Skilled young forward Sandis Vilmanis secures his future in South Florida following a breakout AHL campaign, positioning himself as a primary contender to crack the NHL roster this fall.
The Florida Panthers have locked up their top prospect to a new contract extension.
On Wednesday, the Panthers announced they have signed forward Sandis Vilmanis to a two-year extension that will kick in at the start of the 2027-28 season.
“Sandis is a skilled, competitive young player whose positive attitude and strong work ethic have allowed him to succeed at every opportunity he has earned,” said Zito. “He continues to take real strides in his game and we’re proud that he has committed to a further two years in South Florida.”
Terms of the new deal have yet to be disclosed.
Vilmanis played his first 19 NHL games last season, putting up three goals and five points while adding four penalty minutes and a minus-1 on-ice rating.
He was originally selected by Florida in the fifth round of the 2022 NHL Entry Draft and signed his entry-level contract in March of 2024.
Since starting his pro career with the AHL’s Charlotte Checkers, Vilmanis has played 109 AHL games over the past two seasons, accumulating 26 goals and 65 points.
He took several strides forward during this past season, though, racking up 17 goals and 38 points in 48 games.
When the Panthers open their 2026 Training Camp later this year, Vilmanis will be someone that gets a long look at potentially cracking the Florida’s NHL roster next season.
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Photo caption: Jan 10, 2026; Ottawa, Ontario, CAN; Florida Panthers left wing Sandis Vilmanis (95) skates during warmup prior to game against the Ottawa Senators at the Canadian Tire Centre. (Marc DesRosiers-IMAGN Images)
