Panthers’ Goalie Evan Cormier Placed on Waivers Amid Two-Way Contract News
Goaltender Evan Cormier has been placed on waivers by the Florida Panthers, as reported Thursday by Chris Johnston of The Athletic. The move suggests that Cormier has signed a two-way contract with the organization, although the Panthers have yet to make any formal announcement regarding the transaction.
Cormier, a 27-year-old netminder, has spent the entire 2024-25 season with the Savannah Ghost Pirates, the Florida Panthers’ ECHL affiliate. While his addition to the Panthers’ roster might seem like a step forward, the waiver placement indicates that he is not immediately joining the NHL squad. Instead, this may simply be an administrative move as part of the two-way agreement, which allows the team to move him between the AHL and NHL more freely.
Cormier’s performance in the ECHL this season has been solid but not standout. He has posted a 14-9-2 record in net for Savannah, with a goals-against average (GAA) of 3.56 and a save percentage of .881. While these numbers don’t leap off the page, they reflect a goaltender capable of holding his own at the ECHL level, though not necessarily pushing for NHL ice time.
Throughout his professional career, Cormier has largely played in the minor leagues. Since being drafted by the New Jersey Devils in the fourth round (105th overall) of the 2016 NHL Entry Draft, he has bounced between the AHL and ECHL. He has spent time with the Binghamton Devils, Manitoba Moose, Newfoundland Growlers, and Kalamazoo Wings, among others. Despite multiple seasons of professional experience, Cormier has yet to make his NHL debut, and this recent transaction doesn’t appear likely to change that anytime soon.
This waiver move may be procedural, likely tied to Florida’s broader goaltending depth chart management. The Panthers are dealing with a number of goaltenders at different levels of their system, including NHL regulars and AHL call-ups, so ensuring that contracts and player movements align with league rules is standard practice. A two-way deal like the one Cormier reportedly signed gives the Panthers flexibility. Such contracts allow a player to earn different salaries depending on whether they’re playing in the NHL or the minors and provide teams the ability to assign players without going through re-negotiation.
For Cormier, signing this type of contract and being placed on waivers may offer increased visibility and potential movement within the organization or beyond. If he clears waivers, which is likely, he will probably return to Savannah or potentially join the Panthers’ AHL affiliate, the Charlotte Checkers. If another NHL team were to claim him, it would be a surprise and a major shift in his professional trajectory.
In the short term, however, the waiver placement does not signal any imminent NHL action for Cormier. He remains a depth piece within Florida’s goaltending system and is expected to continue contributing at the minor-league level unless injuries or unexpected developments open the door to a higher opportunity.
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