Joseph Hazeldine
Defence • Glasgow Clan
Arrives as part of a swap that sent Ross Armour and Matt Spencer the other way to Glasgow.
2026/27 Season Preview
Nottingham Panthers
DT Rating
Predicted Finish
Quick Facts
Head Coach
Danny Stewart
Captain
Matt Alfaro
Arena
Motorpoint Arena Nottingham
2025/26 Finish
3rd
Power Play
24.38%
Penalty Kill
78.68%
DT Ratings
Our editorial assessment of each team's fantasy potential heading into the new EIHL season.
Attack
★★★★★
4.0Defence
★★★★★
4.0Goaltending
★★★★★
4.0Depth
★★★★★
3.5DT Value
★★★★★
4.0Club Overview
Nottingham enter 2026/27 looking to build on the heights of their 2025/26 cup-winning season. Last time out the Panthers finished 3rd before a quarterfinal exit, and head coach Danny Stewart returns to try to close that gap again.
Up front, the core stays largely intact: Matt Alfaro, Oliver Betteridge, Tim Doherty, Jordan Kelsall and Chase Pearson have all re-signed, giving Stewart a settled group of returning scorers to build around.
The bigger story is on the blue line and in goal, where turnover has been substantial. Only Zsombor Garát returns among the listed defencemen, with Aiden Hansen-Bukata, Darick Louis-Jean and Jaakko Niskala all arriving fresh — alongside Joseph Hazeldine, who joins from Glasgow Clan as part of an effective swap that sent Ross Armour and Matt Spencer the other way.
In goal, both Kai Edmonds and Mat Robson are brand new arrivals — a completely refreshed tandem following Kevin Carr's retirement.
Up front, Benjamin Corbeil, Patrick Larkin and Miikka Pitkänen add further scoring depth to a group that's otherwise stayed settled.
The list of departures is long and touches nearly every part of the roster: Matt Spencer and Ross Armour both leave for Glasgow, while Jakob Stridsberg, David Noël and Jarod Hilderman all move on from the blue line, alongside forwards Bryan Lemos, Nolan Volcan and Didrik Henbrant. The ever entertaining and Dream Team star Mitch Fossier retires too.
With a settled forward group but a nearly entirely new defensive corps and goaltending tandem, Nottingham's season may hinge on how quickly the new pieces at the back gel with a proven scoring core up front.
Summer Arrivals
Kai Edmonds
Goaltender • Toronto Metro Univ. (Canada)
One half of an entirely new goaltending tandem following Kevin Carr's retirement.
Mat Robson
Goaltender • Coventry Blaze
A British-qualified goaltender who joins Edmonds to form a completely refreshed crease.
Aiden Hansen-Bukata
Defence • Utah Grizzlies (ECHL)
Brings recent ECHL experience to a blue line that's been almost entirely rebuilt this summer.
Darick Louis-Jean
Defence • Trois-Rivières Lions (France)
The most recent confirmed arrival, joining just days before pre-season begins.
Miikka Pitkänen
Forward • Nybro Vikings IF (Sweden)
Adds further scoring depth to an already settled forward group.
Summer Departures
Matt Spencer
Defence • Glasgow Clan
Departs alongside Ross Armour in the swap that brought Joseph Hazeldine to Nottingham.
Ross Armour
Forward • Glasgow Clan
Moves on to Glasgow as part of the same exchange of players.
Kevin Carr
Goaltender • Retired
Retirement closes out the chapter that necessitated a completely new goaltending tandem.
Jakob Stridsberg
Defence • Tilburg Trappers (Netherlands)
One of several defencemen to depart as the blue line is substantially rebuilt.
Bryan Lemos
Forward • Lausitzer Füchse (Germany)
Moves on to Germany after a season with the Panthers.
Projected Line-up
The forward group is fairly settled, but the defensive pairings below are more speculative given how much turnover there's been on the blue line — expect these to shift once pre-season clarifies deployment.
First Line: Chase Pearson, Matt Alfaro and Benjamin Corbeil
Second Line: Tim Doherty, Oliver Betteridge and Miikka Pitkänen
Third Line: Jordan Kelsall and Patrick Larkin
First Pairing: Zsombor Garát & Joseph Hazeldine
Second Pairing: Aiden Hansen-Bukata & Jaakko Niskala
Third Pairing: Darick Louis-Jean
Netminders: Kai Edmonds, Mat Robson
Players To Watch
DT Star
Matt Alfaro
The most established returning scorer on a forward group that's stayed largely intact.
Sleeper Pick
Miikka Pitkänen
Joins a settled forward core from Sweden with a chance to carve out a meaningful role at a modest price.
Breakout Candidate
Benjamin Corbeil
A change of league could unlock a bigger role than he saw in Germany's second tier last season.
Top Defenceman
Joseph Hazeldine
Arrives with Elite League pedigree and should be the clear top-pairing option on a rebuilt blue line.
Starting Netminder
Kai Edmonds
One half of a completely new tandem — worth monitoring closely early in the season as the new pairing settles in.
Fantasy Outlook
DT Verdict
Nottingham's forward group offers real, proven fantasy value, but the almost entirely new defensive corps and goaltending tandem add uncertainty. Worth targeting the returning forwards early while the back end finds its feet.
Season Prediction
Season Prediction
3rd–5th
Best Case
A return to the top of the table and a deep playoff run.
Worst Case
Another step back if the new defensive pieces take time to gel.
Confidence
Medium
A proven forward core gives Nottingham a real floor, but how quickly an almost entirely new defence and goaltending tandem come together will likely determine whether this is a bounce-back season or another step down.
Editors Note
This preview reflects confirmed signings and departures as of mid-July 2026. Nottingham's captain for 2026/27 wasn't listed on available roster sources and should be confirmed before publishing. Projected line combinations will be updated during pre-season.