The Florida Panthers have some open spots in the NHL lineup for a couple of young players after free agency. How does the Cup champs' prospect pool look overall?

The Florida Panthers are the focus of this NHL prospect pool overview.

Tony Ferrari goes through the Panthers' system and identifies strengths and weaknesses while analyzing their notable prospects. He also goes into each draft selection and more.

A player who no longer holds rookie eligibility in the NHL is no longer considered a prospect for this exercise, except in very specific cases.

First Words

It is good to be the Stanley Cup champions. 

The Panthers returned to the final and finished what they couldn’t last year, beating the Edmonton Oilers in an amazing series. So before we get too deep into the Panthers’ shallow prospect pool, congratulations on winning the Cup.

Now, their prospect pool is a bit of a mixed bag. They have some interesting players, and they have guys who haven’t quite lived up to the Panthers' hopes for them.

Spencer Knight was drafted 13th overall in 2019, coming into the NHL as one of the most highly touted netminders in recent memory. After a fantastic two years at Boston College, Knight made the jump to the pro level. Immediately looking capable in the NHL, he mostly spent his first full season in the NHL. He played in 32 games, posting a .908 save percentage and accumulating 19 wins in the process.

Partway through his sophomore season, he entered the NHL/NHLPA player assistance program to receive help with managing obsessive-compulsive disorder. It took him away from the game that he loved for months. He returned and spent all of this past season in the AHL, working on finding his routine and playing in a stable environment in hopes of getting back to the Panthers next season.

Another player looking to get into the NHL this upcoming season is Mackie Samoskevich. After a strong AHL season with 54 points in 62 games, Samoskevich looks to take a spot in the Panthers lineup as some of the players from the Cup-winning squad left free agency. He is a slick playmaker who has wicked hands. He can bring some flash and flair to the Panthers' depth scoring.

Jack Devine was a force in the NCAA with the University of Denver, helping them win a national title. He was nominated for the Hobey Baker on the back of his 56 points, which put him seventh in the nation in scoring. Devine plays bigger than he is, attacking the inside lane and constantly looking to outwork his opponent. After his senior year this upcoming season, Devine should sign with Florida and could get into a game or two down the stretch to add some scoring punch.

After a mid-season trade to the Edmonton Oil Kings in the WHL, Gracyn Sawchyn took some time to get used to his new squad. Last year’s second-round pick had a solid season with 64 points in 54 games, but the Panthers probably wanted to see more offensively. Sawchyn still plays a high-energy, high-speed offensive game that involves some fancy hands and slick playmaking, but he didn’t take a big step up production-wise this year. It wouldn’t be shocking to see Sawchyn explode offensively this upcoming season.

Sandis Vilmanis will join the AHL squad this upcoming season after a couple of strong OHL seasons. He has played in three World Junior Championships with Latvia, taking on a bigger role each time. Vilmanis’ best trait is his wrist shot, which he took full advantage of in the second half of last season when he was traded to North Bay, putting up almost a goal per game. In a few years, he might find his way into the NHL lineup as a depth scorer.

On the back end, the Panthers' depth chart has a few interesting players, but there aren’t many with high-end upside. 

After spending most of his first pro season in the ECHL, Evan Nause will look to play in the AHL full-time. He has some size, gets around the ice well and shows some flashes of breakout ability, but he will need to take a step this year.

After a solid year in the USHL, Vladislav Lukashevich is headed to Michigan State University. The young Russian defender has shown some excellent passing ability over the last couple of years, and his defensive play has become a bit more consistent. From viewing to viewing, his play is up and down, but last season was a nice step in that regard. The NCAA is an excellent spot to refine his game.

Michael Benning’s first year in the AHL was solid, but the issues in his game as a 5-foot-9 defender remain. He moves the puck well as a passer and skater. His offensive vision is quite good, and he can run a power play. On the flip side, he can get pushed around a bit or lose puck battles. He must get stronger to make up for those things, but there are some intriguing tools in his game that, if put in the right situation, he could play a depth role in the NHL.

U-23 Players Likely To Be on the NHL Roster

Anton Lundell (C), Spencer Knight (G), Tobias Bjornfot (D)

2024 NHL Draft Class

Round 2, 58th overall - Linus Eriksson, C, Djurgarden (Swe.2)

Round 3, 97th overall - Matvei Shuravin, LD, Krasnaya Armiya Moskva Jr. (Rus.)

