on July 1, Tomas Nosek mentioned that several players, including former Panther Radko Gudas, reached out to welcome him to the team.
Nosek comes to Florida with a strong desire to win, having experienced a Stanley Cup Final with the expansion Vegas Golden Knights in 2018, though he hasn’t been that close again since. His goal is to achieve that pinnacle with the Panthers.
“That’s why I signed here,” Nosek emphasized. “When I first started regularly playing in the NHL, it was with Vegas, and we made it all the way to the Final. Since then, I’ve been chasing that feeling again. Every year, the desire to win grows stronger as you realize time is limited. You try to join a team with a real shot, and I believe the Panthers are that team. I hope we can achieve it together.”
With the Panthers losing some key players like Kevin Stenlund and Ryan Lomberg to free agency, and uncertainty around Nick Cousins, Kyle Okposo, and Steven Lorentz, Florida needed to restructure its fourth line. Nosek, who can play center alongside Jesper Boqvist, appears poised to contribute to this rebuilt lineup.
“Over the past few years, my role has been as a fourth-line center, focusing on penalty killing and doing the little things to help the team win,” Nosek explained. “That’s why I chose the Panthers. I believe they’re a strong team with a real chance. I’m here to win and will do whatever it takes to help this team bring home the Stanley Cup.”
Last season, Nosek didn’t play with the Bruins, spending it instead with the New Jersey Devils due to a foot injury that required surgery in December. He returned to play in February and feels fully recovered now.
“Last season was tough with the injury, missing half the games and taking time to find my rhythm,” Nosek reflected. “But I feel healthy now, had a good summer, and I’m eager to get back on the ice.”
He’s optimistic about what he can bring to the Panthers in the upcoming season and is focused on contributing to their success.