MCKEEN’S 2026 NHL PROSPECT REPORT – #30 Florida Panthers – Organization Overview – Top 15 Prospects

Prospect System Ranking – 30th (last year - 32nd)
GM: Bill Zito Hired: September 2020
COACH: Paul Maurice Hired: June 2022

Who needs prospects when you’re busy winning Stanley Cups? Ultimately, championships are the goal, and the Florida Panthers have accomplished exactly that by capturing back-to-back titles and making three consecutive Finals appearances. Success at the NHL level, however, often comes at the expense of organizational depth, and Florida’s prospect pipeline has taken the expected hit as a result.

The Panthers entered the 2025–26 season hoping to extend their championship window. Unfortunately, a devastating injury to Aleksander Barkov, compounded by Matthew Tkachuk also missing significant time, quickly derailed those ambitions. While the team may be set to miss the postseason, there could be a silver lining. Although it was not widely reported, Florida’s 2026 first-round pick — previously traded to the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for Seth Jones — carries top-10 protection. That protection creates a meaningful possibility that the Panthers could retain the selection and inject much-needed high-end talent into a prospect system that has struggled for depth. It has been five drafts since Florida last made a first-round selection, a drought that is clearly reflected in the pipeline.

At the top of the current prospect hierarchy is 21-year-old Gracyn Sawchyn (126th), who is navigating his first professional season in the American Hockey League after a prolific WHL career that saw him produce 200 points in just 166 games. Alongside him is Jack Devine, a 22-year-old forward and former NCAA standout who has transitioned well to the professional ranks in his first full season, contributing on a strong offensive Texas Stars squad.

Even with the possibility of adding a 2026 first-round selection, Florida’s approach shouldn't stray far from the usual. Bill Zito has built this organization around winning in the present, and once the Panthers’ core players return to full health, maintaining that championship standard will remain the front office’s primary focus.

1. Gracyn Sawchyn, C, Charlotte Checkers (AHL)

Coming at a time when he was leading the team in assists and tied for first in points, Gracyn Sawchyn suffered a long-term upper-body injury that has left him off the ice since the start of 2026. Sawchyn is at his best when he’s on the puck, darting around the ice. He’s so quick that he often pulls in multiple defenders at once, and if he can’t dangle around them, he more often than not finds his open teammate. Sawchyn, being undersized, 5-foot-10 and 155 pounds, is definitely starting to become more of a factor now that he’s playing against men. He’s an excellent defender with his stick, but he struggles to battle through puck carriers who can shield him off. Assuming he adds some weight, he’ll be even more irritating to play against, as opponents won’t be able to easily shrug him off. Sawchyn’s style translates strictly to a top-nine role, and there shouldn’t be any concerns about his game translating to the wing if that’s what Florida chooses if he makes the NHL. In all likelihood, a middle-six winger is where Sawchyn will end up as long as he can stay healthy and continues to build on his good offensive habits.

2. Jack Devine, RW, Charlotte Checkers (AHL)

Despite his rookie status, Jack Devine sits second on the team in points in Charlotte and is doing it in nine fewer games than the leader. He’s shown why he was one of the NCAA’s top scorers the past two seasons, as well as one of the AHL’s best rookies this year. Both on the offensive and defensive sides, Devine is a solid half-ice player. No trait stands out more than his hockey IQ in the way he is always in the right spot at the right time. The NHL game is played at a pace like no other league in the world, and in Devine’s six-game call-up with the Florida Panthers, he found out the hard way. Devine’s lack of footspeed put him behind the play more often than not as he struggled in a role not conducive to his play style. Without an improvement in this area, it’s hard to see Devine sticking at the next level, especially in Florida. Barring major improvements in his skating, it’s more than likely Devine winds up a bottom-six winger.

