6th Round pick Hunter St. Martin having strong NHL Rookie Showcase for Panthers
St. Martin has scored in each of Florida's rookie showcase outings this week in Nashville
Florida Panthers prospects taking part in the 2024 NHL Rookie Showcase saw their tournament record dropped to even following a 7-3 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday.
The Panthers dropped to 1-1 at the annual prospect tournament heading into Monday’s finale against the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Florida received goals from Hunter St. Martin, Riley Hughes and Nicholas Zabaneh, with Jamie Armstrong adding a pair of assists.
St. Martin has now scored in both rookie showcase outings.
“It’s a really cool experience,” said St. Martin. “Being with all these new guys, we’re all vying for the same thing. We’ve all worked hard, we’re all ready to showcase what we’ve done over the summer and I think just putting it out on the ice, it’s really cool to get together and soak in all the new pro experiences.”
It’s been a strong Panthers debut for St. Martin.
The 19-year-old has looked good so far in a Florida sweater and caught the eye of Florida’s AHL Head Coach Geordie Kinnear, who runs the Cats’ development and rookie camps.
“His composure, for a young guy,” Kinnear said when asked what has impressed him about St. Martin. “You play against the Hurricanes, for example, they don’t give you a lot of space and you still have to be able to make plays. I thought he had, for two games, he’s been a real positive and you can see the growth.”
Florida selected St. Martin, a native of Edmonton, Alberta, in the sixth round of the 2024 NHL Entry Draft.
He has spent the past three seasons with the Western Hockey League’s Medicine Hat Tigers, where St. Martin has accumulated 74 points in 144 games.
He will be back with the Tigers this season, looking to take the lessons he’s learning as a NHL draftee and rookie camp attendee back to Medicine Hat and build toward what he hopes is a long and prosperous professional career.
“A lot of the things I’m learning are actually off the ice,” said St. Martin. “Taking care of your body, nutrition, cooling down, making sure you’re ready for the next day, not getting hurt and obviously learning from all the pro coaches as well. Just showing up and being your best every day.”
Entering Monday’s final day of the showcase, Carolina leads the way with a 2-0-0 record and a +7 goal differential.
Florida is 1-1-0 through two games while Nashville is 1-1-0 and Tampa Bay is 0-1-1 after the Preds defeated the Bolts 3-2 in overtime on Saturday.
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