Rumor: Panthers could be forced to make a trade they don't want.

The Florida Panthers may find themselves in a bit of a bind.

The Panthers currently find themselves without any available cap room to work with and with rumblings that veteran forward Anthony Duclair is set to return, something is going to have to give. There have been rumblings recently that suggested the Panthers could look to move out another veteran forward in Patric Hornqvist in order to make room for Duclair and his cap hit of $3 million, but National Hockey League insider Elliotte Friedman recently dispelled those notions.

Friedman was asked about the difficult situation the Panthers find themselves in, and revealed that there may be a reason that Hornqvist is an untouchable as far as a trade is concerned.

"Someone called me and said 'Whatever you do, don't put Hornqvist on that list,'" revealed Friedman on the most recent 32 Thoughts Podcast. 

When he inquired further, Friedman was informed by his source that Hornqvist had reached some kind of agreement regarding any future trades with the Panthers in order to make the trade that sent him from the Pittsburgh Penguins to the Florida Panthers happen in the first place.

"I don't know it there was an exact guarantee given but I think there was a conversation about 'We recognize how you feel and we'll honor it,'" revealed Friedman.

Although Friedman would not confirm 100% that Hornqvist is untouchable, he came pretty close.

"These things can always change, I've learned never to deal in absolutes, but it appears as if it's unlikely that Hornqvist would be the guy," concluded Friedman.

That of course raises the question of who will be moved out in order to make room? Some have speculated that it could be the returning Duclair himself, but that may also be off the table.

"I'm not convinced that they want to trade Duclair," said Friedman.

"I don't think that it's obvious it's Duclair... they have some options here that they are gonna look over."

The problem of course for Florida is that rival general managers will be well aware of this situation, and no doubt they will be looking to take advantage of the Panthers' misfortunes.

It seems something is going to have to give.