3. Sandis Vilmanis, LW, Charlotte Checkers (AHL)

It’s pretty easy to see why Sandis Vilmanis has played more than just a handful of games with the Florida Panthers this season. After notching 38 games with the Checkers, Vilmanis earned his call-up and has stuck in Sunrise. No matter what line Vilmanis has been thrust into, he hasn’t looked out of place. At 22 years old, Vilmanis already excels at using his 6-foot-2 frame to get inside of opponents and hold onto possession in tight areas. He plays with a bit of an edge, one that Charlie McAvoy was caught on the wrong side of. Not many guys his age know how to use their bodies as well as he does. He isn’t just a physical grinder either; he’s got skill and finesse that can separate him from defenders, giving him room to rip the puck or link up with a teammate. He’s a good skater, and you can trust him in any situation on the ice. With so many guys injured for Florida right now, he should continue to get NHL games, but as they come back, he might get reassigned. He’s not making that decision easy for head coach Paul Maurice. Vilmanis has real middle-six potential and will be a feature of the Panthers by next year if not sooner.

4. Linus Eriksson, C, Timra (SHL)

Eriksson’s second year in the SHL is already much stronger than his first. While the production isn’t there, his skating quickness and physical skills have taken a step and look pro ready. He reads the game at a level above the SHL as well, and his two-way game looks solid as ever. He was also a valuable role player and leader on the Swedish team that won gold at the WJC in Minnesota. All signs are pointing to Eriksson developing into a fine defensive forward at the NHL level. The only drawback is his stalling offensive upside. He’s got a great shot but rarely finds the space he needs to get it off at even strength. His passing and playmaking ability are very practical and projectable, but there isn’t a whole lot of dazzle to his puck skills. He’ll probably never rack up the points in the NHL, but he’ll shut down opposing scorers, force turnovers on the forecheck, and kill penalties. Considering the Panthers have their core locked up long term, Eriksson is exactly the type of bottom 6 role player and locker room presence a perennial cup contender is looking to add whenever they can. Think Oskar Bäck, but with a higher hockey IQ.

5. Shea Busch, LW, Everett Silvertips (WHL)

Shea Busch’s 2025-2026 season has been injury plagued. He suffered an upper body injury in late October and has been out ever since. Before the injury, he was leading his WHL team, the Everett Silvertips, in goals, with 13 goals in 12 games and was playing wing on their top line and power play. It’s unclear as of this writing if and when he’ll return to the Silvertips lineup this season. Before the injury, Busch had been showing good signs of improvement in his offensive game. His wrist shot looked harder and more accurate, and he was being used as a shooter along the wall on the power play. During his draft season, he had been used as the net-front forward because his shot wasn’t nearly as good as it is this season. Busch’s skating has also improved, but it’s not yet to the point of being pro ready. He plays a power forward game, but unless his skating continues to improve, it will likely keep him at an NHL depth forward level. If he can get his skating to a high enough level, he could be a useful bottom six forward.

6. Matvei Shuravin, D, CSKA Moscow (KHL)

Shuravin’s development has stagnated this season, unable to maintain a spot on the KHL roster and lacking the production that he showed in the MHL previously. The flashes of offense are still few and far between, showing that he has the skill to create, but not nearly making enough of an impact. If he isn't activating on the half wall, he is usually getting caught flat-footed on the blue line and taking low danger shots or dumping it to a corner. His physical game is coming along well, though. He looks stronger along the boards and is throwing solid hits, but he struggles mightily against power moves on the rush when playing at higher levels. Decision making, once seen as a strong part of his game, has been more inconsistent, as has his ability to make effective breakout passes. When he is in his own end, he is at his best, anticipating play, protecting the net and winning battles. At this point in time, he looks like a quality MHL defenseman, which at 19 years old is fine. But to be more confident with his development, he needs to prove he is capable of playing at higher levels of competition.

7. Marek Alscher, D, Charlotte Checkers (AHL)

With the 2025-26 season nearing its end, Marek Alscher has already eclipsed his point total from last season and has continued to improve defensively as a minute-munching defenseman for the Checkers. Alscher’s game is predicated on making few mistakes and using his size and mobility to shut down attackers in his own zone. Alscher’s largest area of improvement has come from breaking the puck out of his own zone. Whether it has been through a stretch pass or taking the puck himself, Alscher has improved his two-way ability and is progressing towards something more than just a big body on the blue line. If his offense continues to grow, Alscher can likely start to compete for a third-pairing role next season. He and Mikulas Hovorka will likely be battling it out for that spot, with the advantage going to the older and bigger Hovorka. Alscher is only 21 years old with less than two years of pro experience. It’s more than likely he’ll continue to spend a majority of his time, if not all, in Charlotte for the near future as he continues to expand his offensive capabilities and work toward an NHL third-pairing role.

