Florida holds five picks in the 2023 NHL Draft, but none in the first or third rounds
With the No. 63 overall pick, the Florida Panthers select...Jordan Tourigny, defenseman, Shawinigan (QMJHL)
Why pick him? Tourigny does a lot of things well that are asked of Florida defensemen, including being responsible with the puck and reacting quickly in his own zone. He isn’t the biggest guy, listed at 5-foot-11 and 165 pounds, but size and strength should come in time for the 18-year-old.
Scouts say: “I see a good puck-mover who plays an intelligent game and skates well enough. For his size, you’d like to see him be more dynamic in his skating, but there’s a lot to like as a new-age defenseman in the NHL. He moves the puck quick, handles it well, makes smart plays, moves it in transition.”
Who are the other options? Another defenseman that could be available according to THN’s Top 100 rankings is Quinton Burns from the OHL’s Kingston Frontenacs. He’s got a bit more size and physicality than what has been seen from Tourigny, and Burns is also known as a fleet-footed skater, but he’s raw.
What else is on the agenda? When it comes to Panthers General Manager Bill Zito, all options are on the table. That is especially true this offseason, with Florida potentially having to prepare for missing one or more key players at the start of next season due to injury. With only five picks to work with, and just one in the first three rounds, there could be a lot more excitement surrounding what Florida does outside of the prospects that are drafted this week in Nashville.
Check out the rest of the THN 2023 NHL Mock Draft selections by clicking here.