Round 4, 129th overall - Simon Zether, C/W, Rogle (Sweden)

Round 6, 169th overall - Stepan Gorbunov, C, Chelyabinsk Jr. (Rus.)

Round 6, 193rd overall - Hunter St. Martin, LW, Medicine Hat (WHL)

Round 7, 201st overall - Denis Gabdrakhmanov, G, Tyumen Jr. (Rus.)

With only two picks inside the top 100 and none inside the top 50, the Panthers had to make the most of their draft picks. 

Taking Linus Eriksson at 58th overall was an excellent way to do exactly that. Eriksson is a highly intelligent, tactical center. He often looks to make a play that will advance the puck and put himself and his team in the best position to generate chances. He must get stronger, but he has a lot of the habits and traits that Florida values in its players.

Drafting Matvei Shuravin at the end of the third round fills the need for a physical, defense-first blueliner in the system. Shuravin has some questionable moments with the puck, but when he keeps things simple, he can be a very effective play-killer. He isn’t flashy or fun to watch, but he’s effective and loves to impose his will physically with his 6-foot-4, 218-pound size.

Simon Zether is a big, two-way center with some moments of skill, but the value in his game largely comes from understanding how to win small battles all over the ice. Zether reads plays well and always tries to make the right play. It’s often the simple play, and he’s not really a player who will ever go end to end and score a highlight-reel goal, but he finds effective ways to advance the play.

The Panthers' first pick in the sixth round was 6-foot-5 forward Stepan Gorbunov. He has a good shot, but his game is unrefined. The Panthers drafted him to stash him in Russia, allowing him to develop. It’s a swing on a big center, even if some pretty big flaws in his game must be worked out.

Hunter St. Martin is an overage winger who builds his game from mobility. He can fly up and down the ice, putting in an effort of the back check. He was one of the youngest overage prospects, so there is a bit more runway for him to physically mature a bit, which will allow him to play through contact a bit more consistently.

The Panthers have drafted a netminder every year since 2019. This year, they waited until their very last pick to select Denis Gabdrakhmanov, who has played in the Russian junior league for the last couple of years. He posted great numbers on a bad MHL team, with a .924 save percentage and 2.55 goals-against average.

Strengths

The Panthers’ prospect pool isn’t particularly strong, but by adding Eriksson, they have a few solid centers who could find their way to the NHL. 

All three of Eriksson, Sawchyn and Zether play intelligent hockey. Eriksson plays the most translatable game, blending skill and processing speed to make him a steady pro already in Sweden. 

Sawchyn has the most potential upside, thanks to his incredible puck skill and playmaking ability. Zether is a true bottom-six option, playing a safe, steady and efficient game. There’s no guarantee in the bunch, but they have three solid bets down the middle.

Weaknesses

The blueline is a bit of a mess regarding the prospect pipeline. Lukashevich is their top defense prospect, but he is heading to college and likely isn’t coming into the lineup soon. Shuravin is a nice addition, but his game with the puck is limited. They have a few other long shots, such as Benning, Nause or even Marek Alscher and Albert Wikman, but they lack players with real upside, especially on the right side.

Next Man Up: Spencer Knight, G

Although he may not be a true prospect anymore, Knight is ready to ready to retake his spot in the NHL lineup. His calm and collected approach to goaltending has given him success at just about every level. 

Now, with his sights set on the NHL once again, he could be the perfect complement to Sergei Bobrovsky. The two could split starts, allowing both to stay healthy and rested so that the team can make a run at repeating as champions. 

Knight is one of the best young goalies in the world, and this season has the potential to be his coming-out party.

Prospect Depth Chart Notables

LW: Sandis Vilmanis, Kai Schwindt, Josh Davies, Jakub Kos, Ben Steeves

C: Linus Eriksson, Gracyn Sawchyn, Simon Zether

RW: Mackie Samoskevich, Jack Devine, Justin Sourdif

LD: Vladislav Lukashevich, Matvei Shuravin, Evan Nause, Marek Alscher, Albert Wikman

RD: Michael Benning, Ludvig Jansson

G: Spencer Knight, Kirill Gerasimyuk, Tyler Muszelik, Olof Gifford

For a deeper dive into the prospect pool with player rankings, check out the Future Watch and upcoming Yearbook print editions in The Hockey News.