Florida Panthers left wing A.J. Greer (10) skates with the puck in the third period of his Winter Classic outdoor hockey game against the New York Rangers at loanDepot park on Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, in Miami, Fla.
Photo by Matias J. Ocner
mocner@miamiherald.com
A.J. Greer spent all day Thursday and most of Friday afternoon waiting around to see where hockey would take him. He was on the trade block as the Florida Panthers’ season scuffled away, and the team was taking calls from potential suitors who could use a depth forward with the key blend of physicality and scoring prowess that Greer possesses for their own playoff run.
Greer didn’t play for the Panthers on Thursday on the eve of the trade deadline because of “roster management.”
“He’s a very sought-after young man,” Panthers coach Paul Maurice said after that game.
That includes in South Florida.
Which is why the Panthers ultimately didn’t deal Greer and kept him on the team when the 3 p.m. Friday trade deadline passed.
And it’s why the Panthers want to do with Greer like they have done with so many other key players on the team and work out a contract extension before he hits the open market this offseason.
“It’s relief knowing that they believe in me and believe in what I can do and they want me here,” Greer said after practice Monday in his first comments reflecting on the trade deadline. “So hopefully we get it done and we finalize something. I’m happy to be here. I’m proud to wear this jersey, and I’m proud to be a part of this group and what we’ve built here.”
Florida Panthers left wing A.J. Greer (10) gets into a scuffle against the Carolina Hurricanes in the third period of their NHL game at Amerant Bank Arena on Friday, Dec. 19, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. Photo by Matias J. Ocner mocner@miamiherald.com
The Panthers signed Greer to a two-year deal ahead of the 2024-25 season with an annual cap hit of $850,000.
It’s safe to say he has outplayed that deal.
The 29-year-old forward has logged 39 points (17 goals, 22 assists) in 143 games during his Panthers tenure, more than doubling his career point total prior to that (32 points in 167 games). He has career highs in goals (11) and points (22) in 62 games this season entering Florida’s home game against the Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday, while his 11 assists tie his career-high from last season in 19 fewer games.
His 384 hits during the past two seasons are 18th in the NHL and nearly 90 more than any other player on the Panthers’ roster (Jesper Boqvist is second at 297).
He was part of Florida’s fourth line with Tomas Nosek and Jonah Gadjovich that Maurice said was integral in flipping their second-round Stanley Cup playoff series last season against the Toronto Maple Leafs, a series Florida won in seven games despite dropping the first two games. The Panthers went on to repeat as Stanley Cup champions.
Greer was a fourth-line forward throughout his career before joining the Panthers. His main role was being a physically imposing presence on the ice, using his 6-3, 209-pound frame to wear down opponents while his teammates took care of the rest.
He still lays the big hits with the Panthers.
But he is also trusted with bigger responsibilities.
He has spent plenty of time this season on Florida’s second and third forward lines as the team deals with a slew of injuries — the Panthers have been without captain and top-line center Aleksander Barkov all season and have spent time throughout the year without other key forwards in Brad Marchand (who might need season-ending surgery), Matthew Tkachuk, Tomas Nosek, Eetu Luostarinen, Jonah Gadjovich and Cole Schwindt.
Greer stayed true to his game despite the added roles and ice time (he’s averaging more than 11-and-a-half minutes per game) this season.
“He’s here because we value him,” Maurice said. “He’s an important part of our team. The biggest challenge you find with fourth-line guys who spent their career on the fourth line is when they get into the top nine, they want to show that they belong, show that they have the skill set to play there. And what he did really well was not push that envelope and just stay true to what he’s really good at, and that can be valuable. He’s a big man that covers an awful lot of ice. He can shoot the puck. He is physical. … I commend him on that the ability to stay with his strength in his style of play.”
How has this season helped Greer the most?
“Certainly on the confidence side of things,” Greer said. “Being able to trust my instincts, not think too much on the ice, use my speed, my physicality when I’m put in such certain situations to succeed like I have been this year with top guys on top lines. Being able to just stick to what I do best and trust that I will have success with those guys and not box myself in on The fourth line. So it’s been a great year. Personally for me, I’ve had a lot of fun.”
That fun, however, has come in the midst of an overall sluggish season for the Panthers, who are set to miss the playoffs for the first time since 2019.
While there won’t be a Stanley Cup to pursue this season, Greer knows the Panthers plan to finish out this season as strong as they can.
“The way that we carry ourselves throughout this stretch here, we’re going to finish it off the right way, Greer said, “going into the summer making sure that we’ve given everything we’ve had and emptied the tank.”
After that, Greer hopes he’ll remain in South Florida long-term.
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Miami Herald
Jordan McPherson covers the Miami Hurricanes and Florida Panthers for the Miami Herald. He attended the University of Florida and covered the Gators athletic program for five years before joining the Herald staff in December 2017.