8. Kirill Gerasimyuk, G, Charlotte Checkers (AHL)

Although nearly a third of the games in which Gerasimyuk has appeared have been in the ECHL, he has largely spent his first year in North America backing up Cooper Black in Charlotte. After years of putting up excellent numbers in the MHL and VHL, Gerasimyuk’s skills have seemingly translated fairly well. In 18 AHL games, he’s 9-6-1 with a 0.902 save percentage, 2.49 goals against average and four shutouts. Gerasimyuk tracks the puck extremely well from side to side and consistently puts on display his lateral agility. Gerasimyuk’s largest area for improvement comes from his lack of rebound control. He’ll often have to generate multiple saves from one shot because he isn’t swallowing pucks or deflecting them to the corners. Teams that are crashing the net can often get second chances in high-danger areas against Gerasimyuk. His athletic ability in net gives his team the opportunity to steal games, but until he shows more consistency and rebound control, he projects more as a fringe NHL backup.

9. Michael Benning, D, Charlotte Checkers (AHL)

From his first season in the AHL to his second, Mike Benning’s point production jumped 14 points in 18 fewer games. Now in his third year, Benning’s point totals have so far plateaued. Benning is still producing at more than a 0.5 point per game pace; however, it’s likely not enough to overlook his small stature. Benning is Charlotte’s most utilized defenseman, except on the penalty kill. He’s a threat from the point to score and leverages that to be an effective passer. He times his pinches in the offensive zone well to hold possession for his team, and his skating ability allows him to do so without getting caught going the other way. Unsurprisingly, he struggles against larger opponents who can shield him from the puck, which is the majority of his competition. Benning is not the offensive dynamo where you ignore his defensive inadequacies. There may be an NHL team that can find a role for Benning, but it’s more likely than not that he will be a career AHLer.

10. Simon Zether, C, Rogle BK (SHL)

Zether is still having a bit of a tough time figuring out who he is as a player in his third season of pro hockey. There isn’t much about his game that sticks out as projectable or screams “NHL player”. Still, he’s only 20 years old. There is still plenty of time for an epiphany, and Zether has tools to be hopeful about. Firstly, he puts his 6-foot-3 frame to good use to shield pucks from defenders. He’s a quick skater for a forward his size, and his hands are decent, too. While I wouldn’t consider him a strong two-way player, his positional awareness and work rate are quite good. The drawbacks are the lack of a strong physical game, a fairly SHL-average hockey sense, and a lack of high-end offensive tools. He has a tendency to defer a lot of defensive and offensive responsibilities and fade into the background. While that doesn’t necessarily sound encouraging, Zether was always going to be a long-term project who needs to marinate overseas for a few years. If he can lean into his size and start throwing his weight around more, there’s an outside chance he could fashion a career as a bottom line checking forward in the NHL.

11. Cooper Black, G, Charlotte Checkers (AHL)

The massive netminder out of Dartmouth has been solid in his first season as an AHL starter, and he looks like he could end up being a serviceable back-up for the Panthers, who really lack serviceable depth beyond this year.

12. Mads Kongsback Klyvo, LW, Frolunda (SHL)

The big winger with solid skating ability projects as a future bottom six option thanks to his physical tools and two-way awareness. First, he’ll have to establish himself as an SHL regular.

13. Arvid Drott, RW, Djurgardens (SHL)

A similar player to Klyvo; a big winger with strong skating ability who can be impactful away from the puck. Drott also profiles best as a future bottom six fixture. His offensive numbers have improved in the Swedish U20 league this year.

14. Shamar Moses, RW, North Bay Battalion (OHL)

It’s been a step back for Moses this year in his draft year plus one. His skating continues to need to improve and there’s a need for him to be more consistently physically engaged.

15. Hunter St. Martin, LW, Charlotte Checkers (AHL)

St. Martin was a breakout star in last year’s WHL playoffs as he helped Medicine Hat capture a WHL championship. This year, the big winger has been a depth piece as a first-year pro.