Justin Sourdif traded to the Capitals for multiple draft picks

A young forward moves on

After trading for a backup goaltender and potential Sergei Bobrovsky heir apparent earlier in the day, Bill Zito kept busy by making another trade. The Panthers traded forward Justin Sourdif to the Washington Capitals in exchange for a 2026 second round pick and a 2027 sixth round pick.

Sourdif was a third round pick in 2020, Bill Zito’s first draft with the Panthers but only played four NHL games for the Panthers, scoring one goal. This season with the Checkers, he had 16 goals and 18 assists in 43 regular season games, while adding in four goals and 10 assists on the Checkers run to the Calder Cup Final.

Sourdif’s route to the NHL has been blocked over the years by a number of forwards above him, whether it be from within like Mackie Samoskevich or from the outside, and Sourdif’s path to a middle six spot looked no easier with not just Samoskevich in line for perhaps a bigger role next year, but also if the Panthers manage to retain Brad Marchand. He might have also been pushed from behind by Jack Devine, who arrived in Charlotte this postseason after his Denver career and became one of the more intriguing forward options in the Panthers pipeline.

Sourdif needed a NHL opportunity and now gets one with the Capitals, while the Panthers pick up second and sixth round picks for someone they drafted in the third round. The second rounder next year is almost certainly a trade chip for next season’s trade deadline and becomes one of the Panthers best if few assets to move then. Sourdif will get an opportunity to make a very good team out of camp next year as a restricted free agent, and the Panthers managed to recoup a few draft picks for the trouble.